Dan Connolly

Need a wedding song? O’s reliever Brad Brach (and wife) has you covered

By Dan Connolly

Posted on May 31, 2016

June is traditionally the most popular month for weddings. And I’m a topical kind of guy.

So if you are an Orioles’ fan and are getting married in the upcoming month – or really anytime soon – I may have the ultimate tie-in for you.

Here’s something that can allow you to incorporate the Orioles into your wedding without having to wear orange-and-black or play John Denver at your reception.

Go download pop/country songwriter Jenae Cherry’s “Hold Me,” from iTunes. It’s been on there for a couple weeks now.

It’s a sweet, well-written ballad from the viewpoint of a love-struck, soon-to-be bride and her unquenchable desire for a shut-down reliever.

Or something like that.

Cherry moved from Illinois to Nashville in 2009 to follow her dream of a recording career. She’s played countless gigs in countless bars and, during one of them, she met a shy, minor-league baseball player who wrangled up enough courage to ask her to lunch after seeing her perform. That was the start of a relationship between the ballplayer and Cherry that, well, blossomed.

These days, at least in Orioles’ circles, Cherry is known as Mrs. Brad Brach. That title became official in November 2013 when the couple married.

Since then, Cherry has been continuing her pursuit of music while her husband has become a key cog in the Orioles’ superb bullpen. He’s also now the subject of a love song.

Cherry recorded “Hold Me” twice for her new, four song EP “Spinning,” which is available in its entirety on iTunes. (This is her second EP. The seven-song “Around We Go” was released in 2012.) On “Spinning,” there is a full band version of “Hold Me” and then the “wedding version” which is Cherry singing while accompanied by a soft piano. It definitely has that first-dance vibe.

That was the intention, and the initial time it was played was on Brach’s and Cherry’s wedding day. She was under strict orders from her husband not to sing to him; he didn’t think he could handle his emotions if that were to occur. So she recorded the tune and played it as they danced. That was more of Brach’s low-key style.

“She got the mic and she said she had written a song and had prerecorded it with a drummer. She played it for the first time and it was awesome to hear,” he said. “It was definitely emotional hearing her say those kinds of things about me. I knew the song was about me and what she felt about me. It was really nice to hear.”

He admits he didn’t really hear everything in the song that first time. Like drowning out thousands of fans while he’s on the mound, Brach focused on the task at hand at that moment while dancing with his new bride: He concentrated on not bawling while everyone in the place stared at him.

“I heard some of the stuff and she was like, ‘Really listen to this part, because this is going to make you cry.’ So I tried not to listen to it too much,” Brach laughed. “After the wedding, I got a chance to really listen to it.”

It’s still a little strange, the concept of his wife’s feelings for him potentially being shared with others who are celebrating their big days. But that’s what ultimately will make his wife the happiest. And, like all good husbands, he’s definitely on board with that.

“I kind of hope that’s what happens with that,” Brach said. “I know the stuff was personal, but that’s what singing and songwriting is. So for her just to write it, and for anybody else to feel the same thing, I’m excited for her. And I’m hoping that people will want to use it for their weddings.”