Allentown native Rick Braun, an internationally-renowned trumpet and flugelhorn player, producer and vocalist, has not performed in the Lehigh Valley since he left to study at the Eastman School of Music in 1973. The closest he has come to home have been performances at the Berks Jazz Fest and a performance at Kutztown University in 2000.

Braun performs in concert, 7:30 p.m. March 30, Musikfest Café, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

"This will be my first concert in my entire solo career in the Lehigh Valley proper, meaning the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton area. This is the first time I am coming home to play a show and I am very excited about it."

Braun will be backed by Philadelphia musicians put together by jazz bassist Gerald Veasley, who will solo during the concert.

"I went to Dieruff High School and I have been doing what I have been doing for many years, and so for me to be able to come home and see all my high school, junior high school and elementary school friends, teachers, family, and give everybody an opportunity to come and see me play is great," Braun said during a telephone interview from his home in Woodland Hills, Calif.

"Actually, it's great to be performing on the old Bethlehem Steel grounds. That's where my father worked, in the mill, and so did my brother Ronnie, who just passed away.

"Working there gave my father the money to buy my first trumpet, and when I was eight I found Ronnie's trumpet in a closet. So, he was the reason I played trumpet in the first place. This is a big deal to come home to."

Braun started out playing drums in the third grade at Stevens Elementary School, and then tried the violin. He switched to the trumpet while attending Trexler Junior High and played the instrument through his years at Dieruff High School, graduating in 1973.

Braun attributes a major part of his success to the late Richard Hinkle, director of the Allentown Municipal Band, leader of the Royalaires dance band and former band director at Dieruff and Allen high schools.

"I was real fortunate. At that time, the music programs in the schools were amazing and Dick Hinkle taught us college-level music theory to the extent that when I went on to the Eastman School of Music I bypassed the entire first year of music theory."

He formed Auracle, a jazz fusion band, while at Eastman. He released his first solo recording, "Intimate Secrets," in 1992. He has performed and collaborated with Boney James, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole and Rod Stewart. He wrote "Here With Me," a Top 20 hit for Reo Speedwagon.

While Braun first made his mark as a trumpeter, he's had many gigs as a backup singer.

"I grew up hearing all the music on these records around my home. Singing it, playing it and listening to my mom, who was a great singer and knew all the songs' lyrics from one end to another."

After he moved to Los Angeles, he got work as a backup singer for Greek singer Demis Roussos and toured with him in Australia.

This led to vocal performances with Rod Stewart and others. Among Braun's 16 albums are "Kisses in the Rain" (2001), "Rick Braun Sings with Strings" (2011) and "Swingin' in the Snow," a Christmas CD (2012).

"I will soon be going back into the studio for a reunion with Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown." The trio, which records as BWB, released "Groovin'" in 2002.