Braud began playing up the trumpet at age twelve. He comes from a long line of New Orleans musicians. He is the grandson of legendary trumpeter John "Picket" Brunious, Sr., and the nephew of jazz trumpeters and Preservation Hall Jazz Band leaders Wendell Brunious and John Brunious, Jr.. Braud is also a distant relative of Duke Ellington Orchestra bassist Wellman Braud and the Santiago family. He began playing the trumpet at age of twelve. He was a student of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He majored in jazz studies at the University of New Orleans. While studying there, he was chosen for the school's annual European tour.[1]
