Brendan Buckley is originally from Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, born to a Korean mother and an Irish-American father. His early formal musical education came from public schools and the father-son teaching team of Sonny and Tommy Igoe.

When Brendan was 18 years old he moved to Florida to study at the Music School of the University of Miami. While living in Miami, Brendan fell in love with the cultural diversity that the city had to offer him. In school he studied mostly classical and jazz music, graduating with a degree in music education.

In 1996, Brendan was recording and touring with Fulano De Tal, the first Latin Rock band to be signed with a major record label in the United States. A year later he began touring with Julio Iglesias. Since 1998, Brendan has been recording and touring with Colombian superstar, Shakira.

Brendan recorded and co-produced some songs on Shakira's cross-over English language album.