Found it!
I have current on the switch and at the brake light switch. I have current on the wires after the brake light switch, but midways back I found a terminal connector for both the tailight wire and brake light wire. I had current on the vehicle front end wire leaving the switches going into those terminals, so the terminals which were wrapped with electrical tape must need replacing. After doing so, I had both tailights and brake lights. It's just strange how the electrical gremlins do their work without any vehicle activity or movement.
Thanks to everyone who contributed!
