Delaney Bramlett
Delaney Bramlett | |
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Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett in 1970 | |
Background information | |
Born |
Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States | July 1, 1939
Died |
December 27, 2008 69) Los Angeles, California, United States | (aged
Genres |
Blues Rock Country Gospel |
Instruments | Guitar |
Labels | Magnolia Gold, Elektra, Atco, Atlantic, Crescendo, Motown, MGM, Columbia, Stax, CBS Various (see 'Discography') |
Delaine Alvin "Delaney" Bramlett (July 1, 1939 – December 27, 2008) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Bramlett's five-decade career reached peaks in creativity, performance, and notoriety in partnership with his then-wife Bonnie Bramlett in a revolving troupe of professional musicians and rock superstars dubbed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
Career
Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Bramlett moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 1960s after a stint in the United States Navy, where he established himself as a singer-songwriter, writing with fellow musicians Joey Cooper, Mac Davis, and Jackie DeShannon.[1]
By 1965, Bramlett was a regular member of the Shindogs, the house band of the television show, Shindig!. During this time, he worked with J.J. Cale and Leon Russell and released some unsuccessful solo singles.One of these, "Guess I Must Be Dreamin'" entered the Cashbox "Looking Ahead" survey on May 14, 1967.
In the late 1960s, British guitarist Eric Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour after which Delaney produced and co-wrote songs for Clapton's debut solo album, Eric Clapton. Clapton has credited Bramlett for pushing him to sing and teaching him the art of rock vocals.[2] Bramlett produced King Curtis' last LP,[3] which had two hit singles: "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home".
Bramlett taught then Beatle George Harrison to play slide guitar, which led into a gospel jam that resulted in Harrison's hit "My Sweet Lord".[4] Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, including Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix,[5] Janis Joplin, Billy Preston, John Lennon, The Everly Brothers, Spooner Oldham, Steve Cropper and Billy Burnette. Members of the Friends appearing in concert or recording with Bramlett on Friends albums include Clapton, George Harrison, Leon Russell, King Curtis, Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Keltner, Bobby Keys, and Gram Parsons.
In 2006, Bramlett was one of the duet artists on the Jerry Lee Lewis album Last Man Standing,[6] singing and playing guitar on "Lost Highway". In 2008, the year of his death, Bramlett released his first CD in six years, A New Kind of Blues.[7]
The Bramletts' "Never Ending Song of Love" has been covered by others, and appears on the soundtrack of RV and A Good Year.[8] Bramlett co-wrote the Eric Clapton hit, "Let It Rain".[9]
On January 18, 2011, Bramlett was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.[10]
Death
Described in an obituary as a "Southern Legend",[11] Bramlett died from complications of gall bladder surgery on December 27, 2008, in Los Angeles, California.[1] Delaney was survived by his widow, Susan Lanier-Bramlett, a brother, John Wayne Bramlett, four daughters, Lisa Danielle Bramlett (Anobile), Michele Bramlett, Suzanne Bramlett, Bekka Bramlett, a stepson, Dylan Thomas, and five grandchildren.
Discography
- 1969: Home (Stax STS-2026)
- 1969: Accept No Substitute [AKA The Original Delaney & Bonnie] (Elektra EKS-74039)
- 1970: Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour with Eric Clapton (Atco SD 33-326)
- 1970: To Bonnie from Delaney (Atco SD 33-341)
- 1971: Genesis (early recordings from 1964-1965 and 1967) (GNP Crescendo GNPS-2054)
- 1971: Motel Shot (Atco SD 33-358)
- 1972: Country Life (Atco SD 33-383)
- 1972: D&B Together (Columbia KC-31377) -note: reissue of Country Life.
- 1972: The Best of Delaney & Bonnie (Atco SD-7014)
- 1972: Some Things Coming (Columbia KC-31631)
- 1973: Mobius Strip (Columbia KC-32420)
- 1975: Giving Birth To A Song (MGM SE-5011)
- 1977: Class Reunion (Prodigal P6-10017-S1)
- 1990: The Best of Delaney & Bonnie (Rhino R2-70777)
- 1998: Sounds From Home (Zane ZN-1013)
- 2004: Sweet Inspiration (rec. 1989) (Lemon LEM-36)
- 2007: A New Kind of Blues (Magnolia Gold MGR-7181)[12]
Other credits
- 1969: Elvin Bishop, Best of Elvin Bishop: "Tulsa Shuffle" - Rhythm guitar, background vocals, producer
- 1970: The Crickets, Rockin' 50's Rock 'n' Roll - Producer
- 1970: Elvin Bishop, Best of Elvin Bishop: "Crabshaw" - Producer
- 1970: Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton - Arranger, rhythm guitar, background vocals, producer
- 1970: Leon Russell, Leon Russell - Guitar
- 1970: Dave Mason, Alone Together - Guitar, vocals
- 1971: John Simon, John Simon's Album - Tambourine
- 1972: Elvin Bishop, Rock My Soul - Guitar, vocals, producer
- 1972: John Hammond Jr, I'm Satisfied - Producer, vocals, guitar
- 1972: Eric Clapton, The History of Eric Clapton - Guitar, vocals
- 1972: Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton at His Best - Producer
- 1972: Duane Allman, An Anthology - Rhythm guitar, vocals, producer
- 1972: Everly Brothers, Stories We Could Tell - Guitar, vocals
- 1973: Jerry Lee Lewis, Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough - Guitar, vocals
- 1973: Pacific Gas & Electric, Best - Producer
- 1973: John Ussery, Ussery - Percussion, producer, slide guitar
- 1974: Duane Allman, An Anthology Vol. II - Guitar, vocals
- 1976: Free Creek, Summit Meeting - Guitar
- 1978: Commander Cody, Flying Dreams - Vocals
- 1978: Dann Rogers, Hearts Under Fire - Background vocals
- 1982: Eric Clapton, Time Pieces: Best of Eric Clapton - Rhythm guitar, producer
- 1988: Eric Clapton, Crossroads - Guitar, vocals, producer, horn arrangements
- 1991: Zoo, Shakin' the Cage - Background vocals
- 1992: Phil Driscoll, Picture Changes - Background vocals
- 1992: Classic Rock Classic Rock [Cema] - Producer
- 1996: Heroes of Country Music, Vol. 5 - Vocals, producer
- 1997: Hank Thompson, Hank, Real Thing - Background vocals, National dobro
- 1998: Ian Whitcomb, You Turn Me On: The Very Best of Ian Whitcomb - Bass guitar
- 1998: T. Graham Brown, Wine into Water - Guitar, vocals
- 1999: Dave Mason, Ultimate Collection - Background vocals
- 2006: Jerry Lee Lewis, Last Man Standing, "Lost Highway" - Vocals[13]
- 2006: (performer: "Attention to Me", "Coffee", "I Had to Come Back", "Something's Gotta Be Wrong") / (writer: "Attention to Me", "Coffee", "I Had to Come Back", "Something's Gotta Be Wrong")
References
- 1 2 Obituary: Delaney Bramlett; songwriter who wrote 'Let It Rain', Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2008.
- ↑ Ward, Ed. Eric Clapton: Eric Clapton (review) at Rolling Stone, September 3, 1970.
- ↑ Indie Ezine
- ↑ A1 Artist Spotlight.com
- ↑ CD Universe Sorry
- ↑ PBS 106.7FM: Real Radio - Jerry Lee Lewis' "Last Man Standing", pbsfm.org.au; accessed August 18, 2014.
- ↑ CD Baby: DELANEY BRAMLETT: "A New Kind Of Blues"
- ↑ Delaney Bramlett at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Repertoire.bmi.com
- ↑ Theventuremagazine.com
- ↑ Delaney Bramlett: The Death of a Southern Legend, swampland.com, 27 December 2008.
- ↑ Allmusic discography
- ↑ Delaneybramlett.com
External links
- Delaney Bramlett biography at Allmusic
- Delaney Bramlett at MySpace
- Delaney Bramlett at the Internet Movie Database
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