Delaney Bramlett

Delaney Bramlett

Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett in 1970
Background information
Born (1939-07-01)July 1, 1939
Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States
Died December 27, 2008(2008-12-27) (aged 69)
Los Angeles, California, United States
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 known as Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

Career

Bramlett was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi. After a stint in the United States Navy, he moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1960s, 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 Bramlett 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's last album,[3] which produced two hit singles, "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home".

Bramlett taught then George Harrison, who was then with the Beatles, to play slide guitar, which led to 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, 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 was used on the soundtrack of the films RV and A Good Year.[8] Bramlett co-wrote Clapton's hit song "Let It Rain".[9]

Bramlett was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame on January 18, 2011.[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] He was survived by his widow, Susan Lanier-Bramlett; his ex-wife, Bonnie Bramlett; a brother, John Wayne Bramlett; four daughters, Lisa Danielle Bramlett (Anobile), Michele Bramlett, Suzanne Bramlett, and Bekka Bramlett; a stepson, Dylan Thomas; and five grandchildren.

Discography

Other credits

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/16/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.