- Don Brewer
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Don Brewer 
Don Brewer Performing at The South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach, FLBackground information Born September 3, 1948
Flint, Michigan, U.S.Genres Rock, hard rock Occupations Musician, songwriter Instruments Drums, vocals Years active 1964–present Labels Capitol, Lucky Eleven Associated acts Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight and the Pack, Flint, Silver Bullet Band Website grandfunkrailroad.com/donbio.htm Don Brewer (born September 3, 1948 in Flint, Michigan) is the drummer and co-lead singer for American rock band Grand Funk Railroad.
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Early life
Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on September 3, 1948 and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School.
Early career
Brewer joined his first band, called The Red Devils, at the age of 12. After leaving "The Red Devils", Brewer joined another band named the "Jazzmasters" for whom he played drums and sang vocals. In 1964, Brewer joined former DJ Terry Knight as well as bassist Herm Jackson, guitarist Curt Johnson, and keyboardist Bobby Caldwell and formed the band Terry Knight and the Pack. In 1967, Brewer met new guitarist Mark Farner after Johnson left the band.
Grand Funk Railroad
Brewer in 1970.
In 1968 Brewer left Terry Knight and the Pack along with fellow bandmate Mark Farner and recruited Mel Schacher, the bassist for the hit band ? and the Mysterians, and formed Grand Funk Railroad. They hired Terry Knight as their manager. In 1973, Grand Funk released the album "We're An American Band," featuring the hit song "We're An American Band".[1] This track, written and sung by Brewer, was the band's first #1 single. Still popular, the song has since been recorded by other artists. In addition to playing drums for Grand Funk, Brewer also provided lead vocals for a number of songs. This is evidenced by the first and third verses of the song "Some Kind Of Wonderful".[2] Brewer was the baritone lead singer for the group, in contrast to the tenor vocals of Mark Farner.
In 1977, following the initial breakup of Grand Funk, Brewer and former Grand Funk bandmates Mel Schacher and Craig Frost formed a new band named "Flint". Flint released one self-titled album before disbanding. In 1981, Brewer and Farner resurrected Grand Funk for an album that cracked the Billboard albums chart. Two years later, they split again and Brewer joined Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. He also continued in other musical endeavors, including producing for the band The Godz. In 1996 Brewer, Schacher, and Farner reunited as Grand Funk, and were eventually named one of Pollstar's top-grossing acts of 1998. Farner decided to leave the band at the end of 1998 to resume his solo career. In 2000, Brewer and Schacher added vocalist Max Carl, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and keyboardist Tim Cashion to the line-up.
Other drumming
Brewer was featured in Classic Rock Drum Solos,[3] performing a solo from when he and Grand Funk Railroad filled up Shea Stadium.[4] In 2000, Don performed as a guest clinician at Modern Drummer Magazine's annual Drum Festival event, where he was honored as one of the most influential drummers in the history of rock. In 2006 Brewer rejoined the Silver Bullet Band for their 2006-07 tour, it was his first appearance with the band since he played for them on their 1983 tour.[5] He is also playing with them on Seger's 2011 tour.
Personal life
Brewer resides in Jupiter, Florida with his wife Sunny Quinn, who is a 23-year radio veteran from South Florida. They met while Brewer was on tour with Bob Seger as the drummer for the Silver Bullet Band. At the time, Sunny was married to the bass player for Michael Bolton who was touring with them.[6]
References
- ^ "Grand Funk Railroad - We're An American Band LIVE - 1974". YouTube. 2008-08-29. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMsIrKjSM6Y. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ Some Kind of Wonderful[dead link]
- ^ "Classic Rock Drum Solo DVD". Drummercafe.com. 2007-10-03. http://www.drummercafe.com/music-industry/news/classic-rock-drum-solos.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ Grand Funk at Shea Stadium[dead link]
- ^ "Drummerworld Biography". Drummerworld.com. 1948-09-03. http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Don_Brewer.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ "Sunny Quinn a.k.a. Mrs. Don Brewer - Bob Seger Net Forums". Segernet.com. 2011-10-03. http://www.segernet.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t3862.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
Don Brewer · Mel Schacher · Max Carl · Bruce Kulick · Tim Cashion
Mark Farner · Craig Frost · Dennis Bellinger · Howard Eddy Jr.Studio albums Live albums Compilations Mark, Don & Mel: 1969–71 · Grand Funk Hits · Capitol Collectors Series · Thirty Years of Funk: 1969–1999 · Classic Masters · Greatest HitsSingles Related Bob Seger • Craig Frost • Chris Campbell • Alto Reed
Drew Abbott • Charlie Allen Martin • Dave Teegarden • Rick Mannassa • Robyn Robbins • Dawayne BaileyThe Bob Seger System albums Bob Seger solo albums Bob Seger & the
Silver Bullet Band albumsNight Moves • Stranger in Town • Against the Wind • The Distance • Like a Rock • The Fire Inside • It's a MysteryLive albums Compilations The Bob Seger Collection • Greatest Hits • Greatest Hits 2 • Early Seger Vol. 1 • Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never ForgetsSongs "East Side Story" • "Heavy Music" • "2 + 2 = ?" • "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" • "Lucifer" • "Turn the Page" • "Get Out of Denver" • "Katmandu" • "Nutbush City Limits" • "Night Moves" • "Hollywood Nights" • "We've Got Tonite" • "Old Time Rock and Roll" • "Fire Lake" • "Against the Wind" • "You'll Accomp'ny Me" • "Tryin' To Live My Life Without You" • "Shame on the Moon" • "Roll Me Away" • "Fortunate Son" • "Like a Rock" • "Shakedown" • "Landing in London" (with 3 Doors Down) • "Wait for Me" • "Downtown Train"Related articles Categories:- 1948 births
- Living people
- American rock drummers
- Musicians from Michigan
- People from Flint, Michigan
- Florida Atlantic University alumni
- Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band members
- Grand Funk Railroad members
- Jewish American musicians
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