- Delaney Bramlett
-
Delaney Bramlett Born July 1, 1939
Pontotoc, Mississippi, United StatesDied December 27, 2008 (aged 69)
Los Angeles, California, United StatesGenres Blues
Rock
Country
GospelInstruments Guitar Labels Magnolia Gold, Elektra, Atco, Atlantic, Crescendo, Motown, MGM, Columbia, Stax, CBS Various (see 'Discography') 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.
Contents
Career
Bramlett was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States. After a stint in the United States Navy, Bramlett moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 60's.[1] There he established himself as a singer-songwriter, writing with fellow musicians Joey Cooper, Mac Davis and Jackie DeShannon. By 1965 Bramlett was a regular member of the house band of the television show Shindig!, the Shindogs. During this time, he worked with J.J. Cale and Leon Russell and released some unsuccessful solo singles.[citation needed]
The British guitarist Eric Clapton joined Delaney, Bonnie & Friends on tour in the late 1960s, after which Delaney produced and co-wrote songs for Clapton's debut solo album, Eric Clapton. Clapton still credits Delaney 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 a galaxy of stars and highly respected side men, including Clapton, Harrison, Russell, 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]
Over the years, some of Bramlett's songs have reached music "standard's" status, such as "Superstar",[8] which he co-wrote with Leon Russell and his first wife, Bonnie Bramlett.[9] "Superstar", was most notably recorded by The Carpenters, reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and spent two weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart that autumn en route to going Gold. The song was also recorded by Luther Vandross, Sonic Youth, and Usher, among others.
The Bramlett's "Never Ending Song of Love" has been covered by others, and appears on the soundtrack of RV and A Good Year.[10] Bramlett co-wrote the Eric Clapton hit, "Let It Rain".[11]
On January 18, 2011, Bramlett was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.[12]
Death
Described in an obituary as a "Southern Legend",[13] 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, three daughters, Michele Bramlett, Suzanne Bramlett, Bekka Bramlett, a stepson Dylan Thomas and two grandchildren.
Discography
- 1969: Accept No Substitute (Elektra)
- 1969: Home (Stax)
- 1970: Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on Tour (WEA / Atlantic)
- 1970: To Bonnie from Delaney (Atco)
- 1971: Motel Shot (Atco)
- 1971: Genesis (GNP/Crescendo)
- 1972: Somethings Coming (Columbia)
- 1972: Country Life (Atco)
- 1972: D&B Together (CBS)
- 1973: Best of Delaney Bramlett (Atlantic)
- 1973: Mobius Strip (CBS)
- 1975: Giving Birth to a Song (MGM)
- 1977: Class Reunion (Prodigal)
- 1978: Delaney Bramlett with Steve Cropper (Motown)
- 1990: Best of Delaney & Bonnie (Rhino)
- 1998: Sounds From Home (DK/Zane)
- 2002: Sweet Inspiration (Dreamsville Records)
- 2008: A New Kind of Blues (Magnolia Gold)[14]
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[15]
References
- ^ a b 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, 3 September 1970.
- ^ Indie Ezine
- ^ A1 Artist Spotlight.com
- ^ CD Universe Sorry
- ^ PBS 106.7FM - Real Radio - Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing
- ^ CD Baby: DELANEY BRAMLETT: "A New Kind Of Blues"
- ^ "'LET IT RAIN' CO-WRITER DELANEY BRAMLETT DEAD AT 69", The Quake 102.1 website, 29 December 2008.
- ^ BMI.com Search result output
- ^ 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
Categories:- 1939 births
- 2008 deaths
- People from Pontotoc, Mississippi
- American male singers
- Delaney & Bonnie & Friends members
- Songwriters from Mississippi
- American record producers
- Deaths from surgical complications
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