Brad Delp

Infobox musical artist
Name = Brad Delp


Img_capt =
Img_size = 250
Landscape = Yes
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date|1951|6|12
Danvers, Massachusetts, USA
Died = death date and age|2007|3|9|1951|6|21
Atkinson, New Hampshire
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Genre = Rock, hard rock
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 1969 - 2007
Label = Epic, MCA, Artemis
Associated_acts = Boston, RTZ, Beatlejuice
URL = [http://www.bandboston.com Bandboston.com]

Bradley E. Delp (June 12 1951 – March 9 2007) was an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Boston.

Early life

Delp was born in Danvers, MassachusettsPareles, Jon (March 10 2007). Brad Delp, 55, Lead Singer for Boston, Dies. "The New York Times"] to Canadian immigrants. While his father played fiddle at home, Brad was inspired after seeing The Beatles perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 and he started to learn guitar. He saw The Beatles live at Suffolk Downs in East Boston on August 18, 1966.cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/18/delps_bandmates_friends_unite_in_tribute_and_in_sadness/
title=Delp's bandmates, friends unite in tribute and in sadness
first=Eric
last=Moskowitz
publisher=The Boston Globe
date=2007-08-18] In 1970, he was making heating elements for Mr. Coffee machines at Danvers company Hot-Watt when he met Boston founding members Tom Scholz, Barry Goudreau and Jim Masdea.

Musical career

Delp auditioned as lead vocalist for the band that became Boston in 1976 and got the job immediately. In addition to lead vocals, he contributed back-up vocals, guitar, harmonica and keyboards on the Boston albums . His partnership with guitarist Tom Scholz led to a string of hit songs .Pareles, Jon (November 5 1986) New Boston hit a throwback to the 70's. "The New York Times"]

Delp performed all lead and backing vocals on the first three Boston albums. Following Boston's 1978 album "Don't Look Back", he contributed lead vocals to a solo album by Barry Goudreau. He also contributed backing vocals to Orion the Hunter's debut album (1984), and the group RTZ (Return to Zero).Winberg, Pär (1980). [http://www.melodic.net/interviewsOne.asp?interviewId=26 Interview with Brad Delp.] melodic.net] He returned to Boston to record "Third Stage", released in 1986.

On the 1994 Boston album "Walk On", Fran Cosmo replaced Delp who was working with Return to Zero, but the album did not sell well. Delp later shared vocals with Cosmo in concert, where Delp said Cosmo covered "the really tough high parts". Pareles, Jon (June 10 1995). In performance: Rock. "The New York Times"]

Delp returned to the Boston line-up in 1994 and made contributions to their 1997 "Greatest Hits" and 2002 "Corporate America" albums.

From 1995–2007, Delp played in a Beatles tribute band called Beatlejuice when he had time off from Boston. Delp also performed with Goudreau on an album released in 2006, titled "Delp and Goudreau".

Personal life

Delp was married and divorced twice, and had two children by his second wife . He was a vegetarian for over thirty years and contributed to a number of charitable causes.Wright, Jeb (July 2003). [http://www.thirdstage.ca/boston/articles/brad_delp_of_boston_classicrockrevisited.com.pdf Interview with Brad Delp.] "Classic Rock Revisited"] He was set to marry his girlfriend of seven years, Pamela Sullivan, at the time of his death.

Death

On March 9 2007, Delp was found dead in his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire. Delp, who was only 55, died from the smoke of two charcoal grills he lit inside his sealed bathroom. He was found by his girlfriend Pamela Sullivan lying on a pillow on his bathroom floor with a suicide note pinned to his shirt stating that he was a "lonely soul". The official cause of death was listed as carbon monoxide poisoning. [ [http://www.wmur.com/entertainment/11253135/detail.html Police Report On Delp's Death Reveals His Final Message] March 14, 2007] [ [http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/03/14/family_rocker_brad_delps_death_was_suicide/ Family: Rocker Brad Delp's death was suicide] March 14, 2007] That day, the official web site for the band was taken down and replaced with the statement: "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."

Delp left private notes to all his family members and a public note that read: "Mr. Brad Delp. Je suis une âme solitaire. I am a lonely soul." [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17613903/ 'I am a lonely soul,' Delp's suicide note says] March 15, 2007] [ [http://www.therockradio.com/2007/03/brad-delps-fiance-releases-statement-on.html Brad Delp's fiancee releases statement on his death] March 28, 2007]

A tribute concert featuring his former band mates took place on August 192007, the day after his marriage was to have taken place.

On October 16 2007, Barry Goudreau released one final song with Brad on vocals titled "Rockin' Away." Recorded in the summer of 2006, it is an autobiography of Delp's music career. The song was a minor hit in early 2008, charting up to #18 on the America's Music ranking of rock radio airplay. [ [http://www.thirdstage.ca/boston/content/view/484/2/ thirdstage.ca - 'Rockin Away' on Radio Charts ] ]

Discography

*"Boston" (1976)
*"Don't Look Back" (1978)
*"Barry Goudreau" (1980)
*"Orion The Hunter" (1984)
*"Third Stage" (1986)
*"Return To Zero" (1991)
*"Greatest Hits (Boston)" (1997)
*"Lost" (1998)
*"Corporate America" (2002)
*"Delp And Goudreau" (2003)
*"Lost And Found" (2005)
*Delp And Goudreau (2007) a single titled "Rockin Away"

References

External links

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Persondata
NAME=Delp, Bradley E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American musician
DATE OF BIRTH=June 12 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH=Danvers, Massachusetts, United States
DATE OF DEATH=March 9 2007
PLACE OF DEATH=Atkinson, New Hampshire, United States