Delaine Alvin"Delaney"Bramlett(July 1, 1939 – December 27, 2008) was an American singer and guitarist. He was best known for his musical partnership with his wifeBonnie Bramlettin the bandDelaney & Bonnieand Friends, which included a wide variety of other musicians, many of whom were successful in other contexts.
Delaney Bramlett | |
|---|---|
 Bramlett in 1970 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 1, 1939 Pontotoc, Mississippi,U.S. |
| Died | December 27, 2008(aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues,rock,country,gospel |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Labels | Magnolia Gold, Elektra, Atco, Atlantic, Crescendo, Motown, MGM, Columbia, Stax, CBS |
Early life
editBramlett was born inPontotoc, Mississippi.He began playing guitar when he was 8 years old, but did not get serious about the instrument until he was a teenager. He started singing in school and at twelve he had a quartet. Bramlett joined theUnited States Navybefore he was 17, serving for two and half to three years. He took boot camp atNaval Station Great Lakes,spending over half his hitch there.[1]
After his discharge, he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, where he worked as a bartender before he started performing in clubs.
Career
editBramlett was performing at thePalomino Clubin North Hollywood when he was asked to appear in a pilot for a new television show,Shindig!.[1]By 1965, Bramlett was a regular member of the Shindogs, the show'shouse band.He collaborated as a songwriter with fellow musicians Joey Cooper,Mac Davis,andJackie DeShannon.[2]During this time, he worked withJ.J. CaleandLeon Russelland released some unsuccessful solosingles.Bramlett was the first artist signed to Independence Records, headed by Phil Skaff.[3]His debut single "Guess I Must be Dreamin" was produced by Russell,[3]entering the Cashbox "Looking Ahead" survey on May 14, 1967.[citation needed]
In the late 1960s, British guitar iconEric Claptonjoined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour, during 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.[4]Bramlett producedKing Curtis's last album,[5]which produced two hit singles, "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home".
Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, includingJoe Cocker,Jimi Hendrix,[6]Janis Joplin,Billy Preston,John Lennon,theEverly Brothers,Duane Allman,Spooner Oldham,Steve Cropper,andBilly Burnette.
Members of the Friends appearing in concert or recording with Bramlett on Friends albums include Clapton, Harrison, Leon Russell, Curtis, Duane Allman,Gregg Allman,Dave Mason,Rita Coolidge,Carl Radle,Jim Gordon,Bobby Whitlock,Jim Keltner,Bobby Keys,andGram Parsons.
Their albumDelaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour With Eric Clapton(1970) reached No. 29 on theBillboard200.[7]Between 1970 and 1972, the duo had seven songs chart on theBillboardHot 100,including their best-known single, the poignant "Never Ending Song of Love",which peaked at No. 13 and acoverof Dave Mason's "Only You Know and I Know",which peaked at No. 20.[7]Delaney & Bonnie ended their professional and personal relationship in 1972.[8]
In 2006, Bramlett was one of theduetartists on theJerry Lee LewisalbumLast Man Standing,[9]singing and playing guitar on "Lost Highway". In 2008, Bramlett released his first CD in six years,A New Kind of Blues.[10]He died later that year.
Personal life
editBramlett was married toBonnie Lynn O'Farrell.The couple had a daughterBekka Bramlett,who was briefly a member ofFleetwood Macin the mid 1990s and has had a long career as a vocalist, backing various country and pop artists and releasing several solo albums. Their marriage was marred by violence due to theircocaine addictions.[8]They divorced in 1972, ending their musical partnership as well.[8]
Bramlett married Kim Carmel Bramlett in 1992. They were together for 13 years, the longest relationship of Delaney's by far. Kim, a versatile musician/singer as well as chief engineer at the studio, recorded the last several albums during the period of 1989–2000. They divorced in 2001.
Bramlett died from complications ofgallbladdersurgery at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 27, 2008.[11]Surviving were his widowSusan Lanier-Bramlett; a brother, John Wayne Bramlett; three daughters, Michele Bramlett, Suzanne Bramlett, and Bekka Bramlett; and two grandchildren. He was buried atForest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemeteryin Los Angeles.
Legacy
editDescribed in an obituary as a "SouthernLegend ",[12]Bramlett's song "Never Ending Song of Love" has been covered by others and was used on the soundtrack of the filmsRVandA Good Year.[13]Bramlett co-wrote Clapton's hit song "Let It Rain".[14]
Bramlett was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame on January 18, 2011.[15]
Discography
editDelaney & Bonnie
edit- 1969:Home(StaxSTS-2026)
- 1969:Accept No Substitute[AKAThe Original Delaney & Bonnie] (ElektraEKS-74039)
- 1970:Delaney & Bonnie & FriendsOn Tour with Eric Clapton(AtcoSD 33-326)
- 1970:To Bonnie from Delaney(Atco SD 33-341)
- 1971:Genesis(early recordings from 1964 to 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(ColumbiaKC-31377) -note: reissue ofCountry Life.
- 1972:The Best of Delaney & Bonnie(Atco SD-7014)
- 1990:The Best of Delaney & Bonnie(RhinoR2-70777)
Solo
editOther credits
edit- 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
- 1973:Jerry Lee Lewis,The Session...Recorded in London– Bottleneck 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 RockClassic Rock[Cema] – Producer
- 1996:Heroes of Country Music, Vol. 5– Vocals, producer
- 1997:Hank Thompson,Hank, Real Thing– Background vocals,Nationaldobro
- 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[17]
- 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" )[18]for the feature filmThe Still Life
References
edit- ^abHopkins, Jerry (May 31, 1969)."Interview: Delaney & Bonnie".Rolling Stone.
- ^Obituary: Delaney Bramlett; Songwriter Who Wrote 'Let It Rain'.Los Angeles Times,December 28, 2008.
- ^ab"First Disk Bowed By Indep'dence"(PDF).Billboard.April 8, 1967. p. 16.
- ^Ward, Ed.Eric Clapton:Eric Clapton(review).Rolling Stone,September 3, 1970.
- ^"Indie Ezine – Delaney Bramlett".Archived fromthe originalon January 3, 2009.RetrievedJune 8,2008.
- ^"Delaney – Sounds From Home CD Album".Cduniverse.com.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
- ^ab"Delaney & Bonnie Chart History".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon November 10, 2019.
- ^abcHarris, Cassi (March 14, 1993)."NEW START".Chicago Tribune.
- ^PBS 106.7FM: Real Radio – Jerry Lee Lewis' "Last Man Standing"ArchivedJuly 21, 2008, at theWayback Machine,pbsfm.org.au; accessed August 18, 2014.
- ^Delaney Bramlett: "A New Kind of Blues"ArchivedJanuary 25, 2008, at theWayback Machine.CD Baby.
- ^Obituary: Delaney Bramlett; songwriter who wrote 'Let It Rain',Los Angeles Times,December 28, 2008.
- ^Delaney Bramlett: The Death of a Southern Legend,Swampland.com, December 27, 2008.
- ^Delaney BramlettatIMDb
- ^"Repertoire.bmi.com".Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 3,2010.
- ^[1][permanent dead link].
- ^"Delaney Bramlett Albums and Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
- ^"Delaney Bramlett's Home Page".Delaneybramlett.com.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
- ^"Delaney Bramlett | Music Department, Actor, Soundtrack".IMDb.com.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.