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 wife Bonnie Bramlett in the band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, which included a wide variety of other musicians, many of whom were successful in other contexts.

Early life

Bramlett was born in Pontotoc, 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 the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

before he was 17, serving for two and half to three years. He took boot camp at

Naval Station Great Lakes Naval Station Great Lakes (NAVSTA Great Lakes) is the home of the United States Navy's only current recruit training, boot camp, located near North Chicago, Illinois, North Chicago, in Lake County, Illinois, along Lake Michigan. Important tenan ...

, spending over half his hitch there. 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

Bramlett was performing at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood when he was asked to appear in a pilot for a new television show, '' Shindig!''. By 1965, Bramlett was a regular member of the Shindogs, the show's house band. He collaborated as a songwriter with fellow musicians Joey Cooper, Mac Davis, and

Jackie DeShannon Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers; August 21, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and radio broadcaster who has had many hit song credits beginning in the 1960s, as both a singer and composer. She was one of the first female singer-son ...

.Obituary: Delaney Bramlett; Songwriter Who Wrote 'Let It Rain'
''Los Angeles Times'', December 28, 2008. During this time, he worked with J.J. Cale and Leon Russell and released some unsuccessful solo singles. Bramlett was the first artist signed to Independence Records, headed by Phil Skaff. His debut single "Guess I Must be Dreamin" was produced by Russell, entering the Cashbox "Looking Ahead" survey on May 14, 1967. In the late 1960s, British guitar icon

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour, during which Bramlett produced and co-wrote songs for Clapton's debut solo album, ''

''. Clapton has credited Bramlett for pushing him to sing and teaching him the art of rock vocals. Bramlett produced King Curtis's last album, which produced two hit singles, "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home". Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, including

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...

, Billy Preston,

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

, the Everly Brothers, Duane Allman, 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, Curtis, Duane Allman,

Gregg Allman Gregory LeNoir Allman (December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was known for performing in the Allman Brothers Band. Allman grew up with an interest in rhythm and blues music, and the Allman B ...

, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon,

Bobby Whitlock Robert Stanley Whitlock (born March 18, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. Whitlock's musical career began with Memph ...

, Jim Keltner, Bobby Keys, and Gram Parsons. Their album ''Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour With Eric Clapton'' (1970) reached No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Between 1970 and 1972, the duo had seven songs chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, including their best-known single, the poignant " Never Ending Song of Love", which peaked at No. 13 and a cover of Dave Mason's " Only You Know and I Know", which peaked at No. 20. Delaney & Bonnie ended their professional and personal relationship in 1972. In 2006, Bramlett was one of the

duet A duet (italian language, Italian: ''duo'') is a musical composition for two Performing arts, performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a har ...

artists on the

Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...

album '' Last Man Standing'', singing and playing guitar on "Lost Highway". In 2008, Bramlett released his first CD in six years, ''A New Kind of Blues''. He died later that year.

Personal life

Bramlett was married to Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell. The couple had a daughter Bekka Bramlett, who was a member of

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1967 by the singer and guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green named the band by combining the surnames of the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassis ...

from 1993-1995 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 their cocaine addictions. They divorced in 1972, ending their musical partnership as well. Bramlett married Kim Carmel Bramlett in 1992. They were together for 13 years. Kim, a musician/singer and chief engineer at the studio, recorded the last several albums during the period of 1989–2000. They divorced in 2001. Bramlett died from complications of

gallbladder In vertebrates, the gallbladder, also known as the cholecyst, is a small hollow Organ (anatomy), organ where bile is stored and concentrated before it is released into the small intestine. In humans, the pear-shaped gallbladder lies beneath t ...

surgery at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 27, 2008.Obituary: Delaney Bramlett; songwriter who wrote 'Let It Rain'
''Los Angeles Times'', December 28, 2008. Surviving were his widow, actress Susan Lanier-Bramlett; a brother, John Wayne Bramlett; three daughters, Michele Bramlett, Suzanne Bramlett, and Bekka Bramlett; and two grandchildren. He was buried at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Legacy

Described in an obituary as a " Southern Legend", Bramlett's song "Never Ending Song of Love" has been covered by others and was used on the soundtrack of the films '' RV'' and '' A Good Year''. Bramlett co-wrote Clapton's hit song "Let It Rain". Bramlett was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame on January 18, 2011.

Discography

Delaney & Bonnie

*1969: ''

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...

'' ( Stax STS-2026) *1969: '' Accept No Substitute'' KA ''The Original Delaney & Bonnie''( Elektra EKS-74039) *1970: ''Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour with Eric Clapton'' ( Atco SD 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'' ( Columbia KC-31377) -note: reissue of ''Country Life''. *1972: '' The Best of Delaney & Bonnie'' (Atco SD-7014) *1990: '' The Best of Delaney & Bonnie'' ( Rhino R2-70777)

Solo

*1972: ''Some Things Coming'' (Columbia KC-31631) *1973: ''Mobius Strip'' (Columbia KC-32420) *1975: ''Giving Birth to a Song'' (

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

SE-5011) *1977: ''Class Reunion'' (Prodigal P6-10017-S1) *1998: ''Sounds From Home'' (Zane ZN-1013) *2004: ''Sweet Inspiration'' (rec. 1989) (Lemon LEM-36) *2007: ''A New Kind of Blues'' (Magnolia Gold MGR-7181)

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:

, ''

'' – 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:

, ''Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough'' – Guitar, vocals *1973: Pacific Gas & Electric, ''Best'' – Producer *1973: John Ussery, ''Ussery'' – Percussion, producer, slide guitar *1973:

, ''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 Rock ''Classic Rock'' ema– 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 *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") for the feature film The Still Life

References

External links

* Delaney Bramlett biographyat

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Delaney Bramlett
at

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bramlett, Delaney 1939 births 2008 deaths People from Pontotoc, Mississippi Delaney & Bonnie & Friends members Songwriters from Mississippi Record producers from California Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American singers American rock guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Mississippi 20th-century American male singers American male songwriters 20th-century American songwriters