Delaney & Bonnie

Delaney, Bonnie & Friends was a group started by Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, which featured artists such as Eric Clapton, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon. After Delaney, Bonnie & Friends, they would form the group Derek and the Dominos. After a stint in the United States Navy, Bramlett moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1960s.[2] There he established himself as a singer-songwriter, writing with fellow musicians Joey Cooper, Mac Davis and Jackie DeShannon. Bramlett also became a regular on the television show Shindig! as a member of the show's house band, the Shindogs. During this time, he also worked with J.J. Cale, who was his first guitar player, and Leon Russell and released some unsuccessful solo singles.[citation needed]Bramlett's career spanned four decades. Over the years, some of his songs have reached "standard" status such as "Superstar"[3], which he co-wrote with Leon Russell and his first wife, Bonnie Bramlett[4]. It was recorded in 2006 by Usher, and in the past by Luther Vandross, The Carpenters, Sonic Youth (this version was on the #1 Billboard soundtrack from the movie Juno[5]) and many others; and "Never Ending Song of Love" (which is on the soundtrack of RV and A Good Year.[5]) In addition, Delaney co-wrote "Let It Rain",[6] which was recorded by Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton joined Delaney, Bonnie & Friends on tour in the early 1970s, 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.[7] Bramlett produced King Curtis' last LP[8], which had two hit singles: "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home". George Harrison had his first slide bottle placed in his hand by Bramlett, who taught Harrison how to play slide guitar, which led into a gospel jam that resulted in Harrison's hit "My Sweet Lord".[9] Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, including Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix,[10] Janis Joplin, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, John Lennon, The Everly Brothers, Spooner Oldham, Steve Cropper and Billy Burnette. In 2006 Bramlett was one of the duet artists on the Jerry Lee Lewis album Last Man Standing,[11] 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.[12] on his own label, Magnolia Gold Records. [edit]Death On December 27, 2008 at 4:55 a.m., Bramlett died from complications of gall bladder surgery.[2] He was survived by his widow, Susan Lanier-Bramlett; three daughters, Suzanne, Michele, and Bekka Bramlett, a singer; and a son, Dylan Thomas. [edit]Discography[13] 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) There is currently a grass roots movement to get Delaney admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Check out: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=247286568092&ref=ts or http://www.delaneybramlett.com/