Delaney & Bonnie

Biography

Delaney & Bonnie was the American musical duo of singer-songwriters Delaney Bramlett (born 1 July 1939; died 27 December 2008) and Bonnie Bramlett (born 8 November 1944). In 1969 and 1970, they fronted a rock/soul ensemble, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, whose members at different times included Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, King Curtis, and Eric Clapton. Delany Bramlett learned the guitar in his youth. He moved to Los Angeles...

Delaney & Bonnie was the American musical duo of singer-songwriters Delaney Bramlett (born 1 July 1939; died 27 December 2008) and Bonnie Bramlett (born 8 November 1944). In 1969 and 1970, they fronted a rock/soul ensemble, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, whose members at different times included Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, King Curtis, and Eric Clapton.

Delany Bramlett learned the guitar in his youth. He moved to Los Angeles in 1959, where he became a session musician. His most notable early work was as a member of the Shindogs, the house band for the ABC-TV series Shindig! (1964–66), which also included guitarist and keyboardist Leon Russell. He was the first artist signed to Independence Records. His debut single "Guess I Must be Dreamin" was produced by Leon Russell.

Bonnie Bramlett (née Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, born November 8, 1944 in Granite City, Illinois) was an accomplished singer at an early age, performing with blues guitarist Albert King at age 14 and in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue—the first white Ikette. She moved to Los Angeles in 1967 and met and married Bramlett later that year

During this time, Delany Bramlett worked with J.J. Cale, who was his first guitar player, and Leon Russell.

Over the years, some of his songs have reached "standard" status such as "Superstar", which he co-wrote with Leon Russell and his first wife, Bonnie Bramlett. 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.) In addition, Delaney co-wrote "Let It Rain", 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. Bramlett produced King Curtis' last LP, 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". Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, including Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, 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, 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. on his own label, Magnolia Gold Records.

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.

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)

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/ Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.