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 Bonnie Bramlett (born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband, Delaney Bramlett, as Delaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist. Life and career ...

in the band

Delaney & Bonnie Delaney & Bonnie were an American duo of singer-songwriters Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett. In 1969 and 1970, they fronted a rock/soul ensemble, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, whose members at different times included Duane Allman, Gregg ...

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 Pontotoc is a city in, and the county seat of, Pontotoc County, Mississippi, located to the west of the much larger city of Tupelo. The population was 5,625 at the 2010 census. Pontotoc is a Chickasaw word that means, “Land of the Hanging Gr ...

. He began playing guitar when he was eight years old, but didn't 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 maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

before he was 17, serving for two and half to three years. He took boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, 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! ''Shindig!'' is an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles, 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 with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards, as both singer and composer. She was one of the first female singer-songw ...

.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 Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''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 joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour, after 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. Bramlett produced

King Curtis Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician ...

's last album,Indie Ezine
/ref> which produced two hit singles, "Teasin'" and "Lonesome Long Way from Home". Bramlett taught Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison to play slide guitar, prominently featured in Harrison's

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

My Sweet Lord "My Sweet Lord" is a song by English musician George Harrison, released in November 1970 on his triple album ''All Things Must Pass''. It was also released as a single, Harrison's first as a solo artist, and topped charts worldwide; it was the ...

". Bramlett wrote, recorded, or appeared on stage with many notable performers, including Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Billy Preston,

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

, the

Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (January 19, 193 ...

Duane Allman Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American rock guitarist, session musician, and the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame i ...

Spooner Oldham Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham (born June 14, 1943) is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, at FAME Studios as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on such hit R&B songs as Percy S ...

, Steve Cropper, and

Billy Burnette Dorsey William Burnette III (born May 8, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting. Family ba ...

. 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 Br ...

Dave Mason David Thomas Mason (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. Over the course of his career, Mason has played and recorded with many notable pop and rock mu ...

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on ''Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and the ...

Carl Radle Carl Dean Radle (June 18, 1942 – May 30, 1980) was an American bassist who toured and recorded with many of the most influential recording artists of the late 1960s and 1970s. He was posthumously inducted to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame i ...

, 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 Memp ...

Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". Howard Sounes. ''Dow ...

Bobby Keys Robert Henry Keys (December 18, 1943 – December 2, 2014) was an American saxophonist who performed with other musicians as a member of several horn sections of the 1970s. He appears on albums by the Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Harry Ni ...

, and

Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) who was known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, ...

. 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 "Never Ending Song of Love" is a song written by Delaney Bramlett, and, according to some sources, by his wife Bonnie Bramlett. It was originally recorded with their band, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, in 1971 on the album ''Motel Shot''. Released ...

", which peaked at No. 13 and a

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

of Dave Mason's "

Only You Know and I Know "Only You Know and I Know" is a song written and originally recorded by Dave Mason in 1970. It is a track from his LP, '' Alone Together''. The song was his first charting single, and it became a modest hit for him in the U.S. and Canada. Dela ...

", which peaked at No. 20. Delaney & Bonnie ended their professional and personal relationship in 1972. In 2006, Bramlett was one of the duet artists on the

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

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 Rebekka Ruth Lazone Bramlett (born April 19, 1968) is an American singer and session background singer. She is the daughter of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, of the music duo Delaney & Bonnie. She has been a member of Mick Fleetwood's band the Z ...

, who was briefly a member of Fleetwood Mac in 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 their cocaine addictions. They divorced in 1972, ending their musical partnership as well. Bramlett married

Kim Carmel Bramlett Kim or KIM may refer to: Names * Kim (given name) * Kim (surname) Kim is a surname with multiple origins. Korean family name Kim, sometimes spelt Gim, is the most common family name in Korea. Other derivations People with the surname Kim, b ...

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 of

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

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 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 Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Histor ...

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 ''A Good Year'' is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. The film stars Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, Abbie Cornish, Tom Hollander, Freddie Highmore and Albert Finney. The film is loosely based ...

''. 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'' (

Stax Streaming API for XML (StAX) is an application programming interface ( API) to read and write XML documents, originating from the Java programming language community. Traditionally, XML APIs are either: * DOM based - the entire document is read i ...

STS-2026) *1969: ''

Accept No Substitute ''The Original Delaney & Bonnie'', also known by its subtitle ''Accept No Substitute'', is the second studio album by American recording duo Delaney & Bonnie. It was recorded with many of the "friends" that would form the core of their best-known ...

'' KA ''The Original Delaney & Bonnie''( Elektra EKS-74039) *1970: ''Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour with Eric Clapton'' (

Atco Atco or ATCO may refer to: Businesses * ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies ** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company * Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing ...

SD 33-326) *1970: ''

To Bonnie from Delaney ''To Bonnie from Delaney'' is the fourth album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. It was their first studio album for the Atco/Atlantic Records, Atlantic label (catalog no. SD 33-341), and their fourth album overall. Coincidentally, Atco/Atlantic's ...

'' (Atco SD 33-341) *1971: ''Genesis'' (early recordings from 1964 to 1965 and 1967) (GNP Crescendo GNPS-2054) *1971: ''

Motel Shot ''Motel Shot'' is a studio album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, released in 1971. The album, their third for Atco/Atlantic Records, Atlantic (catalog no. SD 33-358) and fifth overall, is a mostly acoustic set. The album's title refers to the imp ...

'' (Atco SD 33-358) *1972: '' Country Life'' (Atco SD 33-383) *1972: ''

D&B Together ''D&B Together'' (originally titled ''Country Life'') is the sixth album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends and their first for Columbia Records. It was their last album of new material, as Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett would divorce soon after its r ...

'' ( Columbia KC-31377) -note: reissue of ''Country Life''. *1972: '' The Best of Delaney & Bonnie'' (Atco SD-7014) *1990: '' The Best of Delaney & Bonnie'' (

Rhino A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

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 and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

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 The Crickets were an American rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in January 1957. Their first hit record, "That'll Be the Day", released in May 1957, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, ...

, ''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:

, '' 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 John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, ''I'm Satisfied'' – Producer, vocals, guitar *1972: Eric Clapton, ''

The History of Eric Clapton ''The History of Eric Clapton'' is a compilation double LP, released in 1972 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom, and Atco Records in the United States. It features Eric Clapton performing in various bands between 1964 and 1970, including ...

'' – Guitar, vocals *1972: Eric Clapton, ''

Eric Clapton at His Best ''Eric Clapton at His Best'' is a two-LP compilation of Eric Clapton's work after he left his earlier band Cream (band), Cream, released in September 1972. It was concurrently released with a two-LP compilation of Cream tracks, ''Heavy Cream'' ...

'' – Producer *1972:

, '' An Anthology'' – Rhythm guitar, vocals, producer *1972:

, ''Stories We Could Tell'' – Guitar, vocals *1973:

, ''Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough'' – Guitar, vocals *1973:

Pacific Gas & Electric The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is an American investor-owned utility (IOU). The company is headquartered in the Pacific Gas & Electric Building, in San Francisco, California. PG&E provides natural gas and electricity to 5.2 milli ...

, ''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 Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to: * Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...

'' – Guitar, vocals, producer, horn arrangements *1991: Zoo, ''Shakin' the Cage'' – Background vocals *1992:

Phil Driscoll Phil Driscoll (born November 9, 1947) is a trumpeter, singer, composer, and producer. He performs in varying music genres and styles which include rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and patriotic music, and is best known for his work in Christian ...

, ''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 National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

dobro *1998:

Ian Whitcomb Ian Timothy Whitcomb (10 July 1941 – 19 April 2020) was an English entertainer, singer-songwriter, record producer, writer, broadcaster and actor. As part of the British Invasion, his hit song " You Turn Me On" reached number 8 on the ''B ...

, ''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" – VocalsDelaneybramlett.com
/ref> *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"

References

External links

Delaney Bramlett biography Delaney may refer to: People * Delaney (surname), including a list of people with the surname * Delaney (given name), including a list of people with the given name Places * Delaney, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Delaney, West Virginia, ...

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

Delaney Bramlett
at MySpace * {{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