Brian Robert Setzer (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style

rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and b ...

group Stray Cats, and returned to the music scene in the early 1990s with his

swing revival The swing revival, also called retro swing and neo-swing, was a renewed interest in swing music, beginning around 1989 and reaching a peak from the early/mid to late 1990s. The music was generally rooted in the big bands of the swing era of the ...

band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra. In 1987, he made a cameo appearance as

Eddie Cochran Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as "Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", "C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desire ...

in the film '' La Bamba''.

Career

Stray Cats

Setzer was born April 1959 in Massapequa, New York. He started on the euphonium and played in jazz bands when he was in school. He found a way to hear jazz at the Village Vanguard, though as he got older he became more interested in rock, punk, and rockabilly. He was a member of the Bloodless Pharaohs and the Tomcats, which he began with his brother, Gary. The Tomcats became the Stray Cats when double bassist

Lee Rocker Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker, August 3, 1961) is an American musician. He is a member of the rockabilly revival band Stray Cats. He is the son of the classical clarinetists Stanley Drucker, the late former principal clarinetist of the New Yo ...

and drummer Slim Jim Phantom joined and Gary left the band. In 1980, thinking they might have more success in England than in America, they sold their instruments to pay for airplane tickets and flew to London. After performing in London for a few months, they met

Dave Edmunds David William Edmunds (born 15 April 1944) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Although he is mainly associated with pub rock and new wave, having many hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always ...

, a guitarist and record producer who shared their love of rockabilly and 1950s' rock and roll. Edmunds produced their debut album, '' Stray Cats'' ( Arista, 1981), which yielded two hit singles, " Stray Cat Strut" and " Rock This Town". The second album, '' Gonna Ball'' (Arista, 1982), was less successful. The band returned to America and released '' Built for Speed'' ( EMI, 1982), produced again by Dave Edmunds, with songs collected from their first two albums. Helped by their music videos on MTV, the Stray Cats became popular in America. Their next album, '' Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats'' (EMI, 1983) produced the hit " (She's) Sexy + 17". The Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, though they occasionally reunited, recorded, and toured. After recording three albums with different producers, they returned to Dave Edmunds for '' Choo Choo Hot Fish'' (1992).

Solo career/The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Brian Setzer performs with his orchestra in the East Room of the White House

After the Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, Setzer began a solo career that included working as a sideman for other acts, such as

the Honeydrippers The Honeydrippers were an English rock and roll band of the 1980s, deriving their name from Roosevelt Sykes, an American blues singer also known as "Honeydripper". Former Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant formed the group in 1981 to sati ...

led by

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the English rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980, when the band broke up following th ...

. On his first solo album, ''

The Knife Feels Like Justice ''The Knife Feels Like Justice'' is the debut album by American musician Brian Setzer, released in 1986 on the EMI America record label. In contrast to the rockabilly sound of his earlier band Stray Cats, this album emphasizes a roots rock sound ...

'' (EMI, 1986), he turned away from rockabilly and moved toward rhythm and blues ( R&B) and the heartland rock of

John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumen ...

. The album was produced by

Don Gehman Don Gehman is an American record producer, engineer, and executive, best known for his work with John Mellencamp and Hootie & the Blowfish. He was one of "the most successful producers of the 1980s and 1990s." As a sound engineer, he also helped ...

and featured

Kenny Aronoff Kenny Aronoff (born March 7, 1953) is an American session drummer. Early life Aronoff grew up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts He developed an interest in music at an early age and gravitated to the drums as "drumming was one hundred percent ener ...

on drums. Both men had worked on albums by Mellencamp. His second studio album ''Live Nude Guitars'' followed in 1988. While this album retained some heartland rock elements, it found Setzer moving in more of a straight-ahead

blues rock Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes w ...

direction, comparable to

George Thorogood George Lawrence Thorogood (born February 24, 1950) is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Wilmington, Delaware. His "high-energy boogie-blues" sound became a staple of 1980s rock radio, with hits like his original songs " Bad to th ...

's style; Setzer served as co-producer along with Larson Paine, Chris Thomas and

David A. Stewart David Allan Stewart (born 9 September 1952) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for Eurythmics, his successful professional partnership with Annie Lennox. Sometimes credited as David A. Stewart, he won Best British ...

. He went on tour with Thorogood later that year. Setzer returned to his love of music from the 1950s, this time the

jump blues Jump blues is an up-tempo style of blues, usually played by small groups and featuring horn instruments. It was popular in the 1940s and was a precursor of rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Appreciation of jump blues was renewed in the 1990s as ...

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...

. Whereas he had resurrected rockabilly in the 1980s, he resuscitated

swing Swing or swinging may refer to: Apparatus * Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth * Pendulum, an object that swings * Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus * Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse * Swing ri ...

in the 1990s. He assembled the Brian Setzer Orchestra, a seventeen piece big band that got the public's attention with a cover version of Prima's "

Jump, Jive an' Wail "Jump, Jive an' Wail" is a 1956 jazz swing song by Louis Prima.Stark, Karl (September 7, 2007). Louis Prima; Jump, Jive An' Wail: The Essential Louis Prima (review). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''Hillburn, Robert (July 24, 2007). Prima and Smith's ...

" from the album '' The Dirty Boogie'' (

Interscope Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Mu ...

, 1998). The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, while " Sleep Walk" from the same album won the Grammy for

Best Pop Instrumental Performance The Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by m ...

. The album ''Wolfgang's Big Night Out'' (2007) featured Setzer's interpretation of classical pieces, such as Beethoven's " Symphony No. 5" and " Für Elise". ''Wolfgang'' earned Setzer his eighth Grammy nomination, this time for

Best Classical Crossover Album Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporation, ...

. He executive produced the album ''

Ready Steady Go! ''Ready Steady Go!'' (or ''RSG!'') was a British rock/pop music television programme broadcast every Friday evening from 9 August 1963 until 23 December 1966. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan wanted a light ente ...

'' ( Surfdog, 2014) by Drake Bell and played guitar on two songs. On June 25, 2021, Setzer announced a new solo album, his first in 7 years, titled ''Gotta Have the Rumble''.

Personal life

Setzer has been married three times, most recently in 2005 to Julie Reiten, a former singer with the Dustbunnies, and lives in Minneapolis.

Awards and honors

* Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, 1999 * Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, "

", 1998 * Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, " Sleep Walk" and "

Caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...

" * Long Island Music Hall of Fame, 2015

Discography

Solo

* ''

'' (EMI, 1986) * ''Live Nude Guitars'' (EMI, 1988) * ''Rockin' by Myself'' (InsideOut

apan Apan is a city and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, in central-eastern Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 346.9 km². Overview As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 39,247. It was an important site in the W ...

1993) * '' Ignition!'' (Surfdog, 2001) * ''

Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy ''Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy'' is the eleventh solo album from American musician Brian Setzer, released in 2003 on Surfdog Records. He said, when released, that it was the most personal record he had ever done. He ventured away from his tradition ...

'' (Surfdog, 2003) * ''Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records'' (Surfdog, 2005) * '' 13'' (Surfdog, 2006) * ''Red Hot & Live'' (Surfdog, 2007) * ''

Setzer Goes Instru-Mental! ''Setzer Goes Instru-Mental!'' is a music album by Brian Setzer, released in April 2011 through Surfdog Records. The album earned Setzer a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumenta ...

'' (Surfdog, 2011) * ''Rockabilly Riot! Live from the Planet'' (Surfdog, 2012) * '' Rockabilly Riot! All Original'' (Surfdog, 2014) * ''Gotta Have the Rumble'' (Surfdog, 2021) The Brian Setzer Orchestra * '' The Brian Setzer Orchestra'' (

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

, 1994) * '' Guitar Slinger'' (Interscope, 1996) * '' The Dirty Boogie'' (Interscope, 1998) * '' Vavoom!'' (Interscope, 2000) * '' Jumpin' East of Java'' (Toy's Factory, 2001) * '' Boogie Woogie Christmas'' (Surfdog, 2002) * '' Dig That Crazy Christmas'' (Surfdog, 2005) * '' Wolfgang's Big Night Out'' (Surfdog, 2007) * '' Songs from Lonely Avenue'' (Surfdog, 2009) * ''Christmas Comes Alive'' (Surfdog, 2010) * '' Rockin' Rudolph'' (Surfdog, 2015)

As member

Bloodless Pharaohs * ''Marty Thau Presents 12 x 5'' (Red Star, 1980) on two tracks * ''Brian Setzer and the Bloodless Pharaohs'' (Collectables, 1996) Stray Cats * '' Stray Cats'' (1981) * '' Gonna Ball'' (1981) * '' Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats'' (1983) * ''Rock Therapy'' (1986) * ''Blast Off!'' (1989) * ''Let's Go Faster!'' (1990) * '' Choo Choo Hot Fish'' (1992) * ''Original Cool'' (1993) * ''40'' (2019)

As guest

* '' Come Out and Play'',

Twisted Sister Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based on Long Island, New York. Their best-known songs include " We're Not Gonna Take It" and " I Wanna Rock", both of which were associated with ...

(1985) * ''Deep in the Heart of Nowhere'',

Bob Geldof Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (; born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter, and political activist. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, who achieved popularity as part o ...

(1986) * ''Sentimental Hygiene'',

Warren Zevon Warren William Zevon (; January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and musician. Zevon's most famous compositions include "Werewolves of London", " Lawyers, Guns and Money", and " Roland the Headless Th ...

(1987) * '' Two Fires'', Jimmy Barnes (1990) * ''Closer to the Flame'',

(1990) * ''Traffic from Paradise'',

Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones (born November 8, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author. Over the course of a career that spans five decades, she has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, pop, soul, and jazz. A two ...

(1993) * '' Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters'',

Paul Rodgers Paul Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is a British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead vocalist of numerous bands, including Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and The Law. He has also performed as a solo artist, and co ...

(1993) * ''La Bamba'',

Los Lobos Los Lobos (, Spanish for "the Wolves") are an American rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cu ...

(1993) * ''Toolin' Around'', Arlen Roth (1993) * ''Bug Alley'',

Gary Hoey Gary Hoey (born August 23, 1960) is an American hard rock and latterly blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has recorded over 20 albums and had five Top 20 ''Billboard'' hits. Early life and early career Hoey was born in Lowell, Ma ...

(1996) * '' Cheating at Solitaire'',

Mike Ness Michael Daniel Ness (born April 3, 1962) is an American musician who is the lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the punk rock band Social Distortion, which was formed in 1978. Early life Ness was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on April ...

(1999) * ''Beatin' the Heat'', Dan Hicks (2000) * ''Ghost on the Canvas'', Glen Campbell (2011) * ''Step Back'',

Johnny Winter John Dawson Winter III (February 23, 1944 – July 16, 2014) was an American singer and guitarist. Winter was known for his high-energy blues rock albums and live performances in the late 1960s and 1970s. He also produced three Grammy Award-win ...

(2014) * ''Ready Steady Go!'', Drake Bell (2014) * "Uptown Number 7", Dion from '' Blues with Friends'' (2020)

DVD

* ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live in Japan'' (2001) * ''Rumble in Brixton'' (2004) * ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza'' (2005) * ''One Rockin' Night ('95)'' (2007) * ''Live in Montreal Jazz Festival'' (2010) * ''Rockabilly Riot! Osaka Rocka Live in Japan'' (2016) * ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Rocks!'' (2018)

Musical equipment

Brian Setzer has a very large guitar collection which spans many decades and brands. He favours vintage equipment and hollow body guitars, and currently endorses

Gretsch Gretsch is an American company that manufactures musical instruments. The company was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by Friedrich Gretsch, a 27-year-old German immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the United States. Friedrich Gretsch ...

guitars. Vintage guitars: *

D'Angelico John D'Angelico (1905 in Little Italy, Manhattan – September 1, 1964 in Manhattan) was a luthier from New York City, noted for his handmade archtop guitars and mandolins. He founded the D'Angelico Guitars company, where other notable luthier ...

Excel - 1938 * D'Angelico New Yorker - 1940 *

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

Model D-28 Acoustic - 1956 * Fender Stratocaster Turquoise - 1957 *

Guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometim ...

Bluesbird - 1959 *

Model 6130 Round Up - 1955 * Gretsch Model 6128 Black Duo Jet - 1958 * Gretsch Model 6136 White Falcon - 1957 * Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - No Pickguard - 1957 * Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - White Pickguard - 1957 * Gretsch Model 6136 White Falcon - 1957 * Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - Black Pickguard - 1958 * Gretsch Model 6120 "Stray Cat" - 1959 * Gretsch Model 6120 Chet Atkins - 1959 * Gretsch Model 6119 "Christmas Custom" - 1959 * Gretsch Model 6119 Blue Sparkle Jet - 1959 * Gretsch Model 6120 - 1960 * Gretsch Model 6119 - 1960 *

Gibson Gibson may refer to: People * Gibson (surname) Businesses * Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment * Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based * Gi ...

Firebird V - 1964 Signature guitars: * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Signature Prototype * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom Purple * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Pinstripe" * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Spotty" * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Red" * Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Blue" * Gretsch Model 6120 SSLVO Brian Setzer Signature * Gretsch Model 6120 SSL Brian Setzer Signature * Gretsch Model 6120 SSU Brian Setzer Signature * Gretsch Model 6120 SSUGR Brian Setzer Signature * Gretsch Model 6136SLBP Brian Setzer Black Phoenix * Indie Model With White GT Stripes Other guitars: * Bigsby Custom - 2003

References

External links

* *
Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2016)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Setzer, Brian 1959 births Living people People from Oyster Bay (town), New York Stray Cats members Swing revival musicians Swing singers American bandleaders American blues guitarists American expatriates in the United Kingdom American rock guitarists American rockabilly guitarists American male guitarists Lead guitarists American male singers American rock singers Songwriters from New York (state) American rockabilly musicians Singers from New York (state) Grammy Award winners People from Massapequa, New York Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists The Honeydrippers members Massapequa High School alumni Dead Men Walking members