Delaney Bramlett Passes Away

Singer/songwriter Delaney Bramlett, who worked with the likes of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, passed away on December 27, 2008, as a result of complications from gall bladder surgery. He was 69 years old.

Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi in 1939, Bramlett worked the cotton fields as a teen before eventually enlisting in the Navy. After his three-year stint was completed, he relocated to Los Angles, landing a gig as a member of the “Shindogs,” the house band for the TV Pop show “Shindig.”

Bramlett formed the short-lived Southern blues-rock band called “Delaney & Bonnie & Friends” who toured as the opening act for the super group “Blind Faith.” The group had their biggest hit LP in 1970 with “On Tour,” with Eric Clapton as a member. The album peaked at #29 on the US charts and spawned a minor hit called “Comin’ Home.” As their notoriety grew, they became friends with many rock stars throughout the world, even joining up with John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band for a tour of Europe.

Over the next two years, the duo recorded three more albums, none being able to match the success of “On Tour.” But as their albums sales were falling, they suddenly found themselves as hit makers. In 1971, they cracked the US Top 20 two times, first with “Never Ending Song of Love” (which went to #13) and Dave Mason’s, “Only You Know and I Know,” which peaked at #20.

Additionally, during his time with Delaney & Bonnie, Bramlett was writing and producing music for other artists. Among his best known songs were “Superstar” (written with Leon Russell) and the legendary cut, “Let It Rain,” which was co-written with Eric Clapton. Bramlett is also credited with teaching George Harrison how to play the slide guitar, leading to Harrison playing the instrument on his single “My Sweet Lord.”

He also performed with other top rock stars including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, J.J.Cale, the Everly Brothers and Mac Davis.

After his divorce from Bonnie, Bramlett recorded three solo efforts between 1972 and 1978 and then dropped out of the music scene for a couple of decades. He became a ‘born-again’ Christian and wrote advertising jingles. He returned to music in 2000 and released three more solo albums, the last being 2007’s “A New Kind of Blues.”

Discography

Home - Stax, 1969
Accept No Substitute - Elektra, 1969
On Tour with Eric Clapton - Atco, 1970
To Bonnie from Delaney - Atco, 1970
Motel Shot - Atco, 1971
D&B Together - Columbia/CBS, 1972
The Best of Delaney & Bonnie - Atco, 1972/Rhino, 1990 (compilation)
Hi-Five - Rhino, 2005 (compilation)

Delaney, Bonnie & Friends - Comin' Home