Blurt magazine, Rolling Stone, and other publications are reporting on the death of Texas blues legend Doyle Bramhall. The veteran blues band leader, drummer, and songwriter passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at his Alpine, Texas home, reportedly from heart failure after suffering a bout of pneumonia.
Bramhall got hooked on the blues as a teenager after hearing records by artists like Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King that his older brother played with friends. Bramhall formed his first band, the Chessmen, in high school with Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. The Chessmen opened for Jimi Hendrix when he played Dallas.
During the 1970s, Bramhall was based in Austin and playing with Texas Storm, the band including both Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Later, Bramhall formed the Nightcrawlers, again with Stevie Ray and with Marc Benno, who had played in Asylum Choir with Leon Russell. Bramhall's friendship with Stevie Ray would extend until the guitarist's death, the two artists often writing songs together, including such SRV favorites as "Tightrope" and "The House Is Rockin'." Bramhall also played drums on the Vaughan brothers' album Family Style, and Jimmie Vaughan returned the favor by performing on Bramhall's solo debut, 1994's Bird Nest On The Ground.
Through the years, Bramhall performed with a number of illustrious musicians, from Marcia Ball and Lou Ann Barton to Lightnin' Hopkins, Chris Duarte and Jennifer Warnes, among others, and his songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Roomful of Blues, Brian Setzer, Eric Clapton, and Electric Light Orchestra. Bramhall released three solo albums as a bandleader, the most recent being 2007's Is It News, which was recorded with his son, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, who had been a member of Arc Angels.
An integral part of the thriving Austin, Texas blues scene for over 40 years, Doyle Bramhall was a talented musician and songwriter. He will be missed by his family, friends, and many fans around the world.
Photo by Jim Winn, courtesy Yep Roc Records
Comments
I’M SORRY TO SAY THIS,
DAMM ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG,
FLY ON MY FRIEND FLY ON
I am so sad to read this, my heart goes out to his family and love ones. Doyle was a true legend, who did not always get the credit he deserved, he will be sorely missed.
Had the pleasure of seeing Doyle play 4-5 times here in Fort Worth, met and spoke to him when he played here in 2010. A nice guy as well as a great performer. RIP