Bramlett, Delaney

▪ 2009

      American singer-songwriter and guitarist

born July 1, 1939, Pontotoc, Miss.

died Dec. 27, 2008, Los Angeles, Calif.

co-wrote such rock-and-roll hits as “Let It Rain” and “Superstar” and performed or worked with some of the most famous rock musicians of the 1960s and '70s, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Gram Parsons, and Duane and Gregg Allman. Bramlett married singer Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell in 1967 and with her formed the group Delaney & Bonnie (later known as Delaney & Bonnie & Friends). The group toured with Clapton's band Blind Faith in 1969 and released its most popular album, On Tour with Eric Clapton, the following year. Bramlett wrote “Let It Rain” with Clapton, who recorded the song in 1970. With Bonnie and singer-songwriter Leon Russell, Bramlett wrote “Superstar,” which became a hit song for the Carpenters in 1971 and in subsequent years was recorded by many other artists, including Luther Vandross and Sonic Youth. Following his divorce from Bonnie in 1973, Bramlett pursued a solo recording career. His final album, A New Kind of Blues, appeared in 2008.

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