Bonnie Bramlett | |
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.jpg) Bramlett at the 2012New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell |
| Also known as | Bonnie Sheridan |
| Born | (1944-11-08)November 8, 1944 (age 80)[1] Granite City, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Website | bonniebramlett |
Bonnie Bramlett (bornBonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband,Delaney Bramlett, asDelaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist.
Bonnie O'Farrell was born inGranite City, Illinois, the daughter of a steelworker. When she was young her parents divorced and remarried other spouses.[2] She was raised with an extended family that included four half-and step-siblings.[3] She began singing as a child. When she was five years old, she sang "Beautiful Golden Harbor" at the family church in Granite City.[2] Bonnie started her musical career at the age of fifteen singing aroundSt. Louis. She performed as a backup singer for blues musicians such asAlbert King andLittle Milton, and R&B singerFontella Bass.[2]
Bonnie was inspired byTina Turner to pursue a singing career. In her teens, she sawIke & Tina Turner perform at a club in nearbyEast St. Louis.[3] Bonnie became the first whiteIkette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.[4] She filled in for IketteJessie Smith who had briefly quit after her boyfriend, Sam Rhodes, a bassist in theKings of Rhythm was fired. Bramlett recalled: "Jessie left when Sam left and they needed an Ikette. I was there so I went with them. For three days. I was 17 and I was white and my mother wouldn't let me stay any longer than that. I could only help them out, she said. So I just put on a dark wig because I'm blonde and Man Tan because I'm white and helped them out."[2]
Eventually Bramlett moved toLos Angeles to escape abuse by her father and stepfather.[5] In 1967, she met musicianDelaney Bramlett (1939–2008), performing at the opening of a bowling alley with the "Shindogs", thehouse band of the television showShindig!. They were married a week later.[3] The duo signed withStax Records and became known asDelaney & Bonnie. They soon toured Europe with the British rock guitaristEric Clapton. With frequent drop-in performances by other noted musicians likeDuane Allman,George Harrison, andDave Mason, the group became known as Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Their albumOn Tour with Eric Clapton (1970) reached #29 on theBillboard 200.[6] Between 1970 and 1972, the duo had seven songs chart on theBillboard Hot 100, including their best-known single "Never Ending Song of Love" which peaked at #13 and acover of Dave Mason's "Only You Know and I Know" which peaked at #20.[6]
WithLeon Russell, Delaney and Bonnie co-wrote "Superstar", popularized by theCarpenters, and with Eric Clapton Bonnie wrote the classic "Let It Rain",[7] which is included on Clapton'seponymous first album. The song '"Superstar'" was originally written by Bonnie Bramlett andRita Coolidge as detailed in the autobiographyDelta Lady by Rita Coolidge and Michael Walker. Eric Clapton added some embellishments to the music.[citation needed]
In 1969, TheRolling Stones originally asked Bonnie to sing a duet withMick Jagger on their song "Gimme Shelter", but Delaney refused to let her perform with the Stones.[8] The Stones then asked soul and gospel singerMerry Clayton to sing on the track. It remains the most prominent contribution to a Rolling Stones track by a female vocalist.[9] According to Bonnie, just before a concert tour in 1970, the duo's band abruptly quit.[3] However, Delaney claims it was Bonnie who didn't show up for the tour.[5]
Bonnie and Delaney Bramlett had small roles in the 1971 filmVanishing Point and in 1974'sCatch My Soul.
Their last album together,D&B Together (1972) released #133 on theBillboard 200.[6] Delaney and Bonnie disbanded, both musically and maritally, in 1972. Bonnie Bramlett continued her career as a solo songwriter and recording artist.
She released her first solo albumSweet Bonnie Bramlett in 1973, recorded with theAverage White Band whose name she initially proposed. That album presaged theDisco movement, particularly with the trackCrazy 'Bout My Baby played heavily in underground dance clubs like the Gallery in New York. The song is featured on Nicky Siano's Legendary The Gallery onSoul Jazz Records. Her second albumIt's Time peaked at #168 on theBillboard 200 in 1975.[10]
In 1973/74, Bramlett toured the United States and Canada, with her band, 'The Entertainers', promoting her new album and herself as a single artist. That musical entourage featured: Michael 'Papabax' Baxter on the keyboards; Little Moe Mosely on drums; Doc Schwebke on bass; Michael Elliot, Donnie Dacus, and Phillip John Diaz on guitars; Larry Williams, Jimmy Reed and Big John Rayford on saxophones; background singers; Carolyn (Brandt) Corlew, Lagatha (Smallwood) Wharton, and Lea Santos..and Bandleader, Gabe Flemings on trumpet.
Bramlett continued to contribute vocals to recordings by other artists, includingLittle Feat and theAllman Brothers Band.
In 1979, Bramlett travelled toHavana,Cuba, to participate in the historicHavana Jam festival, alongsideStephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, theTrio of Doom,Fania All-Stars,Billy Swan,Weather Report, Mike Finnegan,Kris Kristofferson,Rita Coolidge andBilly Joel, plus an array of Cuban artists such asIrakere,Pacho Alonso,Tata Güines andOrquesta Aragón. Her performance appears inHavana Jam '79 a documentary film by Ernesto Juan Castellanos.
While on tour with Stills in 1979, Bramlett punchedElvis Costello in the face at a hotel bar inColumbus, Ohio, after Costello referred toJames Brown as a "jive-assnigger" andRay Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger."[11][12] Bramlett having brought his remarks to the attention of the press, Costello apologized at a press conference inNew York City a few days later, stating he had been drunk and had been trying to be obnoxious in order to bring the conversation to a swift conclusion. According to Costello, "it became necessary for me to outrage these people with about the most obnoxious and offensive remarks that I could muster."[13]
Bramlett guest-starred in an episode ofFame in 1986.[5]
After exploringgospel music in the 1980s, Bramlett marriedDanny Sheridan in 1988 and she changed her professional name to Bonnie Sheridan.[5] He became her manager and produced her next recordings. She fronted their group the Bandaloo Doctors,[5] with their self-proclaimed "revolutionary hard rockin' blues." The group's music attracted the admiration of many Hollywood celebrities. In 1990, Bonnie met Roseanne Barr at a rehab program fund-raiser, and she was soon cast as a semi-regular on the hitABC seriesRoseanne.[3] Bramlett (credited as Sheridan) played a co-worker and friend (named Bonnie) ofRoseanne Barr's character Roseanne Conner, with Danny Sheridan occasionally writing music and appearing as the character Hank the bass player.
In 1992, the Bandaloo Doctors toured as the opening act forRingo Starr.[5]
Bonnie was cast in the 1991 movieThe Doors, playing a bartender. She also appeared in the Andrew Davis filmThe Guardian (2006), starringKevin Costner andAshton Kutcher.
In 2002, Bramlett returned to her musical roots, releasing the albumI'm Still the Same. In 2006, she was a backup vocalist for theSouthern rock artistShooter Jennings on his albumElectric Rodeo. She declined to accompany him on his ensuing tour. Bramlett later sang "Proud Mary" on the 2009 tribute album forIke Turner titledRocket 88: Tribute to Ike Turner.[14]
In 1967, Bramlett metDelaney Bramlett during a gig performing at the opening of a bowling alley. They were married a week later.[3] Their first daughter, Rebekka, who is now also a singer, was born in 1968. Their marriage was marred by violence due to theircocaine addictions.[5] Bonnie Bramlett toldPeople that they had anabusive relationship: "We fought a lot—heavy-duty physical stuff. It wasn't nice to be around, and I'm sure it wasn't fun to watch."[3] In 1972, she divorced Delaney, leaving him and his mother with her own daughters, Suzanne and Rebekka, and the two daughters Delaney had brought to the marriage, Michelle and Mikkol.[3]
Bramlett later rebuilt her relationship with her daughters. Rebekka became a singer, professionally known asBekka Bramlett. She joinedFleetwood Mac in 1993 after the departure ofStevie Nicks, and appeared on their albumTime.
Bramlett began dating musicianDanny Sheridan in 1983. They were married in 1988,[5] but later divorced. She credited Sheridan for saving her from her addictions and her friendRoseanne Barr for giving her work on her show.[3]
Bramlett began using cocaine during her marriage to Delaney. After their marriage ended, Bramlett suffered fromdepression. While visiting her friendGregg Allman's farmland inJuliette, Georgia, she planned to commitsuicide by shooting herself with a shotgun in December 1976. Instead, she thought about her children, shot the gun up in the air, and then called the hospital.[3] She continued to struggle with her addictions to cocaine, pills, and alcohol throughout the decade. In 1982, she underwent more hospital treatment that proved unsuccessful. Eventually, with the help of Danny Sheridan, she joined a12-step recovery program.[5]
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