Doyle Bramhall

All Music Guide:

Born in Dallas in 1949, this singer/songwriter/drummer grew up listening to Dallas radio (with heavy doses of Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles, and Bobby Blue Bland on rock & roll stations) and locals the Nightcaps, one of the country's first white electric blues bands. In high school he joined the Chessmen, which soon included a young Jimmie Vaughan on guitar; they opened in Dallas on Jimi Hendrix's first U.S. tour. Moving to Austin in 1970, he and Vaughan formed Texas Storm, which later shortened its name to Storm and occasionally included Jimmie's younger brother Stevie on bass. Doyle next formed the Nightcrawlers with Stevie (now on lead guitar), who later credited Bramhall as a primary vocal influence. During this time the two also co-wrote "Dirty Pool," which Vaughan included on his debut, Texas Flood. Doyle wrote or co-wrote seven more songs on subsequent Stevie Ray albums, and collaborated on three for Family Style by the Vaughan Brothers (which also featured Bramhall on drums). While drumming with Marcia Ball and Mason Ruffner in the early '80s, Bramhall began stockpiling solo recordings, which eventually comprised his long-awaited debut on CD, featuring both Vaughans and Doyle's son, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, formerly of the Arc Angels. He also began a collaboration that proved interesting -- with pop singer Jennifer Warnes. The striking Bird Nest on the Ground appeared in 1994 from Discovery, followed by Fitchburg Street in 2003 and Is It News in 2007, both from Yep Roc. Purportedly suffering from pneumonia, Bramhall died of heart failure in his sleep on November 12, 2011 in Alpine, Texas. He was 62.

Wikipedia:

Doyle Bramhall (February 17, 1949 – November 12, 2011) was an American singer-songwriter and drummer with deep roots in the Austin, Texas music scene.

Career [edit]

Bramhall joined The Chessmen with Jimmie Vaughan while in high school. The group opened for Jimi Hendrix when he played Dallas. In 1969, he moved to Austin and formed Texas Storm with Jimmie Vaughan. In the 1970s, Bramhall formed The Nightcrawlers with Marc Benno, which also included Jimmie Vaughan's younger brother Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar. While in The Nightcrawlers, Bramhall co-wrote the tune "Dirty Pool," which appeared on Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut album, Texas Flood. He would write or co-write several other songs for the younger Vaughan, such as "Life By The Drop" from SRV's The Sky Is Crying album, and he played the drums on the Vaughan Brothers only album, Family Style.

Bramhall released his debut solo record in 1994, which included appearances from the Vaughans and his own son. He also collaborated with Jennifer Warnes in the 1990s.

He was the father of singer and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II.

Death [edit]

On November 12, 2011, Bramhall died of heart failure while asleep at his home in Alpine, Texas. He was 62. It was reported that Bramhall had been suffering from pneumonia in the days immediately preceding his death.