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Bonnie Bramlett will help launch the release of Beautiful with a special performance, backed by many of the same musicians on the new CD, at the No Depression magazine showcase during the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 12.
Beautiful reunites Bramlett with producer Johnny Sandlin, who produced two of her classic records for Capricorn Records, It’s Time (1975) and Lady’s Choice (1976), as well as many of the musicians who played on her albums during her years at the iconic Southern Rock label, such as Randall Bramblett (keyboards, sax and vocals), Scott Boyer (guitar and vocals), Tommy Talton (guitar) and Bill Stewart (drums). They are joined by such Muscle Shoals all-stars as David Hood (bass), Clayton Ivey and Spooner Oldham (Hammond B-3 organ), Mickey Buckins (percussion) and horn players Charles Rose and Harvey Thompson. Other players include guitarist Kelvin Holly (Little Richard) and keyboardist Kevin McKendree, guitarist James Pennebaker and drummer Lynn Williams of the Delbert McClinton band. Bonnie also makes it a true family affair by having her daughter Bekka join in for some testifyin’ harmony and backing vocals.
Beautiful perfectly showcases Bramlett’s roots in blues, rock, country, jazz, gospel and soul with a wide assortment of new songs, as well as signature covers of others written by Stephen Stills (“For What It’s Worth”), Waylon Jennings (“I Do Believe”) and Dan Penn (“He’ll Take Care of You”). Some of its many other highlights include the album’s bluesy/soulful opening track, “Sure Got a Way with My Heart”; a powerful duet with Randall Bramblett, “Witness for Love;” the rocking “Strongest Weakness” and “Shake Something Loose;” the insightful “Some of My Best Friends;” and the remarkable title track about the soul-searching despair a woman faces in an embattled relationship.
Born in Alton, Illinois and raised in East St. Louis, Bonnie Bramlett has played a major part of rock ‘n’ roll history. By the age of 14, she was singing in St. Louis’ Gaslight Square and was mentored by such jazz greats Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, Miles Davis and Nat and Cannonball Adderley. Her love of rhythm and blues brought her in touch with Albert King and Little Milton, and at 16, she became the first –and only – white Ikette with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
In the late ‘60s, she and then-husband Delaney formed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, the first real rock ‘n’ roll traveling road show, whose players at one time or another included George Harrison, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Gram Parsons, Leon Russell, Dave Mason and Rita Coolidge. As a songwriter, Bramlett co-wrote “Superstar,” a hit for Karen Carpenter and nominated for a Grammy in 1972.
Bonnie released her first solo album in 1973 on Epic Records, backed by the members of The Average White Band. In 1974, she signed with Capricorn Records and released three albums, highlighted by Lady’s Choice, a salute to R&B classics that teamed her for with such label mates as Gregg Allman, Jimmy Hall, Mickey Thomas, Bobby Whitlock and Dobie Gray.
Since moving to Nashville in 1999, Bonnie has released several albums; her most recent being Roots, Blues & Jazz in 2006.
In addition to her singing career, Bonnie Bramlett has also been an actress in television and films. In the early 1990s, she was a regular cast member of the hit series, “Roseanne.” Her film credits include Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” and “The Guardian,” released in 2006 and starring Kevin Costner.
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