Rolling Stone.com has posted a 1969 feature by rock journalist Jerry Hopkins on Delaney and Bonnie in memory of Delaney Bramlett, who died recently. It's a great tribute.
(12/29/2008) Delaney Bramlett, one half of Delaney and Bonnie, and a talented singer, songwriter and musician in his own right who played with George Harrison, Eric Clapton and many others, has died at age 69 in Los Angeles from complications of gall bladder surgery, reports the Associated Press. In his earliest days, he played with Albert King and Ike and Tina Turner. In the '60s, Bramlett was a member of the Shindogs, the house band on the ABC-TV musical variety show "Shindig!". At various times, the band featured such well-known names as Bramlett, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Don Preston, Glen Campbell and James Burton. He was a composer, penning songs such as "Never Ending Song of Love." (Many obituaries erroneously stated that he also co-wrote "Let It Rain" and "Superstar." Bonnie Bramlett was the co-writer -- with Clapton on "Let It Rain" and Leon Russell on "Superstar" -- for both.) He met Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell in 1957 in Los Angeles and married her the same year. The pair became a musical duo who attracted famous musicians as part of their band. The act split in 1973 when they divorced. Harrison and Clapton were among those who were part of the roving members of Delaney and Bonnie's group, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends. Bramlett's biography on his website credits him with teaching Harrison to play slide guitar, which later became a trademark of George's solo recordings. In recent years, Bramlett continued to work as a musician; he appeared on Jerry Lee Lewis' 2006 duets album "Last Man Standing." You can find more information on Delaney and Bonnie and Delaney himself on Wikipedia. And watch Delaney and Bonnie in a wonderful clip from YouTube, above, with George Harrison and Eric Clapton and the rest of Derek and the Dominoes, Rita Coolidge and Billy Preston performing "Coming Home." Sounds quite appropriate for the moment, doesn't it?
