Brian Setzer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brian Setzer

Background information
Born	April 10, 1959 Long Island, New York, United States
Genre(s)	Rockabilly, Big band
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitarist, Singer
Years active	1980–present
Associated acts	The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Stray Cats
Website	http://briansetzer.com
Notable instrument(s)
Gretsch Brian Setzer Signature Models

Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.

In the 1980s, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats. Stray Cats caught America's attention with the 1982 album Built for Speed, which included the two Top Ten hits, "Rock This Town" (#9) and "Stray Cat Strut" (#3), as well as with the follow-up 1983 album Rant 'N Rave, which included the two successful singles "(She's) Sexy + 17" (#5), and "I Won't Stand In Your Way" (#35).

In the 1990s, Setzer led a comeback for swing music and big band music, when he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra. The band has released 6 albums to date and two live DVDs. This group had one hit, "Jump, Jive, and Wail" around the same time songs like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" had been received favorably in mainstream America.

Brian Setzer also recorded some solo albums during Stray Cats' break in the 1980s along with some in the 1990s. In 2001 he released an album titled Ignition with his band '68 Comeback Special. A tribute album titled Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To Sun Records was released on July 26, 2005, in the United States. His latest Record, 13, was released in October 2006.

Brian recently moved from Southern California to Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife Julie (nee Reiten, former singer with the Dustbunnies), whom he originally met when she auditioned (and was hired) as a back-up singer for the Brian Setzer Orchestra in 1999. They were married in Palm Springs, California in the summer of 2005. Brian continues to tour in the United States and overseas with his orchestra.

Setzer spoofed himself in a 2002 episode of popular animated series The Simpsons. He voiced himself as a "tutor" at a fictional "Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp" attended by Homer Simpson, and delivered the amusing line (after his animated version participated in chasing Homer in a motorized devil's head) "I hope you won't judge the entire Brian Setzer orchestra based on my actions."

1 Discography
2 Filmography
3 Live DVDs
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Discography

Bloodless Pharaohs:

Marty Thau 2 x 5 (1980)

Stray Cats:

Stray Cats (1981)
Gonna Ball (1981)
Built For Speed (1982) #2 (15 weeks) US
Rant N' Rave With The Stray Cats (1983) #14 US
Rock Therapy (1986) #122 US
Blast Off! (1989) #111 US
Let's Go Faster! (1990)
Choo Choo Hot Fish (1992)
Original Cool (1993)

Brian Setzer Orchestra

The Brian Setzer Orchestra (1994) #158 US
Guitar Slinger (1996)
The Dirty Boogie (1998) #9 US
Vavoom! (2000) #62 US
Boogie Woogie Christmas (2002)
Jump, Jive an' Wail - The Very Best of the Brian Setzer Orchestra (2003)
The Ultimate Collection Live (2004)
Dig That Crazy Christmas (2005)

Solo Material:

The Knife Feels Like Justice (1986) #45 US
Live Nude Guitars (1988) #140 US
Rockin' By Myself (1993)
Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy (2003)
Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To Sun Records (2005)
13 (2006)

'68 Comeback Special

Ignition (2001) #152 US

[edit] Filmography

La Bamba (1987)
The Simpsons - How I Spent My Strummer Vacation (2005)
The Great White Hype (1996)
The Nanny - The Bobbi Flekman Story' (1997)

[edit] Live DVDs

Brian Setzer Orchestra live In Japan (2001)
Rumble In Brixton (2004)
Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza (2005)

[edit] Trivia

Composed the theme song for the Disney cartoon show The House Of Mouse.
Appeared in a Bud Light commercial where his rehearsal session was interrupted by an elderly woman who could play rock-and-roll guitar.