Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer in 2006
Background information
Birth name Brian Robert Setzer
Born (1959-04-10) April 10, 1959
Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Genres Rockabilly, rock and roll, swing revival, jump blues
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1979–present
Labels Arista, EMI, Razor & Tie, Interscope, Surfdog
Associated acts The Bloodless Pharoahs, The Tomcats, Stray Cats, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Drake Bell
Website www.briansetzer.com
Notable instruments
Gretsch Brian Setzer Signature Models

Brian Robert Setzer (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly group Stray Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with his swing revival band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Career

Stray Cats

Setzer was born April 1959 in Massapequa, New York. He started on the euphonium and played in jazz bands when he was in school. He found a way to hear jazz at the Village Vanguard, though as he got older he got interested in rock, punk, and rockabilly. He was a member of the Bloodless Pharaohs and the Tomcats, which he began with his brother, Gary. The Tomcats became the Stray Cats when double bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom joined. In 1980, thinking they might have more success in England than in America, they sold their instruments to pay for airplane tickets and flew to London.[1]

After performing in London for a few months, they met Dave Edmunds, a guitarist and record producer who shared their love of rockabilly and 1950s rock and roll. Edmunds produced their debut album, Stray Cats (Arista, 1981), which yielded two hit singles, "Stray Cat Strut" and "Rock This Town". The second album, Gonna Ball (Arista, 1982), was less successful. The band returned to America and released Built for Speed (EMI, 1982), produced again by Dave Edmunds, with songs collected from their first two albums. Helped by their music videos on MTV, the Stray Cats became popular in America. Their next album, Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats (EMI, 1983) produced the hit "(She's) Sexy + 17".[1]

The Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, though they reunited occasionally, recorded, and toured. After recording three albums with different producers, they returned to Dave Edmunds for Choo Choo Hot Fish (1992).[1]

The Brian Setzer Orchestra

The Brian Setzer Orchestra performing in the White House during a visit from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, June 29, 2006

After the Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, Setzer began a solo career that included working as a sideman for other acts, such as the Honeydrippers led by Robert Plant.[1] On his first solo album, The Knife Feels Like Justice (EMI, 1986), he turned away from rockabilly and moved toward rhythm and blues (R&B) and the heartland rock of John Mellencamp. The album was produced by Don Gehman and featured Kenny Aronoff on drums. Both men had worked on albums by Mellencamp.[2]

Setzer returned to his love of music from the 1950s, this time the jump blues of Louis Prima. In the 1980s, he resurrected rockabilly, and in the 1990s, swing. He assembled the Brian Setzer Orchestra, a seventeen piece big band that got the public's attention with a cover version of Prima's "Jump, Jive an' Wail" from the album The Dirty Boogie (Interscope, 1998).[1] The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, while "Sleep Walk" from the same album won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.[3]

The album Wolfgang's Big Night Out (2007) featured Setzer's interpretation of classical pieces, such as Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" and "Für Elise". Wolfgang earned Setzer his eighth Grammy nomination, this time for Best Classical Crossover Album.

He executive produced the album Ready Steady Go! (Surfdog, 2014) by Drake Bell and played guitar on two songs.[4][5]

Personal life

Setzer has been married three times, most recently in 2005 to Julie Reiten, a former singer with the Dustbunnies.[6]

Awards and honors

Discography

Solo

As guest

Bloodless Pharaohs

The Tomcats

A series of live recordings were issued in 1997 by Collectables Records, and removed from sale within a year under threat of legal action.[10]

Stray Cats

The Brian Setzer Orchestra

DVD

Musical equipment

Brian Setzer has a very large guitar collection spanning many decades and brands. Setzer favours vintage equipment[11] and hollow body guitars,[12] and currently endorses Gretsch guitars.[13]

Vintage guitars:

Signature guitars:

  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Signature Prototype
  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom Purple
  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Pinstripe"
  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Spotty"
  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Red"
  • Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Blue"
  • Gretsch Model 6120 SSLVO Brian Setzer Signature
  • Gretsch Model 6120 SSL Brian Setzer Signature
  • Gretsch Model 6120 SSU Brian Setzer Signature
  • Gretsch Model 6120 SSUGR Brian Setzer Signature
  • Gretsch Model 6136SLBP Brian Setzer Black Phoenix
  • Indie Model With White GT Stripes

Other guitars:

Effects:

  • Roland Re-301 Chorus Echo

Amplifiers:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Brian Setzer". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Deming, Mark. "The Knife Feels Like Justice". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Dirty Boogie". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Lipshultz, Jason (28 February 2014). "Drake Bell Talks 'Ready Steady Go!' Album: Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Video". Billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Wood, James. "Actor/Musician Drake Bell Discusses 'Ready Steady Go!,' His New Album with Brian Setzer". GuitarWorld.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ StarTribune article about life in Minneapolis Archived June 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Brian Setzer earns Grammy, The Gretsch Blog
  8. ↑ The Grammy Awards Past Winners
  9. ↑ "Brian Setzer". Rocky-52.net. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  10. ↑ Stray Cats Collectors
  11. ↑ Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "Brian Setzer: Effects Pedals at Musicroom.com - Video Lessons". Musicroom.com. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  13. ↑ "Gretsch Guitars and Basses". Gretschguitars.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
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