Brian Setzer

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Brian Setzer
Brian Setzer live in Salzburg, 2006
Brian Setzer live in Salzburg, 2006
Background information
Born April 10, 1959 (1959-04-10) (age 49)
Massapequa, Long Island, New York, United States
Genre(s) Rockabilly, Swing, Jump blues, Big band
Occupation(s) Guitarist, Musician, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar, Vocal
Years active 1979–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, Massapequa, New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Contents

[edit] Musical history

Beginning in January 1980, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats. After performing from New York to Philadelphia, Setzer, Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) decided in June 1980 to go to London, England where they believed people would better appreciate their sound and style. Upon arrival, they decided to call themselves "Stray Cats", a name suggested by Rocker. The Stray Cats drew the attention of producer Dave Edmunds and released a series of successful singles in the UK.

The 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 with the Stray Cats, which included the two successful singles "(She's) Sexy + 17" (#5), and "I Won't Stand In Your Way" (#35).

The Stray Cats broke up in 1984, but would reunite briefly to record albums and mount tours several times through the early 1990s.

In 1986, Setzer released his first solo album, The Knife Feels Like Justice, which marked a move away from rockabilly and towards a more mainstream rock sound. The album found minor success, peaking at number 45 on the US album charts. Also in the mid-80s, Setzer was the lead guitarist for the touring version of Robert Plant's ensemble band, The Honeydrippers. In 1987, Setzer played the part of Eddie Cochran in the biographical film on the life of Richie Valens, La Bamba.

Setzer led a comeback for swing and jump blues music in the mid-1990s when he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra, an ambitious 17-piece ensemble project, which released four studio albums, a Christmas disc and several live releases between 1994 and 2002. The group's biggest success (and Setzer's outside the Stray Cats) came in 1998 with the release of The Dirty Boogie which cracked the top ten on the US album charts and featured a hit single, a cover of Louis Prima's "Jump, Jive an' Wail".

Setzer continued to release solo-billed albums sporadically, including a solo live disc Rockin' By Myself in 1998 and Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy in 2003. In 2001 he released an album titled Ignition with his a new trio billed as the '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.

On September 25 2007, the Brian Setzer Orchestra released Wolfgang's Big Night Out which features Setzer's take on classical pieces, such as Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Flight of the Bumblebee, and Für Elise. "Wolfgang" earned Setzer his 8th Grammy nomination, this time for Best Classical Crossover album of the year.

Setzer spoofed himself in a 2002 episode of popular animated series The Simpsons. He voiced himself as a "tutor" at a fictional Rock 'n 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.

[edit] Honors

Setzer was awarded the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Gibson Awards. As of 1999, the previous recipients of this award were B. B. King, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and John Fogerty.

Since 2000, Setzer has earned 3 Grammy Awards: Best Pop Performance Duo/Group for "Jump Jive An' Wail", and two Best Pop Instrumental Performance awards for "Sleepwalk" and "Caravan". In December 2006 he received his 7th Grammy nomination for his version of "My Favorite Things," again in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category.

[edit] Personal

Setzer 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 2000. They were married in Palm Springs, California in the summer of 2005.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Bloodless Pharaohs

  • Marty Thau 2 x 5 (1980)

[edit] Stray Cats

[edit] The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Main article: The Brian Setzer Orchestra

[edit] Solo Material

[edit] '68 Comeback Special

  • Ignition (2001) #152 US

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Live DVDs

  • Brian Setzer Orchestra live In Japan (2001)
  • Rumble In Brixton (2004)
  • Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza (2005)
  • One Rockin' Night ('95) (2007)

[edit] Guitar collection

Brian Setzer has a very large guitar collection spanning many decades and brands. The collection includes (not a complete list):

  • 1955 Gretsch Model 6130 Round Up
  • 1957 Gretsch Model 6128 Black Duo Jet
  • 1957 Gretsch Model 6136 White Falcon
  • 1957 Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - No Pickguard
  • 1957 Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - White Pickguard
  • 1958 Gretsch Model 6129 Silver Jet - Black Pickguard
  • 1959 Gretsch Model 6120 "Stray Cat"
  • 1959 Gretsch Model 6119 "Christmas Custom"
  • 1960 Gretsch Model 6120
  • 1960 Gretsch Model 6119
  • 2000 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hod Rod Custom Purple
  • 2000 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Pinstripe"
  • 2001 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Spotty"
  • 2004 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Signature Prototype
  • 2005 Gretsch Model 6120SSLVO Setzer Signature
  • 2006 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Red"
  • 2006 Gretsch Model 6120 Setzer Hot Rod Custom "Sparkle Blue"
  • 1938 D'Angelico Excel
  • 1940 D'Angelico New Yorker
  • 1956 Martin Model D-28 Acoustic
  • 1959 Guild Bluesbird
  • 1964 Gibson Firebird V
  • 2003 Bigsby Custom

All Guitars are listed on Setzer's website with a history and trivia.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • 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 (recording pioneer Cordell Jackson) who could play rock-and-roll guitar.
  • Was a major influence on frontman Chris Cheney of The Living End, a famous rockabilly-punk band from Australia.
  • Appeared in an episode of The Nanny with Fran Drescher, playing himself.
  • Appeared in the 2002 Movie: The Country Bears along with the rest of the Stray cats.

[edit] External links