Brian Setzer

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Brian Setzer
Image:Brian Setzer - live in gijon.jpg
Background information
Born April 10 1959 (1959-04-10) (age 50)
Long Island, New York, United States
Genre(s) Rockabilly, 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 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Contents

[edit] History

In January 1980, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, TomCats. After performing from New York to Philadelphia, Setzer, Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) decided to go to London, England (in June 1980) 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 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 and big band music, when he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra. The band has released six albums to date and two live DVDs. This group had one hit, Louis Prima's "Jump, Jive an' Wail", a song initially recorded for the 1957 album The Wildest!. This had been around the same time songs like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" had been received favorably in mainstream America in the 1990s.

Brian Setzer was awarded the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Gibson Awards. As of 1999, the only other recipients of this prestigious award were B.B. King, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and John Fogerty. Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Musical Instruments, said of the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, "From his early success as a Stray Cat to his Grammy nominated multi-platinum triumphs with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Brian continues to demonstrate his creative genius as one of Americas great musicians and accomplished guitarists. And for that, we honor him with the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award."

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.

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 2000. 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 '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." During that same episode, Homer refers to him as Mr. Seltzer. When corrected, Homer insists the name is Seltzer.

On September 25, 2007, the Brian Setzer Orchestra released their newest album, "Wolfgang's Big Night Out" which features Setzer's take on classical symphonies, such as Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Flight of the Bumblebee, and Für Elise.

Brian Setzer played the part of Eddie Cochran in the biographical film on the life of Richie Valens, La Bamba.

[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.

[edit] External links

es:Brian Setzer fr:Brian Setzer it:Brian Setzer nl:Brian Setzer ja:ブライアン・セッツァー fi:Brian Setzer sv:Brian Setzer

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Brian_Setzer"
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