FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2004 Contact: Leland Stein
(781) 643-4488,
lstein@regenttheatre.com

ROCK ‘N’ SOUL LEGEND BONNIE BRAMLETT TO PERFORM AT REGENT THEATRE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 IN FIRST BOSTON-AREA APPEARANCE IN OVER 20 YEARS
Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter—Known For Her Work With Delaney & Bonnie—Played With Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Allman Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, Others

"Her vocals are stunning in every respect; intonation on the money; dynamics intense… and above all, burning with the feeling that we have come to recognize as deep soul… Blazing hot!" –Jerry Wexler, Grammy-winning Atlantic Records Producer, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Member

Bonnie Bramlett, one of the most revered female blues/rock vocalists of the classic rock era, will be performing at Arlington’s Regent Theatre on Saturday, February 21 at 8pm. Delaney and Bonnie emerged as the hottest duo act of the late ‘60s and between 1969 and 1972, they released five albums and the hit singles "Soul Shake", “Only You Know & I Know", and "Never Ending Song of Love". On tour, they were backed by a stellar lineup of musicians including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Duane Allman, Leon Russell, Dave Mason, and Rita Coolidge, to name just a few. In addition, Bramlett co-wrote "Let It Rain”, “Bottle of Red Wine”, and “Coming Home” with Clapton, and "Give Peace a Chance" and "Superstar" with Leon Russell.

Born Bonnie Lynn O’Farrell, Bramlett grew up in East St. Louis where, at 14, she began singing in Gaslight Square, a St. Louis nightclub area much like the French Quarter in New Orleans. She soon became a sought-after session and backup singer for R&B and blues performers such as Little Milton, Fontella Bass, and Albert King—and was later hired as the first white Ikette for Ike and Tina Turner. That brought her to Los Angeles in 1967, where she met Delaney Bramlett, who had been a member of the Shindogs, the resident group on the TV show Shindig. They were married within five days and quickly launched their musical act.

Delaney and Bonnie cut an album for Stax Records in Memphis backed Booker T. and the MGs and later formed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and recorded Accept No Substitute (1969). After they toured Europe opening for Blind Faith, Clapton left that group and joined them along with such notables as George Harrison and Traffic’s Dave Mason. The resulting LP On Tour With Eric Clapton (1970) reached #29 on the Billboard Charts.

After her divorce from Delaney in 1973, Bramlett embarked upon a solo career and released Sweet Bonnie Bramlett backed by The Average White Band. She then recorded three albums for Capricorn Records and the mid-‘70s, and sang back up on recordings by Joe Cocker, Carly Simon, Gregg Allman, Little Feat, Steve Cropper, Dwight Yoakam, and others. Her harmonizing with Delbert McClinton launched the award-winning "Givin’ it Up for Your Love", now a rock standard. She was also invited to tour with the Allman Brothers, who dubbed her the "Allman Sister".

At a well-publicized incident at a hotel bar in 1979, Bramlett punched Elvis Costello in the face after he made a racially derogatory remark about Ray Charles. (Costello later apologized at a New York press conference.)

Bramlett turned to acting in 1987, under the name Bonnie Sheridan, and appeared in the TV series Fame, Oliver Stone’s film The Doors and for two years starred in Roseanne as waitress, Bonnie Watkins. (On HBO’s The Sopranos last season, Delaney & Bonnie’s song "When This Battle Is Over" punctuated a climactic scene and credit sequence of a pivotal episode.)

In 2002, Bramlett returned to music with the release of her first album in over 20 years, I’m Still The Same, which according to the All Music Guide, reveals “a voice that has lost little of its power”.

On Saturday, February 21 at 8pm at the Regent Theatre, Bonnie Bramlett will perform one show only backed by Mr. Groove, a five-piece band comprised of session musicians from Nashville. Opening will be Boston’s Jump City. Reserved seats are $40 (VIP ticket includes premium seating and after show meet & greet) and $20 ($25 day of show). The historic Regent Theatre, Arlington’s “Show Place of Entertainment” since 1916, is located at 7 Medford St. (just off Mass. Ave.) in Arlington Center—a few miles from Cambridge and Boston. The theatre is MBTA and wheelchair accessible with plenty of free parking across the street. For tickets and more information call (781) 646-4TIX (4849)