[Deathwatch] Delaney Bramlett, musician, 69

[Deathwatch Central]

Delaney Bramlett dies in L.A.
Mon Dec 29

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Rock guitarist Delaney Bramlett, who
collaborated with such artists as George Harrison and Eric Clapton,
died in a Los Angeles hospital following gallbladder surgery. He was
69.

His wife, Susan Lanier-Bramlett, said he died on Saturday after "seven
hard months" of ill health.

"I held him and he held on up until the last breath with which he went
in peace to the light and on into eternity," she said in a statement.

The Mississippi native first gained renown in the late 1960s as part of
the southern-fried rhythm and blues combo Delaney & Bonnie, which he
formed with his first wife, Bonnie Lynn. The gifted duo were often
overshadowed by their "Friends," as their backing group was known.
Among them was Clapton, who regularly performed as a low-key sideman.

Bramlett, in turn, produced Clapton's self-titled debut solo album in
1970, and co-wrote most of the songs, including the gospel-tinged hit
single "Let It Rain."

Clapton brought Delaney & Bonnie to England, and recruited such
musicians as Harrison and Dave Mason to perform at their shows.
According to Bramlett's biography, he taught Harrison how to play slide
guitar and to write a gospel song, which led to the recording of the
former Beatle's hit single "My Sweet Lord."

Delaney & Bonnie enjoyed a few hits of their own, including the 1971
tune "Never Ending Song Of Love," but their popularity faded after
Clapton moved on. The couple divorced after releasing their last album
together, 1972's "Together."

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Jackie Frank)

Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary