Born in Dallas in 1949, this singer/songwriter/drummer grew up listening to Dallas radio (with heavy doses of
Jimmy Reed,
Ray Charles, and
Bobby Blue Bland on
rock & roll stations) and locals the Nightcaps, one of the country's first white
electric blues bands. In high school he joined the Chessmen, which soon included a young
Jimmie Vaughan on guitar; they opened in Dallas on
Jimi Hendrix's first U.S. tour. Moving to Austin in 1970, he and
Vaughan formed Texas Storm, which later shortened its name to Storm and occasionally included
Jimmie's younger brother
Stevie on bass.
Doyle next formed
the Nightcrawlers with
Stevie (now on lead guitar), who later credited
Bramhall as a primary vocal influence. During this time the two also co-wrote "Dirty Pool," which
Vaughan included on his debut,
Texas Flood.
Doyle wrote or co-wrote seven more songs on subsequent
Stevie Ray albums, and collaborated on three for Family Style by the Vaughan Brothers (which also featured
Bramhall on drums). While drumming with
Marcia Ball and Mason Ruffner in the early '80s,
Bramhall began stockpiling solo recordings, which eventually comprised his long-awaited debut on CD, featuring both
Vaughans and
Doyle's son, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, formerly of
the Arc Angels. He also began a collaboration that proved interesting -- with pop singer
Jennifer Warnes. The striking Bird Nest on the Ground appeared in 1994 from Discovery, followed by
Fitchburg Street in 2003 and
Is It News in 2007, both from Yep Roc. ~ Dan Forte, All Music Guide
