DAVID BROMBERG FACTS:
Genre: Folk, Blues, Rock, Jazz
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Albums: The Devil's Anvil (1967); David Bromberg (1971); Demon in Disguise (1972); Wanted Dead or Alive (1974); Midnight on the Water (1975); How Late'll Ya Play 'Til?, Vol. 2 (1976); Hillbilly Jazz, Vol. 1 (1975); Hillbilly Jazz, Vol. 2 (1977); Reckless Abandon (1977); Bandit in a Bathing Suit (1978); My Own House (1978); You Should See the Rest of The Band (1980); Long Way from Here (1987); Sideman Serenade (1990); Try Me One More Time (2007);
Awards: 1 Grammy Nomination
Hits: "Sharon"
Other:
With an impressive ability to play a wide range of instruments, David Bromberg may be one of the most talented musicians around today. By utilizing a number of styles, including jazz, bluegrass and folk, over the past 40 years he has managed to create a rabid fanbase.
Bromberg got his start in industry at one of the best times to be a musician. Throughout the 1960s, he was afforded the chance to play alongside some of the most famous artists of all time including Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson. He first made waves in 1971 with the release of his self-titled album which included a number of bluesy tunes such as "The Hold Up," which was bolstered by a contribution from George Harrison on guitar.
With that, Bromberg was off and running. During much of the 1970s, he continued to record and release new material including the 1972 album Demon in Disguise. The record is mostly known for his sprawling cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," during which he recounts his experience of traveling with Walker himself. Additionally, the album earned some radio play for the song "Sharon," which was later sampled by the Beastie Boys.
As his popularity started to grow, so did the legend of his life shows, and in 1976 he released a well-received life album, How Late'll Ya Play Til? The reason for his impressive stage presence likely stems from his ability to play a plethora of instruments. Brombeg is proficient on guitar, fiddle, dobro and mandolin. Additionally, he is one of the few artists who has the ability to play both rhythm and lead guitar at the same time.
After a whirlwind decade, Bromberg took much of the 1980s off, but re-emerged in 1990 with the release of Sideman Serenade. However, as quickly as he came back he retreated from the studio, and it would be nearly 20 years before he gave fans some new material with the 2007 release of Try Me On One More Time. The record was certainly worth the wait, as it earned Bromberg his first Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2008.