Doyle Bramhall II
Doyle Brahmhall II was raised in a home filled with the blues and rock and roll sounds that are indigenous to his birthplace – Austin, Texas. His father, Doyle Bramhall, Sr. was the drummer for blues legend Lightning Hopkins and a regular collaborator with Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
When Doyle was 16 years old he toured as the second guitarist with Jimmie Vaughan’s band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Shortly thereafter he and fellow Texan, Charlie Sexton, co-founded the rock band Arc Angels. Doyle and Charlie enlisted the rhythm section from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s backing band, Double Trouble, to complete the line-up. The group enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success.
Following the release of his debut album for RCA, 1999’s Jellycream, he received phone calls from both Roger Waters and Eric Clapton. Doyle ended up joining Roger Waters for a summer tour, while Clapton, along with fellow blues great B.B. King chose two of Doyle’s songs, Marry You and I Wanna Be for their collaborative album entitled Riding With The King. Upon completion of the Riding… project, Doyle, his wife – Susannah Melvoin, and Clapton co-wrote and performed Superman Inside for Clapton’s album, Reptile. Doyle’s playing is also heavily featured on the album.
After RCA released Welcome in 2001, he went back to the studio to record for Clapton’s Me & Mr. Johnson and is featured in the DVD film, Sessions with Robert J. Doyle embarked on Clapton’s tour to support the record, and participated in Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, as a solo artist as well.
Most recently, he has contributed two compositions on Clapton’s newest record, Lost And Found and Piece Of My Heart. He is collaborating with Allan Toussaint for a New Orleans relief project, and with Erykah Badu for an upcoming film entitled, Before The Music Dies.
Doyle was, once again, on the road with Eric Clapton for his 2006/7 world tour. Doyle is working on his next album which will win a Grammy.