Brad Delp
Encyclopedia
Bradley E. Delp was an American
musician
, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock
band Boston
. Delp was known for his vocal histrionics, and especially his high range.
to French-Canadian immigrants. While his father played the fiddle
at home, Delp was inspired after seeing the Beatles
perform on The Ed Sullivan Show
in 1964, and he began learning to play the guitar
. However, he had to take some time off music after suffering from rickets
during the summer of 1965. He saw the Beatles perform live at Suffolk Downs
in East Boston on August 18, 1966. In 1968, Delp discovered the music of a local group from Worcester
called Orpheus
and became a life long fan, calling them his "favorite band - second only to The Beatles". Delp was greatly influenced by the vocal harmonies and rich arrangements of Orpheus' leader, Bruce Arnold and claimed to have locked himself in his bedroom for several days in order to learn all the guitar and vocal parts from the group's debut album. In 1969 Delp was making heating element
s for Mr. Coffee
machines at the Danvers company Hot-Watt when he met Boston founding members Tom Scholz
, Barry Goudreau
and Jim Masdea.
, who was looking for a singer to complete some demo recordings. Eventually Scholz formed the short-lived band Mother's Milk (1973–74), including Delp and Goudreau. After much toiling and retweaking of tracks these demos were shopped, to considerable disdain, but Epic Records
eventually signed the act. Mother's Milk was renamed Boston, and the eponymous debut album - recorded in 1975, although many tracks had been written years before - was released in August 1976. Delp performed all of the lead and backing vocals, including all layered vocal overdubs. He was a keen perfectionist, and often recorded many vocal tracks before choosing the best take for a particular track.
Boston's debut release has sold more than 17 million copies, and produced future rock standards such as "More Than a Feeling", "Foreplay/Long Time" and "Peace of Mind". Delp co-wrote "Smokin'" along with Scholz, and wrote the album's closing track, "Let Me Take You Home Tonight".
Their next album, Don't Look Back, was released two years later, in August 1978. Its release spawned new hits such as the title track, "Party" (a sequel of sorts to "Smokin'"), and the poignant ballad "A Man I'll Never Be". As they did with "Smokin'", Delp and Scholz again collaborated on "Party", and Delp penned "Used To Bad News".
Scholz's legendary perfectionism and a legal battle with their record company stalled any further albums until 1986, when the band released the appropriately titled Third Stage. Delp and Scholz were the only two original members, with several new members involved in the production.
Another hiatus between albums forced Delp to part ways with Scholz in 1991 to form a new band called RTZ, but the two eventually reunited in 1994 for another major Boston tour. Delp continued to record vocals on several albums/projects, as well as some new tracks for Boston's 1997 Greatest Hits compilation and their 2002 release Corporate America.
Though well known for his "golden" voice with soaring vocals and range, Delp was also a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, harmonica and keyboards. Additionally he wrote or co-wrote several songs for Boston and many other artists.
From the mid-1990s until his death in 2007, Delp also played in a side project when he had time off from Boston - a Beatles tribute band called Beatlejuice
. The Beatles had always been a personal favorite of Delp, and he revered them for their songwriting. During this period Delp also reunited with Boston bandmate Barry Goudreau for the 2003 release "Delp and Goudreau".
for over 30 years, and contributed to a number of charitable causes. He was set to marry Pamela Sullivan, his girlfriend of seven years, at the time of his death.
, from the smoke of two charcoal grills
he lit inside his sealed master bathroom. Delp was found by police, lying on a pillow on his bathroom floor. Delp left private notes to his fiancee and all his family members, and a public note paper-clipped to his shirt that read: "Mr. Brad Delp. "J'ai une ame solitaire". The French portion translates as "I am a lonely soul." The official cause of death was listed as carbon monoxide poisoning
. Delp was known for his considerate nature; he had left a note on the front door and master bedroom door of his house warning that there would be carbon monoxide present. That day, the official website for the band was taken down and replaced with the statement: "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll".
A tribute concert featuring his former bandmates was performed on August 19, 2007 - the day after his wedding was to have taken place.
Another posthumous release on which Delp sang was Bruce Arnold
's "Orpheus Again" (2010). Arnold said, "He added immeasurably to my music". The songs Delp sings harmony on are "The Love Bite" and a contemporary remake of "Can't Find the Time".
On March 19, 2007, Barry Goudreau released one final song with Delp on vocals titled "Rockin' Away". Recorded in the summer of 2006, it is an autobiography of Delp's music career. The song was a minor hit in early 2008, charting up to #18 on the America's Music ranking of rock radio airplay.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
. Delp was known for his vocal histrionics, and especially his high range.
Early life
Delp was born on June 12, 1951 in Danvers, MassachusettsDanvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
to French-Canadian immigrants. While his father played the fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
at home, Delp was inspired after seeing the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
perform on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
in 1964, and he began learning to play the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. However, he had to take some time off music after suffering from rickets
Rickets
Rickets is a softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism of vitamin D, magnesium , phosphorus or calcium, potentially leading to fractures and deformity. Rickets is among the most frequent childhood diseases in many developing countries...
during the summer of 1965. He saw the Beatles perform live at Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs, a thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States opened in 1935. Famous horses that have raced at this track include Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Funny Cide and Cigar. The MassCap is held there, as well at the annual Hot Dog Safari...
in East Boston on August 18, 1966. In 1968, Delp discovered the music of a local group from Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
called Orpheus
Orpheus (band)
Orpheus is a rock band from Worcester, Massachusetts that enjoyed popularity in the 1960s and early 1970s.In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the avant garde band. Original members included guitarist/vocalists Bruce Arnold and Jack McKennes, bass guitarist Eric "The Snake"...
and became a life long fan, calling them his "favorite band - second only to The Beatles". Delp was greatly influenced by the vocal harmonies and rich arrangements of Orpheus' leader, Bruce Arnold and claimed to have locked himself in his bedroom for several days in order to learn all the guitar and vocal parts from the group's debut album. In 1969 Delp was making heating element
Heating element
A heating element converts electricity into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current through the element encounters resistance, resulting in heating of the element....
s for Mr. Coffee
Mr. Coffee
Mr. Coffee is a registered trademark of Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions. The Mr. Coffee brand manufactures automatic-drip kitchen coffee machines as well as other products.-History:...
machines at the Danvers company Hot-Watt when he met Boston founding members Tom Scholz
Tom Scholz
Donald Thomas "Tom" Scholz is an American rock musician, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, inventor, and mechanical engineer, best known as the founder of the hard rock band Boston. He is also the inventor of the Rockman guitar amplifier...
, Barry Goudreau
Barry Goudreau
Barry Goudreau is a musician, best known as one of the original guitarists for the rock band Boston.- Before Boston :Goudreau had developed a musical interest at an early age and got his first guitar, an acoustic which he borrowed from a friend, at age 11. He began taking lessons and by age 13,...
and Jim Masdea.
Musical career
In 1969, guitarist Barry Goudreau introduced Delp to Tom ScholzTom Scholz
Donald Thomas "Tom" Scholz is an American rock musician, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, inventor, and mechanical engineer, best known as the founder of the hard rock band Boston. He is also the inventor of the Rockman guitar amplifier...
, who was looking for a singer to complete some demo recordings. Eventually Scholz formed the short-lived band Mother's Milk (1973–74), including Delp and Goudreau. After much toiling and retweaking of tracks these demos were shopped, to considerable disdain, but Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
eventually signed the act. Mother's Milk was renamed Boston, and the eponymous debut album - recorded in 1975, although many tracks had been written years before - was released in August 1976. Delp performed all of the lead and backing vocals, including all layered vocal overdubs. He was a keen perfectionist, and often recorded many vocal tracks before choosing the best take for a particular track.
Boston's debut release has sold more than 17 million copies, and produced future rock standards such as "More Than a Feeling", "Foreplay/Long Time" and "Peace of Mind". Delp co-wrote "Smokin'" along with Scholz, and wrote the album's closing track, "Let Me Take You Home Tonight".
Their next album, Don't Look Back, was released two years later, in August 1978. Its release spawned new hits such as the title track, "Party" (a sequel of sorts to "Smokin'"), and the poignant ballad "A Man I'll Never Be". As they did with "Smokin'", Delp and Scholz again collaborated on "Party", and Delp penned "Used To Bad News".
Scholz's legendary perfectionism and a legal battle with their record company stalled any further albums until 1986, when the band released the appropriately titled Third Stage. Delp and Scholz were the only two original members, with several new members involved in the production.
Another hiatus between albums forced Delp to part ways with Scholz in 1991 to form a new band called RTZ, but the two eventually reunited in 1994 for another major Boston tour. Delp continued to record vocals on several albums/projects, as well as some new tracks for Boston's 1997 Greatest Hits compilation and their 2002 release Corporate America.
Though well known for his "golden" voice with soaring vocals and range, Delp was also a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, harmonica and keyboards. Additionally he wrote or co-wrote several songs for Boston and many other artists.
From the mid-1990s until his death in 2007, Delp also played in a side project when he had time off from Boston - a Beatles tribute band called Beatlejuice
Beatlejuice
Beatlejuice is a New England-based Beatles cover band that featured the late Brad Delp, former front-man of the band Boston on vocals. Beatlejuice has the distinction of faithfully reproducing Beatles music note-for-note, from early Beatles to late Beatles, without costumes or stage...
. The Beatles had always been a personal favorite of Delp, and he revered them for their songwriting. During this period Delp also reunited with Boston bandmate Barry Goudreau for the 2003 release "Delp and Goudreau".
Personal life
Delp was twice married and divorced, and had two children by his second wife. He was a vegetarianVegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
for over 30 years, and contributed to a number of charitable causes. He was set to marry Pamela Sullivan, his girlfriend of seven years, at the time of his death.
Death
On March 9, 2007, Brad Delp was found dead at the age of 55 in his home in Atkinson, New HampshireAtkinson, New Hampshire
Atkinson is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,751 at the 2010 census.- History :Atkinson has a rich history, dating back to the American Revolution...
, from the smoke of two charcoal grills
Charcoal-burning suicide
-Mechanism of action:As the charcoal burns, the oxygen in the air of the room is gradually exhausted. The incomplete combustion of carbon produces carbon monoxide which binds strongly to hemoglobin, rapidly decreasing the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to the body...
he lit inside his sealed master bathroom. Delp was found by police, lying on a pillow on his bathroom floor. Delp left private notes to his fiancee and all his family members, and a public note paper-clipped to his shirt that read: "Mr. Brad Delp. "J'ai une ame solitaire". The French portion translates as "I am a lonely soul." The official cause of death was listed as carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
. Delp was known for his considerate nature; he had left a note on the front door and master bedroom door of his house warning that there would be carbon monoxide present. That day, the official website for the band was taken down and replaced with the statement: "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll".
A tribute concert featuring his former bandmates was performed on August 19, 2007 - the day after his wedding was to have taken place.
Another posthumous release on which Delp sang was Bruce Arnold
Bruce Arnold
Bruce Arnold is an American jazz guitarist, composer, educator and author residing in New York City. His explorations into the applications of 20th century classical theory in contemporary forms such as rock and jazz has created a unique compositional and improvisational sound...
's "Orpheus Again" (2010). Arnold said, "He added immeasurably to my music". The songs Delp sings harmony on are "The Love Bite" and a contemporary remake of "Can't Find the Time".
On March 19, 2007, Barry Goudreau released one final song with Delp on vocals titled "Rockin' Away". Recorded in the summer of 2006, it is an autobiography of Delp's music career. The song was a minor hit in early 2008, charting up to #18 on the America's Music ranking of rock radio airplay.
Discography
- BostonBoston (album)The album soared, with three singles becoming Top 40 hits. All eight of the songs on the album still receive regular airplay on classic rock radio to this day, across the country...
(1976) - Don't Look Back (1978)
- Barry GoudreauBarry Goudreau (album)Barry Goudreau is the debut self-titled album of original Boston guitar front man, Barry Goudreau. With the use of Boston members Brad Delp , and Sib Hashian , and future Boston singer Fran Cosmo the album displays a sound very similar to that of Boston's first two releases Boston and Don't Look...
(1980) - Orion the HunterOrion the Hunter (band)Orion the Hunter was a 1980s rock combo and offshoot of the popular band Boston. It featured former Boston members Barry Goudreau on guitars and Brad Delp on backing vocals, as well as future Boston lead vocalist Fran Cosmo....
(1984) - Third StageThird StageThird Stage is the third album by American rock band Boston released September 23, 1986 on MCA Records. The album was recorded at Tom Scholz's Hideaway Studio over a six-year period "between floods and power failures"...
(1986) - Return to Zero (1991)
- Greatest Hits (Boston) (1997)
- LostLost (RTZ album)Lost is the second album by American rock band RTZ. It was released in 1999 by Renaissance Records and Avalon Japan. It was reissued in 2000 with a bonus track.-Track listing:All songs written by Delp and Goudreau, except where noted....
(1998) - Corporate AmericaCorporate America (album)-Personnel:*Tom Scholz - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals*Brad Delp - Vocals*Fran Cosmo - Vocals*Gary Pihl - Guitar, Keyboards*Anthony Cosmo - Guitar, Vocals*Kimberley Dahme - Vocals, Guitar on "With you"*David Sikes - Bass*Curly Smith - Drums...
(2002) - Delp and Goudreau (2003)
- Lost and Found (2005)
- Delp and Goudreau (2007) a single titled "Rockin Away"
- Orpheus Again (Bruce Arnold's OrpheusOrpheusOrpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
) (2010)