Don Brewer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Brewer
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Brewer performing in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald George Brewer |
| Born | September 3, 1948 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | Capitol, Lucky Eleven |
| Associated acts | Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight and the Pack, Flint, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band |
Don Brewer, born on September 3, 1948, is an American drummer and singer. He is famous for being a founding member of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad. He has been their drummer for a very long time.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Don Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan. He grew up there and later graduated from Swartz Creek High School.
Starting His First Bands
Don started playing music at a young age. When he was just 12 years old, he formed his first band called The Red Devils. After that, he created another band called the Jazzmasters. In this band, he played the drums and also sang.
In 1964, Don joined a new group. This band was called Terry Knight and the Pack. They had a hit song in 1966 called "I (Who Have Nothing)". This was Don's first song to reach the top 40 on the music charts.
Grand Funk Railroad
In 1968, Don Brewer and his bandmate Mark Farner decided to start a new band. They teamed up with Mel Schacher, who was the bassist for the popular band ? and the Mysterians. Together, they formed Grand Funk Railroad. They also hired Terry Knight to be their manager.
First Albums and Hit Songs
Grand Funk Railroad released their first album, On Time, in 1969. This album was very successful and sold over a million copies.
In 1973, the band released another album called We're an American Band. The song "We're an American Band" from this album became their first number one hit. Don Brewer wrote and sang this popular song. It is still well-known today and other artists have recorded it.
Besides playing drums, Don also sang lead vocals on many Grand Funk songs. For example, he sang parts of "Some Kind of Wonderful" in 1974. Don was known for his baritone voice, which is a lower singing voice.
Later Years and Reunions
After Grand Funk Railroad first broke up in 1977, Don Brewer formed a new band called Flint. He was joined by former Grand Funk members Mel Schacher and Craig Frost. Flint released one album in 1978 before the band ended.
In 1981, Don Brewer and Mark Farner brought Grand Funk back together. They released the album Grand Funk Lives, which also made it onto the music charts. Two years later, they went their separate ways again. Don then joined Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band as a drummer.
Grand Funk Railroad reunited once more in 1996 with Don Brewer, Mel Schacher, and Mark Farner. Mark Farner left the band in 1998. In 2000, Don and Mel added new members to the band. These included singer Max Carl, guitarist Bruce Kulick, and keyboardist Tim Cashion. This new lineup has toured across the U.S. and Canada.
Other Musical Projects
Don Brewer has also played drums for other artists. He played the bongo drums on a song called "Let Me Take You to the Beach" by Frank Zappa in 1978.
In 2007, Don was featured in a DVD called Classic Rock Drum Solos. This DVD showed him performing a drum solo from a famous concert. This concert was when Grand Funk Railroad sold out Shea Stadium in 1971. Don also performed at Modern Drummer Magazine's annual Drum Festival in 2000.
Don rejoined Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band for their tours in 2006-07, 2011, and 2014-2015.
Personal Life
Don Brewer lives in Jupiter, Florida, with his wife, Sunny Quinn. They have been together since 1985. Don and Sunny have two daughters and five grandchildren.
