Jack Bruce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Bruce
Bruce with Cream on Fanclub, 1968
Born	John Symon Asher Bruce (1943-05-14)14 May 1943 Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died	25 October 2014(2014-10-25) (aged 71) Sudbury, Suffolk, England
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician composer producer
Years active	1962–2014
Spouse(s)	Janet Godfrey ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1981)​ Margrit Seyffer ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	5, including Natascha
Parent(s)	Charlie Bruce, Betty Asher
Musical career
Genres	Rock jazz blues latin
Instruments	Vocals bass guitar guitar piano double bass
Labels	Polydor Atco RSO Epic Sanctuary Esoteric

John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (born May 14, 1943 – died October 25, 2014) was a famous Scottish musician. He was a bassist, singer, and songwriter. He became very well known as the main singer and bassist for the British rock band Cream. After Cream broke up in 1968, he started his own solo career and played with many other bands.

In the early 1960s, Jack Bruce joined a band called the Graham Bond Organisation. There, he met Ginger Baker, who would later be his bandmate in Cream. After that band, he joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, where he met Eric Clapton. In 1966, Bruce, Clapton, and Baker formed Cream. Bruce helped write many of their hit songs, like "Sunshine of Your Love", "White Room", and "I Feel Free".

Jack Bruce is seen as one of the most important and influential bass players ever. Rolling Stone magazine readers voted him number eight on their list of "10 Greatest Bassists Of All Time." He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2006, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, both as a member of Cream.

Early Life and Music Career

Growing Up (1943–1962)

Jack Bruce was born in Bishopbriggs, Scotland, on May 14, 1943. His parents were musicians, so his family moved often. Jack went to 14 different schools! He started playing jazz bass when he was a teenager. He even won a scholarship to study cello and music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. To support himself, he played in a jazz band called Jim McHarg's Scotsville Jazzband.

Starting Out (1962–1966)

After school, Jack Bruce played the double bass with the Murray Campbell Big Band on a tour in Italy.

In 1962, Bruce joined a London band called Blues Incorporated. He played the upright bass there. In this band, he met Graham Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Ginger Baker. In 1963, the band split up. Bruce then formed the Graham Bond Quartet with Bond, Baker, and John McLaughlin. They played many types of music, including jazz and blues. Bruce switched from the upright bass to the electric bass guitar for studio work. The band changed its name to the Graham Bond Organisation. They released two albums but were not very successful.

Bruce and Ginger Baker often had disagreements while playing together. Because of this, Bruce left the band in August 1965.

After leaving, Bruce recorded a solo song called "I'm Gettin Tired." He then joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers band, which included guitarist Eric Clapton. Bruce did not stay long with this band.

In 1966, Bruce joined Manfred Mann. This was his first big success! Their song "Pretty Flamingo" reached number one in the UK. He also played on their jazz-rock album Instrumental Asylum.

While with Manfred Mann, Bruce also worked with Eric Clapton again in a group called Powerhouse. They recorded three songs, and two of them, "Crossroads" and "Steppin' Out," became popular songs for his next band, Cream.

Becoming Famous with Cream (1966–1968)

In July 1966, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker formed the power trio Cream. This band became famous around the world for playing blues-rock and jazz-influenced rock music. Bruce sang most of the main vocals, with Clapton singing backup.

With his Gibson EB-3 electric bass, Bruce became one of the most well-known bassists in rock music. He won many musician polls and inspired many future bass players like Sting and Geddy Lee. Bruce wrote most of Cream's hit songs with lyricist Pete Brown. These included "Sunshine of Your Love", "White Room", and "I Feel Free". Cream broke up in 1968.

After Cream (1970s)

After Cream, Jack Bruce continued to work with many different musicians. He played in many styles, including hard rock, jazz, blues, and world music. He also released many popular solo albums. His solo albums often had catchy songs with complex music. The lyrics were usually written by Pete Brown.

In 1968, before Cream officially broke up, Bruce recorded a jazz album called Things We Like. This album was released in 1970. It was an early example of jazz fusion, a new style of music.

Bruce's first solo album, Songs for a Tailor, came out in 1969. It was a hit around the world. After a short tour, Bruce joined the jazz fusion group Lifetime. He then recorded his third solo album, Harmony Row.

Bruce performing in Hamburg, January 1972.

In 1972, Bruce formed a blues rock band called West, Bruce & Laing. The band included singer/guitarist Leslie West and drummer Corky Laing. They released two studio albums and one live album.

The band broke up in 1974. Bruce then released his fourth solo album, Out of the Storm. In 1974, he also played bass on a song for Frank Zappa's album Apostrophe ('). In 1973, Bruce played bass on most songs for Lou Reed's album Berlin.

In 1976, Bruce started a new band called The Jack Bruce Band. They recorded an album called How's Tricks. They went on a world tour, but the album did not sell well. His next album, Jet Set Jewel, was not released at the time. In 1979, he toured with musicians from the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Music in the 1980s

By 1979, Jack Bruce had lost a lot of money. He played as a guest musician for other artists like Cozy Powell and Gary Moore to earn money. By 1980, his career was back on track with his new band, Jack Bruce & Friends. They released an album called I've Always Wanted to Do This and went on tour, but it was not a big success.

In 1981, Bruce worked with guitarist Robin Trower. They released two albums, B.L.T. and Truce. The first one was a small hit in the US. In 1983, Bruce released his next solo album, Automatic, on a smaller record label.

From 1983, Bruce started working with Latin music producer Kip Hanrahan. They released several albums together, which were well-received by critics. This partnership was one of the longest and most important in Bruce's career.

In 1989, Bruce signed a new record deal and recorded A Question of Time. This album included two songs with Ginger Baker on drums, their first time working together since Cream. Baker then joined Bruce's live band for a tour in the United States.

The 1990s and Beyond

In 1993, Jack Bruce released a solo album called Somethin Els, which brought him a lot of praise. Eric Clapton also played on this album.

Later that year, Ginger Baker and other musicians joined Bruce for two special concerts in Germany to celebrate his 50th birthday. Parts of these concerts were released as a live album called Cities of the Heart. Gary Moore, a blues-rock guitarist, joined Bruce and Baker to play some Cream songs. This led to the three forming a new band called BBM. Their album, Around the Next Dream, was a top ten hit in the UK. However, the band broke up after a short tour.

In 1997, Bruce toured as a member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. At one show, Ginger Baker joined them on stage, and Bruce, Baker, and Peter Frampton played some Cream songs. Bruce continued to tour with Ringo Starr until 2000.

The 2000s and Later Years

Bruce playing a fretless Warwick Thumb bass guitar at the Jazzfestival in Frankfurt, Germany on 28 October 2006

In 2001, Bruce released a new album called Shadows in the Air. It included a new version of "Sunshine of Your Love" with Eric Clapton. He released another album, More Jack than God, in 2003.

Jack Bruce had some health problems and was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2003. He had a liver transplant in September 2003. He recovered, and in 2004, he performed "Sunshine of Your Love" at a concert in Germany.

In May 2005, he reunited with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker for a series of successful Cream concerts. They played at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York's Madison Square Garden. These concerts were released as an album.

In 2008, Bruce worked with guitarist Robin Trower again on an album called Seven Moons. To celebrate Bruce's 65th birthday, two collections of his music were released: Spirit and Can You Follow?.

In 2009, Bruce received an Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University for his contributions to music.

The 2010s

In 2010, a book about Jack Bruce's life, Jack Bruce – Composing Himself: The Authorized Biography, was released.

In 2011, Bruce received the International Bassist Award, a special lifetime achievement award for bass players. He released a live album called Live at the Milky Way, Amsterdam 2001. He also played a special concert in London to celebrate 50 years of blues music in Great Britain.

In 2012, a documentary about Jack Bruce called Jack Bruce – The Man behind the Bass was shown on BBC Scotland. It included new interviews with Bruce, Clapton, Baker, and Pete Brown.

In March 2014, Bruce released Silver Rails, his first solo studio album in over ten years. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. His son, Malcolm Bruce, helped produce the album, and his daughter, Aruba Red, sang backup vocals on one song.

Family Life

In 1964, Jack Bruce married Janet Godfrey. They had two sons, Jonas and Malcolm. Jonas later played keyboards in his father's band. Sadly, Jonas died in 1997. Malcolm grew up to play guitar with his father.

In 1982, Jack married his second wife, Margrit Seyffer. They had two daughters, Natascha (known as Aruba Red) and Kyla, and a son, Corin.

His Passing

Plaque dedicated to Bruce at Golders Green Crematorium

Jack Bruce passed away from liver disease on October 25, 2014, in England. He was 71 years old. He was survived by his wife Margrit and four children.

His funeral was held in London on November 5, 2014. Many famous musicians attended, including Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. They sang songs like "Morning Has Broken" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" to remember him. His remains were later cremated.

His Impact on Music

Many musicians and critics have said that Jack Bruce was one of the greatest bass players of all time. Steve Anderson of The Independent newspaper said Bruce "became one of the most famous and influential bass players in rock." Eric Clapton said Bruce "was a great musician and composer, and a tremendous inspiration to me."

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi said Bruce was his favorite bass player and "a hero to so many." Geezer Butler, Black Sabbath's bassist, called him his "biggest influence." Geddy Lee, the bassist and singer for Rush, said Bruce was "one of the greatest rock bassists to ever live and a true and profound inspiration to countless musicians." Roger Waters of Pink Floyd described Bruce as "probably the most musically gifted bass player who's ever been."

Music Releases

Songs (Singles)

• 1965, "I'm Gettin' Tired (Of Drinkin' and Gamblin')"
• 1971, "The Consul at Sunset"
• 1974, "Keep It Down"
• 1986, "Feel Free"
• 1995, "Monkjack"
• 1997, "On and On" (with Man Doki and others)
• 2014, "Fields of Forever"

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Music Collections (Compilations)

DVDs

Collaborations (Other Bands and Artists)

• with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated: Alexis Korner and Friends (1964)
• with The Graham Bond Organisation: The Sound of '65 (1965), There's A Bond Between Us (1965)
• with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers: Looking Back (1969), Primal Solos (1977)
• with Manfred Mann: "Pretty Flamingo" (1966), Machines EP (1966), Instrumental Asylum EP (1966)
• with Cream: Fresh Cream (1966), Disraeli Gears (1967), Wheels of Fire (1968), Goodbye (1969), Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005 (2005)
• with The Tony Williams Lifetime: Turn It Over (1970), Ego (1971)
• with Carla Bley: Escalator over the Hill (1971)
• with West, Bruce and Laing: Why Dontcha (1972), Whatever Turns You On (1973), Live 'n' Kickin' (1974)
• with Lou Reed: Berlin (1973)
• with Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (') (1974)
• with Michael Mantler: No Answer (1974), Live (1987), Many Have No Speech (1988), Folly Seeing All This (1993), The School of Understanding (1997)
• with Cozy Powell: Over the Top (1979), Tilt (1981)
• with Rocket 88: Rocket 88 (1981)
• with Soft Machine: Land of Cockayne (1981)
• with Robin Trower: B.L.T. (album) (1981), Truce (1982), Seven Moons (2008), Seven Moons Live (2009)
• with Allan Holdsworth: Road Games (1983)
• with Kip Hanrahan: Desire Develops an Edge (1983), Vertical's Currency (1984), A Few Short Notes from the End Run (1986), Exotica (1993), All Roads Are Made of the Flesh (1995)
• with The Golden Palominos: Visions of Excess (1985), Blast of Silence (Axed My Baby for a Nickel) (1986)
• with Bruce-Baker-Moore (BBM): Around The Next Dream (1994)
• with Spectrum Road: Spectrum Road (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Jack Bruce para niños