Oteil Burbridge facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Oteil Burbridge
Burbridge performing with the Allman Brothers Band in 2007
Background information
Born	(1964-08-24) August 24, 1964 (age 60) Washington, D.C., United States
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Rock, jazz, blues, classical, funk, jam, psychedelia, southern rock
Instruments	Bass guitar drums banjo bass clarinet piano
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Epic, Sanctuary

Oteil Burbridge (born August 24, 1964) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar. Oteil is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, meaning he can play many different instruments. He learned to play jazz and classical music from a young age. He became famous as the bass player for the Allman Brothers Band from 1997 to 2014. He is also a founding member of the band Dead & Company.

Oteil was also a founding member of The Aquarium Rescue Unit and Tedeschi Trucks Band. His brother, Kofi Burbridge, was the keyboardist and flutist in the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Oteil has worked with many other famous musicians, including Bruce Hampton, Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Bill Kreutzmann, and Derek Trucks. He is known for singing along with his bass solos, a style called scat-singing. Bass Player magazine ranked him as one of the "100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time."

Musical Journey

Starting Out in Music

Oteil Burbridge was born and grew up in Washington, D.C.. His family has African American and some Egyptian roots. His name, Oteil, means "explorer" or "wanderer." When he and his older brother Kofi showed a talent for music, their mom encouraged them. She made sure they took classical and jazz music lessons. This helped them develop their musical skills and stay out of trouble.

Kofi remembers Oteil's first drum set was an oatmeal box when he was only three or four years old! Both brothers learned many instruments. They both learned to play the piano. Oteil became good at the bass clarinet, violin, and trumpet. But the bass guitar and drums became his favorite instruments. (Kofi loved the flute and keyboards). Oteil was also interested in acting. He even co-hosted a children's TV show called "Stuff." He went to Sidwell Friends School and finished in 1982.

As a teenager, Oteil played in many bands in Washington, D.C. He gained experience playing R&B, rock, Brazilian music, and jazz. Later, he moved to Virginia Beach and played in cover bands. Then he joined the music scene in Atlanta. There, he played with different musicians and learned even more music styles.

The Aquarium Rescue Unit

Oteil Burbridge was one of the first members of Bruce Hampton's unique band, the Aquarium Rescue Unit. This band introduced him to the "jam band" scene in the southeastern United States. Jam bands are known for playing long, improvised musical sections. Musicians from bands like Phish and Blues Traveler would often play with each other.

When Bruce Hampton left the Aquarium Rescue Unit, the band slowly broke up. But Oteil had already become well-known for playing four, five, and even six-string bass guitars. He enjoyed playing with Atlanta musicians who focused on less commercial music. The band's first members included Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe, Matt Mundy, and Count M'Butu. Even though they weren't famous commercially, their mix of bluegrass, rock, Latin, blues, jazz, and funk was very special. Their amazing skills influenced many other bands. They also set a pattern for their own future music projects.

Working with Other Musicians

Dead & Company

In 2015, Oteil Burbridge joined a new band called Dead & Company. He plays bass and drums in this group. The band includes Bob Weir, John Mayer, Mickey Hart, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti. Their first show was on October 29, 2015, in Albany, New York. They have toured many times since then, including a series of shows in Mexico called "Playing in the Sand." They also played during a summer residency at The Sphere in 2024.

Les Brers

In 2015, Oteil became a founding member of Les Brers. This band was led by Butch Trucks, who was a drummer for the Allman Brothers Band. Other members included Oteil's former Allman Brothers bandmates Jaimoe, Marc Quiñones, and Jack Pearson. The band also featured Pat Bergeson, Bruce Katz, and Lamar Williams Jr.

Past Musical Projects

The Allman Brothers Band

Burbridge performing with the Allman Brothers band in 2009

Oteil Burbridge was a full-time member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1997 until they stopped touring in 2014. He toured and recorded with them for 17 years! In 2012, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his time with the band. This award celebrates musicians who have made a big impact over their careers.

Oteil played on several of their albums, including Peakin' at the Beacon (2000), Hittin' the Note (2003), and One Way Out (2004). He also appeared on the DVD Live at the Beacon Theatre (2003). He was nominated for two Grammy Awards with the band in 2003 and 2004. Sometimes, he even sang lead vocals for the band, like on their cover of "Franklin’s Tower" and "Seven Turns."

Tedeschi Trucks Band

In 2010, Oteil joined his brother Kofi and Allman Brothers bandmate Derek Trucks in a new group called the Tedeschi Trucks Band. This was a large band with eleven members. It combined musicians from The Derek Trucks Band and Susan Tedeschi's band. The Tedeschi Trucks Band played at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2010. One of Oteil's songs, "Love Has Something Else to Say," is on the DVD from that show.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band released their first album, Revelator, in 2011. This album won a Grammy for Best Blues Album! In 2012, they released their second album, Everybody's Talkin', which was a live album from their 2011 world tour. On October 5, 2012, Oteil announced he would not be able to tour with the band anymore. He wanted to start a family. He hoped they would make music together again in the future.

BK3

Oteil Burbridge joined the Bill Kreutzmann Trio, also known as the BK3. This band included Bill Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead and Scott Murawski from Max Creek. They toured in 2008 and early 2009. Oteil left the group because he had touring commitments with the Allman Brothers Band. The BK3 played many classic Grateful Dead songs, Max Creek originals, and new songs written by Robert Hunter.

Oteil and the Peacemakers

In 1998, Oteil Burbridge started his own band called Oteil and the Peacemakers. This band was based in Birmingham, Alabama. It included Matt Slocum on keyboards, Mark Kimbrell on guitar, Chris Fryar on drums, and Paul Henson on vocals. They released their first album, Love of a Lifetime, in the same year. In 2003, they released a CD/DVD set called The Family Secret. For their third album in 2005, Believer, Oteil focused more on spiritual themes in his music.

Vida Blue

Page McConnell from the band Phish asked Oteil Burbridge to join him and Russell Batiste, Jr. (from the Funky Meters) in a new electronic trio. They didn't have a name until Major League Baseball pitcher Vida Blue joined them on stage. They decided to name the band after him! The trio formed in 2001 and played together until 2004. They released a DVD and two albums. Later, they teamed up with a Latin-rock band, mixing different music styles like jazz, electronic music, and alternative rock.

Other Cool Projects

The Adventures of the Green Thumb and Purple Haze

"The Green Thumb" is a comic book series that Oteil Burbridge created with artist LeVar Carter. The comic explores ideas about the power of nature and spirituality. It also looks at how big companies and governments might stop new ideas from happening to keep their power and money. And it asks what it means to be seen as "illegal" just because of your life situation. A book featuring these characters was published in 2014.

Film Role

When he was a teenager, Oteil Burbridge had a small part in the 1979 movie Being There. He played a street thug named Lolo. The movie is a funny and thought-provoking film about politics and being famous. Even though Oteil's part is small, it's in one of the movie's well-known scenes.

Podcast

Since 2020, Oteil Burbridge has co-hosted a podcast called "Comes A Time" with comedian Mike Finoia.

Oteil is also a big fan of professional wrestling.

Discography

Solo

Water in the Desert (2017)
Lovely View of Heaven (2023)

With The Zac Brown Band

The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1 (2013)

With The Tedeschi Trucks Band

Revelator (2011)
Everybody's Talkin' (2012)

With The Allman Brothers Band

Peakin' at the Beacon (2000)
Hittin' the Note (2003)
Live at the Beacon Theatre (DVD) (2003)
One Way Out (2004)
40 (DVD) (2014)
The Fox Box (2017)
Cream of the Crop 2003 (2018)
Warner Theatre, Erie, PA 7-19-05 (2020)

With Oteil and the Peacemakers

Love of a Lifetime (1998)
The Family Secret (2003)
Believer (2005)

With Vida Blue

Vida Blue (2002)
The Illustrated Band (2003)
Crossing Lines (2019)

With The Aquarium Rescue Unit

Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit (1992)
Mirrors of Embarrassment (1993)
Eepeee (1994)
In a Perfect World (1994)
The Calling (2003)

Other

Arkansas (1987/2000) – Col Bruce Hampton
Gossip (1996) – T Lavitz
Surrender to the Air (1996) – Surrender to the Air
What Did He Say? (1997) – Victor Wooten
Bass Extremes: Cookbook (1998) – Steve Bailey, Victor Wooten
Bass Day '98 (1999) – various artists
Searching for Simplicity (1998) – Gregg Allman
The Stranger's Hand (1999) – Oteil Burbridge, Howard Levy, Jerry Goodman, Steve Smith
Croakin' at Toad's (2000) – Frogwings
The Deep End, Volume 1 (2001) – Gov't Mule
Live in NYC 6/16/04 (2005) – Heavenly Jams Band
Go There (2007) – Scott Sawyer
Lifeboat (2008) – Jimmy Herring
The Imagine Project (2010) – Herbie Hancock
Cooking With Dynamite! (2011) – Hawk Tubley & The Airtight Chiefs
Ashes & Dust (2015) – Warren Haynes