About Me
Brian Setzer
(born April 10, 1959 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
In the 1980s, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats. Stray Cats caught America's attention with the 1982 album Built for Speed, which included the two Top Ten hits, "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" , as well as with the follow-up 1983 album Rant 'N Rave, which included the two successful singles "(She's) Sexy + 17" , and "I Won't Stand In Your Way" .
In the 1990s, Setzer led a comeback for swing music and big band music, when he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra. The band has released 6 albums to date and two live DVDs. This group had one hit, "Jump, Jive An' Wail" around the same time songs like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" had been received favorably in mainstream America.
During the past 7 years, Setzer has earned 3 Grammy Awards (Best Pop Performance Duo/Group for "Jump Jive An' Wail", originally by Louis Prima, and 2 Best Pop Instrumental Performance awards for "Sleepwalk" and "Caravan"). In December 2006 he received his 7th Grammy nomination for his version of "My Favorite Things," again in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category.
Brian Setzer also recorded some solo albums during Stray Cats' break in the 1980s along with some in the 1990s. In 2001 he released an album titled Ignition with his band '68 Comeback Special. A tribute album titled Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To Sun Records was released on July 26, 2005, in the United States. His latest Record, 13, was released in October 2006.
Brian recently moved from Southern California to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife Julie (nee Reiten, former singer with the Dustbunnies), whom he originally met when she auditioned (and was hired) as a back-up singer for the Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2000. They were married in Palm Springs, California in the summer of 2005. Brian continues to tour in the United States and overseas with his orchestra.
Setzer spoofed himself in a 2002 episode of popular animated series The Simpsons. He voiced himself as a "tutor" at a fictional "Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp" attended by Homer Simpson, and delivered the amusing line (after his animated version participated in chasing Homer in a motorized devil's head) "I hope you won't judge the entire Brian Setzer orchestra based on my actions."
