About Doyle Bramhall
Lived 1949 – 2011 (aged 62). Doyle Bramhall was an American guitarist, singer, composer, film score composer and musician.
Doyle Bramhall Sr. (February 17, 1949 – November 12, 2011) was an American blues singer, guitarist and drummer with deep roots in the Austin, Texas music scene.
Career Bramhall joined The Chessmen with Jimmie Vaughan while in high school. The group opened for Jimi Hendrix when he played Dallas. In 1969, he moved to Austin and formed Texas Storm with Jimmie Vaughan. In the 1970s, Bramhall formed The Nightcrawlers with Marc Benno, which also included Jimmie Vaughan's younger brother Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar. While in The Nightcrawlers, Bramhall co-wrote the tune "Dirty Pool," which appeared on Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut album, Texas Flood. He would write or co-write several other songs for the younger Vaughan, such as "Life by the Drop" from SRV's The Sky Is Crying album, and he played the drums on the Vaughan Brothers only album, Family Style. and his own son. He also collaborated with Jennifer Warnes in the 1990s.
He is the father of singer and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II by his first wife.
Death On November 12, 2011, Bramhall died of heart failure while asleep at his home in Alpine, Texas. He was 62. It was reported that Bramhall had been suffering from pneumonia in the days immediately preceding his death.
Discography Groovin' with Big D – Kathy & the Kilowatts (Lectro-Fine Records, 1991) Bird Nest on the Ground (Antone's, 1994) Fitchburg Street (Yep Roc, 2003) U.S. Billboard Top Blues Albums No. 6 Is It News (Yep Roc, 2007) U.S. Top Blues Albums No. 7 “Let That Right Hand Go” Featuring Smokin’ Joe Kubek – Smokin’ Joe Kubek (Bird Records Texas, 2012)
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Important facts
People in Doyle Bramhall's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Doyle Bramhall's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Doyle Bramhall?
American musician (1949–2011)
When was Doyle Bramhall born?
Doyle Bramhall was born on 17 February 1949 in Dallas.
When did Doyle Bramhall die?
Doyle Bramhall died on 12 November 2011 in Alpine.
What was Doyle Bramhall's occupation?
Doyle Bramhall was a guitarist, singer, composer, film score composer and musician.
What nationality was Doyle Bramhall?
Doyle Bramhall was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Doyle Bramhall. https://biography.guide/doyle-bramhall/
MLA: "Doyle Bramhall." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/doyle-bramhall/.
Chicago: "Doyle Bramhall." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/doyle-bramhall/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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