Don Brewer

Soundtrack

Birthday September 3, 1948

Birth Sign Virgo

Birthplace Flint, Michigan, U.S.

Age 76 years old

Nationality United States

Height 6' 3" (1.91 m)

#44050 Most Popular

1948

Donald George Brewer (born September 3, 1948) is an American drummer and singer.

He is one of the originators of the band Grand Funk Railroad.

Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan, on September 3, 1948, the son of Clara Eileen (née Waterman) and Donald A. Brewer, and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School.

Brewer started his first band, called The Red Devils, at the age of 12.

After leaving The Red Devils, Brewer formed another band named the Jazzmasters for whom he played drums and sang.

1964

In 1964, Brewer joined former DJ Terry Knight as well as bassist Herm Jackson, guitarist Curt Johnson, and keyboardist Bobby Caldwell and formed the band Terry Knight and the Pack.

1966

In 1966, he experienced his first top 40 hit with "I (Who Have Nothing)".

1968

In 1968, Brewer left Terry Knight and the Pack along with bandmate Mark Farner and recruited Mel Schacher, the bassist for the hit band ? and the Mysterians, and formed Grand Funk Railroad.

They hired Terry Knight as their manager.

1969

Grand Funk Railroad released their first album On Time in 1969 which sold over a million copies.

1973

In 1973, Grand Funk released the album We're an American Band, featuring the hit song "We're an American Band".

This track, written and sung by Brewer, was the band's first #1 single.

Still popular, the song has since been recorded by other artists.

1974

In addition to playing drums for Grand Funk, Brewer also provided lead vocals for a number of songs, including the first and third verses of "Some Kind of Wonderful" (1974).

Brewer was the baritone lead singer for the group, in contrast to the tenor vocals of Mark Farner.

In 1974, the label Qualico released the album Monumental Funk, recorded by Mark Farner and Brewer.

1977

In 1977, following the initial breakup of Grand Funk, Brewer and former Grand Funk bandmates Mel Schacher and Craig Frost formed a new band named Flint, which released one self-titled album in 1978 before disbanding.

1978

He also continued in other musical endeavors, including producing for the band The Godz (from Columbus, Ohio) their self-titled debut album The Godz in 1978.

Brewer played the bongo on Frank Zappa's song "Let Me Take You to the Beach" from the album Studio Tan, released in 1978.

1981

In 1981, Brewer and Farner resurrected Grand Funk for the album Grand Funk Lives that cracked the Billboard albums chart.

Two years later, they split again and Brewer joined Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band.

1985

Together since 1985, Don and Sunny have two daughters and five grandchildren.

1996

In 1996 Brewer, Schacher, and Farner reunited as Grand Funk.

1998

Farner decided to leave the band at the end of 1998 to resume his solo career.

2000

In 2000, Brewer and Schacher added vocalist Max Carl, former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick and keyboardist Tim Cashion to the line-up.

This band has been touring the U.S. and Canada playing about 40 shows per year.

In 2000, Brewer performed as a guest clinician at Modern Drummer Magazine's annual Drum Festival event.

2006

In 2006, Brewer rejoined Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band for their 2006–07 tour; it was his first appearance with the band since he played for them on their 1983 tour.

2007

Brewer was featured in Classic Rock Drum Solos DVD (2007), performing a solo from when he and Grand Funk Railroad sold out Shea Stadium in 1971.

2011

He also played with them on their 2011 tour and during Seger's 2014–2015 Ride Out U.S. concert tour.

Brewer lives in Jupiter, Florida, with his wife Sunny Quinn.