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Blood, Sweat and Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears is an American rock band that was formed in New York City in 1967. The band was originally formed by the drummer and vocalist Bobby Colomby and the keyboardist Al Kooper, who had previously played with Bob Dylan. The band's sound blended elements of rock, jazz, and blues with horns and other brass instruments, which set them apart from other bands of the time.

The band's self-titled second album, released in 1968, was a major commercial success and is often considered their breakthrough album. It contained several hit singles, including "Spinning Wheel," which became one of the band's signature songs. Other notable hits by the band include "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die."

Blood, Sweat & Tears went through numerous personnel changes over the years, with Colomby being the only constant member. The band continued to release albums and tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s, although their commercial success waned in the latter part of their career. Despite this, they remain an influential and respected band, known for their unique blend of genres and their distinctive horn section.

Some of the notable members of the band include David Clayton-Thomas, who served as the lead vocalist during their most successful period; Steve Katz, who played guitar and contributed vocals; and Lew Soloff, who played trumpet and flugelhorn. The band has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world.

Thanks to Tom White and John Warburg for helping with biographical information. -GSH

Blood, Sweat and Tears I (1967 - 1968)
  • Al Kooper - keyboards/vocals - b. Alan Peter Kuperschmidt, February 5, 1944, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA - formerly with The Royal Teens, The Blues Project, and did session work with Bob Dylan.
  • Steve Katz - guitar/harmonica/vocals - b. May 9, 1945, New York City, New York, USA - formerly with Dave Van Ronk's Ragtime Jug Stompers and  Jim Kweskin's Even Dozen Jug Band.
  • Fred Lipsius - alto sax/piano - b. Frederick Lipsius, November 19, 1943, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
  • Jim Fielder - bass - b. October 4, 1947, Denton, Texas, USA - formerly with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and Buffalo Springfield.
  • Bobby Colomby - drums - b. Robert Colomby, December 20, 1944, New York City, New York, USA - formerly with Odetta and Eric Andersen.
  • Dick Halligan - keyboards/trombone/flute - b. Richard Halligan, August 29, 1943, Troy, New York, USA.
  • Randy Brecker - trumpet/flugelhorn - b. Ronald Brecker, November 27, 1945, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Jerry Weiss - trumpet/flugelhorn - b. May 1, 1946, New York City, New York, USA.
Album:
  1. "Child Is Father To The Man" (1968) - Single: "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know"
Randy Brecker forms Dreams, and later forms The Brecker Brothers (with brother Mike Brecker); later joins the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Band.  Jerry Weiss forms Ambergris (Ref: Jeremiah "Spassvogel" Rickert).
Blood, Sweat and Tears II (1968 - 1970)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals - b. September 13, 1941, Surrey, England - formerly with The Fabulous Shays and The Bossmen.
  • Steve Katz - guitar/harmonica/vocals
  • Fred Lipsius - alto sax/piano
  • Jim Fielder - bass
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dick Halligan - keyboards/trombone/flute
  • Chuck Winfield - trumpet/flugelhorn - b. February 5, 1943, Monessen, Pennsylvania.
  • Lew Soloff - trumpet/flugelhorn - b. Lewis Michael Soloff, February 20, 1944, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.
  • Jerry Hyman - trombone - b. May 19, 1947, New York City, New York, USA.
Albums:
  1. "Blood, Sweat and Tears" (1969) - Singles: "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel", "And When I Die"
  2. "Blood, Sweat & Tears 3" (1970) - Singles: "Hi-De-Ho", "Lucretia MacEvil"
Blood, Sweat and Tears III (1970 - 1972)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Steve Katz - guitar/harmonica/vocals
  • Fred Lipsius - alto sax/piano
  • Jim Fielder - bass
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dick Halligan - keyboards/trombone/flute
  • Chuck Winfield - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Lew Soloff - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Jerry Hyman - trombone
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet - b. September 6, 1942, Massachusetts.
Album:
  1. "B, S & T 4" (1971) - Single: "Go Down Gamblin'"
David Clayton-Thomas goes solo.  Dick Halligan forms The Dick Halligan Quartet (Los Angeles, California).
Blood, Sweat and Tears IV (1972)
  • Steve Katz - guitar/harmonica/vocals
  • Jim Fielder - bass
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Chuck Winfield - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Lew Soloff - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Bobby Doyle - vocals - b. Houston, Texas.
  • Lou Marini, Jr. - sax/flute - b. Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar - b. Sweden - formerly with Made in Sweden.
  • Larry Willis - keyboards - b. New York City, New York.
Blood, Sweat and Tears V (1972)
  • Steve Katz - guitar/harmonica/vocals
  • Jim Fielder - bass
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Chuck Winfield - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Lew Soloff - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Lou Marini, Jr. - sax/flute
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals - b. 1943, Dekalb, Texas.
Album:
  1. "New Blood" (1972)
Steve Katz forms American Flyer (with Craig Fuller, formerly of Pure Prairie League).
Blood, Sweat and Tears VI (1972 - 1973)
  • Jim Fielder - bass
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Lew Soloff - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Lou Marini, Jr. - sax/flute
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals
  • Tom Malone - trumpet/flugelhorn/trombone/sax
Album:
  1. "No Sweat" (1973)
Jim Fielder joins Neil Sedaka's band.  Tom Malone forms Vertigo and was later member of the Gil Evans Orchestra and Gil Goldstein's Zebra Coast Orchestra.  Lew Soloff joins Gil Evans Orchestra (currently Miles Evans Orchestra).
Blood, Sweat and Tears VII (1973 - 1974)
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals
  • Ron McClure - bass
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Jerry LaCroix - vocals/sax/flute/harmonica - formerly with Edgar Winter's White Trash.
Album:
  1. "Mirror Image" (1974)
Jerry LaCroix joins Rare Earth, and later forms Jerry LaCroix and the Blues Krewe.
Blood, Sweat and Tears VIII (1974 - 1975)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar
  • Ron McClure - bass
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Joe Giorgianni - trumpet/flugelhorn
Album:
  1. "New City" (1975)
Ron McClure was later member of Quest.
Blood, Sweat and Tears IX (1975)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Georg Wadenius - guitar
  • Jaco Pastorius - bass
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Joe Giorgianni - trumpet/flugelhorn
Jaco Pastorius joins Weather Report.  Jerry Fisher forms Jerry Fisher and the Music Company ("Dock of the Bay" restaurant, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, destroyed during Hurricane Katrina) [Ref: Lori Garside, email dated May 22, 2009].  Georg Wadenius returns to Sweden and reforms Made in Sweden; later forms GeWaDoKa, and later joins the reformed Steely Dan.
Blood, Sweat and Tears X (1975)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Jerry Fisher - vocals
  • Ron McClure - bass
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Joe Giorgianni - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Steve Khan - guitar
Blood, Sweat and Tears XI (1975 - 1976)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Danny Trifan - bass
  • Mike Stern - guitar
  • Forrest Buchtel - trumpet
  • Don Alias - percussion
Album:
  1. "More Than Ever" (1976)
  2. "Live and Improvised" (2-CDs) (1991) - recorded in 1975.
Don Alias later played with Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, and Herbie Hancock's New Standard Quintet.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XII (1976 - 1977)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Bobby Colomby - drums
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Danny Trifan - bass
  • Mike Stern - guitar
  • Forrest Buchtel - trumpet
  • Roy McCurdy - drums
Album:
  1. "Brand New Day" (1977)
Blood, Sweat and Tears XIII (1977)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Danny Trifan - bass
  • Mike Stern - guitar
  • Forrest Buchtel - trumpet
  • Roy McCurdy - drums
  • Randy Bernsen - guitar
Randy Bernsen joins Zawinul Syndicate.  Forrest Buchtel joins Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth Big Band.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XIV (1977 - 1978)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Danny Trifan - bass
  • Mike Stern - guitar
  • Roy McCurdy - drums
Mike Stern joins Billy Cobham and, later, the Miles Davis band.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XV (1978)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Bargeron - trombone/tuba/trumpet
  • Larry Willis - keyboards
  • Tony Klatka - trumpet
  • Bill Tillman - sax/flute/clarinet
  • Danny Trifan - bass
  • Forrest Buchtel - trumpet
  • Roy McCurdy - drums
  • Chris Albert - 
  • Barry Finnerty - 
  • Neil Stubbenhaus - 
Dave Bargeron later joins Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth Big Band and The Gil Evans Orchestra.  Bill Tillman joins the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and later forms The Bill Tillman Band. Larry Willis joins Nat Adderly, later joins Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apachi Band; and later forms The Larry Willis Quartet.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XVI (1979 - 1980)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • David Piltch - bass
  • Robert Piltch - guitar
  • Richard Martinez - keyboards
  • Bruce Cassidy - trumpet/flugelhorn
  • Vern Dorge - flute/sax
  • Earl Seymour - flute/sax
  • Bobby Economou - drums
Bruce Cassidy moves to Johannesburg and forms The Hotfoot Sympathy Orchestra.  David Piltch joins Chuck Mangione's band, and later forms Strangeness Beauty.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XVII (1980 - 1981)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Wayne Pedewater - bass
  • Peter Harris - guitar
  • Lou Pomanti - keyboards
  • Vern Dorge - flute/sax
  • Earl Seymour - flute/sax
  • Mic Gilette - trumpet
  • Bobby Economou - drums
Album:
  1. "Nuclear Blues" (1980)
  2. "Latin Fire" (1985)
  3. "Midnight Concert"
  4. "Live" (1994)
(Ref: Jeremiah "Spassvogel" Rickert, for the Nuclear Blues band lineup.) Bruce Cassidy moves to Johannesburg and forms The Hotfoot Sympathy Orchestra. David Piltch joins Chuck Mangione's band, and later forms Strangeness Beauty.
Blood, Sweat and Tears XVIII (1981 - 1985)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • Tom Guarna - guitar
  • Dave Stahl - trumpet
  • Chuck Pillow - saxophone
  • Dave Pietro - saxophone
  • Others...
Album:
  1. "The Challenge" (1984)
Blood, Sweat and Tears XIX (1985 - 2004)
  • David Clayton-Thomas - vocals
  • James Fox - guitar
  • Gary Foote - bass
  • Steve Guttman - trumpet
  • Jon Owens - trumpet
  • Tom Timko - saxophone
  • Pat Hallahan - trombone
  • Zach Danzinger - drums
Compilations:
  1. "Greatest Hits" (1972)
  2. "What Goes Up!  The Best of Blood, Sweat & Tears" (2-CDs) (1995)
  3. "Super Hits" (1998)
David Clayton-Thomas solo:
  1. "David Clayton-Thomas and The Shays" (1964)
  2. "David Clayton-Thomas" (1972)
  3. "Tequila Sunrise" (1973)
  4. "David Clayton-Thomas / Tequila Sunrise" (2-fer) (2002)
  5. "Harmony Junction" (1974)
  6. "Clayton" (1977)
  7. "Blue Plate Special" (1997)
  8. "The Christmas Album" (2001)
  9. "Aurora" (2005)
  10. "In Concert: A Musical Biography" (2006)
Dave Bargeron solo:
  1. "Barge Burns...Slide Flies" (1995)
Randy Bernsen solo:
  1. "Music for People, Planets, and Washing Machines" (1985)
  2. "Mo' Wasabi" (1987)
  3. "Paradise Citizens" (1989)
  4. "Calling Me Back Home" (1993)
  5. "Live at Tavern 213" (2001)
  6. "Live in San Miguel" (2001)
  7. "Be Still and Know" (2004)
Randy Brecker solo:
  1. "Score" (1969)
  2. "Amanda" (1985)
  3. "In the Idiom" (1986)
  4. "Live at Sweet Basil" (1988)
  5. "Toe to Toe" (1990)
  6. "Into the Sun" (1995)
  7. "Jazz Times Superband" (2000) - with Bob Berg, Dennis Chambers, and Joey DeFrancesco.
  8. "Hangin' in the City" (2001)
  9. "34th N Lex" (2003)
  10. "Some Skunk Funk" (live) (2005)
  11. "Soul Bop Band Live in New York" (2006)
Steve Khan solo:
  1. "Tightrope" (1977)
  2. "The Blue Man" (1978)
  3. "Arrows" (1979)
  4. "Evidence" (1980)
  5. "The Best of Steve Khan" (1980)
  6. "Eyewitness" (1981)
  7. "Blades" (1982)
  8. "Local Colour" (1983) (with Rob Mounsey)
  9. "Casa Loco" (1983)
  10. "Public Access" (1989)
  11. "Let's Call This" (1991)
  12. "Headline" (1992)
  13. "Crossings" (1993)
  14. "Got My Mental" (1997)
  15. "You Are Here" (1998) (with Rob Mounsey)
  16. "The Green Field" (2006)
  17. "Borrowed Time" (2007)
Lew Soloff solo:
  1. "Hanalei Bay" (1983)
  2. "The Best of Lew Soloff" (1983)
  3. "Yesterdays" (1986)
  4. "Speak Low" (1987)
  5. "But Beautiful" (1987)
  6. "Little Wing" (1991)
  7. "With a Song in My Heart" (1999)
  8. "Rainbow Mountain" (2000)
  9. "Air on G String" (2004)
Mike Stern solo:
  1. "Upside Downside" (1986)
  2. "Time in Place" (1987)
  3. "Jigsaw" (1989)
  4. "Odds or Evens" (1991)
  5. "Standards (and Other Songs)" (1992)
  6. "Is What It Is" (1993)
  7. "Between the Lines" (1996)
  8. "Give and Take" (1997)
  9. "Play" (1999)
  10. "Voices" (2001)
  11. "These Times" (2004)
  12. "Who Let the Cats Out" (2006)
Georg Wadenius solo:
  1. "Georg Wadenius"
  2. "Cleo" (1995)
Larry Willis solo:
  1. "A New Kind of Soul" (1970)
  2. "Inner Crisis" (1973)
  3. "My Funny Valentine" (1988)
  4. "Just in Time" (1989)
  5. "Steal Away" (1991) (with Mcbee and Bartz)
  6. "Solo Spirit" (1992)
  7. "A Tribute to Someone" (1993)
  8. "Heavy Blue" (1994)
  9. "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" (1994)
  10. "Let's Play" (1994)
  11. "Unforgettable" (1995)
  12. "Serenade" (1995)
  13. "Ballads from the Black Sea" (1997)
  14. "If Trees Could Talk" (1999)
  15. "Every Rung Goes Higher" (2001)
  16. "Sunshower" (2001)
  17. "Sanctuary" (2003)
  18. "The Powers Of Two" (2004) - with Paul Murphy
  19. "The Big Push" (2006)
  20. "The Powers Of Two, Vol. 2" (2006) - with Paul Murphy
  21. "Blue Fable" (2007)
DVDs and Videos:
  1. "Blood, Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel" (1980) - DVD
  2. "David Clayton-Thomas - You're The One" (2007) - DVD
Links:
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Last Revised:  June 9, 2009
© 2000, 2007, 2009 by Gary S. Hartman.  All rights reserved.
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