The musical world lost perhaps its greatest bass player when it was announced that Jack Bruce died today at the age of 71. Bruce was best known as a member of the late 1960’s power trio, Cream, which included Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.
Bruce would first cut his teeth in the early 60’s where he first gained attention with the Graham Bond Organization, an electric blues outfit that also included drummer, Ginger Baker. Bruce would leave the band to join John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, an outfit that also had Eric Clapton. Shortly after, in 1966, he would become a part of Manfred Mann and enjoy to date the most success (commercially speaking anyway) of his career, however the best was yet to come.
With Baker and Calpton, Jack Bruce formed Cream, a band that is commonly referred to do in the annals of Rock and Roll History as the first “Supergroup”. Cream amalgamated all they had learned from Blues Rock, Jazz Rock and combined it with the contemporary Psychedelic sound, and the trio churned out four albums (Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire & Goodbye) in a three year time span; all of which were highly acclaimed efforts and spawned hit singles, many of which were sung by Bruce.
The band’s heavier sound helped usher in precursors to Heavy Metal, and Hard Rock stars of the 1970’s, and though they were only together for a few years the impact of Cream was undeniable.
After 1968, the three members of Cream all went their separate ways, and Bruce would put out over a dozen solo albums, and though his solo efforts were not as impactful as his work with Cream, he remained a certifiable musical legend and one of the most respected in his craft.
Cream would enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and would reunite on stage for the first time in twenty-five years where they performed “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room”, two of their biggest hits. They would reform for a brief spell in 2005.
We would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Jack Bruce.
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