Brian Setzer

A modern-day champion of rockabilly, swing revival, and old-school rock & roll, Brian Setzer is best known as the frontman of the Stray Cats and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. He was born on April 10, 1959, in Massapequa, New York. It was in Massapequa that he co-founded the Stray Cats in 1979. The band's self-titled debut album arrived two years later, with songs like "Stray Cat Strut" and "Rock This Town" becoming Top 10 hits in America and the UK. Two years later, "(She's) Sexy + 17" reached number 5 in the US. The Stray Cats disbanded in 1984, reformed in 1986, and continued releasing albums well into the 21st century. Meanwhile, Setzer explored different styles of music as a solo act, beginning with the roots-rock sound of his 1986 solo debut, The Knife Feels Like Justice, and venturing into jazzy territory with The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Formed in 1990, The Brian Setzer Orchestra released a debut album in 1994 and found a mainstream audience with 1998's The Dirty Boogie. "Jump, Jive an' Wail," a cover of Louis Prima's original, became a Top 40 hit on American radio, earning Setzer a Grammy Award for "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals." That same year, Setzer also won a Grammy Award for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" with his version of "Sleepwalk," then returned to the Grammy Awards in 2001 to collect another award for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance," this time for his song "Caravan." He continued to release albums with his orchestra, including 2000's Vavoom! and 2014's Rockabilly Riot! All Original, while also maintaining his solo career with records like 2023's The Devil Always Collects, which reached number 56 in Japan.

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