Tony Braunagel is an American drummer, producer, and songwriter from Houston, Texas, United States, who is based in Los Angeles, California. Braunagel has played on many film scores and television shows as well as numerous albums as a musician, composer and producer. He is best known as a session drummer and/or percussionist of over 200 albums including those of Otis Rush, Eric Burdon, Johnny Nash, Coco Montoya, Lucky Peterson, as well as Grammy winning albums of Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy (percussion) and for performing live with dozens of music icons including Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, BB King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Bette Midler, Lyle Lovett, and Taj Mahal.
Braunagel's recording and performing career encompasses numerous and diverse rhythms and drum styles, but he is most known for Rhythm and Blues, Blues, Americana Rock ‘n’ Roll, Blues shuffle, Back Beat, as well as his own blend of Reggae and West African rhythms.
Several of the albums produced by Braunagel have been nominated for and won Grammy and Blues Music Awards, reached Billboard charts, Living Blues charts, Roots & Music reports, and many Blues blog charts around the world, including albums by artists such as Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon, Coco Montoya, Danielle Nicole, Phantom Blues Band, and Curtis Salgado.
Early life Anthony Michael Braunagel grew up in Houston, Texas, United States. His father was a country music fan, played some guitar, and surrounded him with music. Braunagel's first experience on the drums was playing his cousin's drumkit as a child, before being mentored by his neighbor (now life-long friend) Willie Ornelas.
At the age of 15 he bought his first drumkit from Ornelas and performed live for the first time shortly thereafter when Ornelas got him his first nightclub gig. Soon after, he became involved in the then-upcoming Houston R&B scene, honing his skills by playing in local joints and nightclubs.
Performance career Braunagel's early drumming career included playing in several local bands, such as Soul Brothers Incorporated, The Jokers, and Buttermilk Bottom. The latter got a record deal with Polydor and released a single. After the demise of Buttermilk Bottom, he then teamed up with Andy Chapman (vocals), Jimmy Don Smith (guitar) and then David Kealey (guitar), Michael Montgomery (keyboards), and Terry Wilson (bass) to form The Bloontz All Star Blues Band. In 1971, the band moved to New York under the auspices of producer Ron Johnsen, shortening their name to Bloontz and scoring a contract with the Evolution label.
Bloontz recorded one album at Electric Lady Studios, after which in 1973 Braunagel and Wilson toured with Johnny Nash becoming part of his latest Sons of the Jungle line up.
Braunagel wrote a song for Johnny Nash's Celebrate Life album in 1974 called "Standing in the Rain". Soon after, Braunagel with his battery mate, bassist Wilson, accepted an offer from Island Records to move to London in order to work with John "Rabbit" Bundrick, and several other Island artists. While in London, he was the house band drummer for Island Records as the Texas Rhythm Section along with Wilson on bass.
While in London, he met ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff and, together with Wilson and Montgomery from his former band, Bloontz, they formed Back Street Crawler. The band also included Terry Wilson-Slesser on vocals and later John "Rabbit" Bundrick, who replaced Montgomery on keyboards following the release of the band's first album The Band Plays On (Atco Records). They recorded a further album 2nd Street prior to Kossoff's death in 1976 after which the band decided to stay together. They added Geoff Whitehorn on guitar, and shortened its name to Crawler. This incarnation of the band moved to Epic Records, recorded two more albums, and embarked on several America tours, sometimes supporting stadium acts such as Kansas and Foreigner, Rush, and Robin Trower.
In 1979, Braunagel relocated to Los Angeles where he found work touring and recording with artists such as Eric Burdon, Rickie Lee Jones and Bette Midler. In 1984, Braunagel took the drum stool in Bonnie Raitt's band, playing on the albums Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw, and touring with her until the early 1990s. He also spent several years touring with Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band.
Braunagel's live performance career included work with such artists as Ivan Neville, Etta James, Eric Burdon, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmie Reed, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Buddy Guy, Coco Montoya, Curtis Salgado, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, Crawler, Back Street Crawler, Clover, Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser, Tommy Dardar, Katey Sagal, Charles Brown, Koko Taylor, Billy Vera (Billy and the Beaters), John Cleary, Mike Zito, Billy Thompson, Phantom Blues Band, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr., Roy Gaines, Chris Cain, and BW Stephenson. He also performed Blues Foundation and House of Blues house band shows with guests such as Dr. John, Little Milton, Rufus Thomas, Otis Clay, and Carla Thomas.
In addition to playing drums and producing music, Braunagel is also a songwriter. He is a Blues Music Award winner. He has been nominated for Blues Music Award in the 'Best Instrumentalist – Drums' category twelve times winning in 2018 Braunagel's recording credits include film scores and television shows as well as numerous albums as a musician, songwriter and producer. In the mid-1990s, Braunagel also produced several commercial jingles. In 2017, Braunagel appears on MEG Records/Nashville artist Tom Maclear's Gods and Ghosts.
Music production and music awards Throughout the 1990s, Braunagel played on many award-winning albums. Braunagel has also produced over 20 artists in connection with more than 40 albums. Sessions include drumming on two Grammy Award-winning albums by Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band – Señor Blues and Shoutin' in Key,(Grammy winner, BMA winner) the latter of which Braunagel produced. His recordings with Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band also won the 2001 W.C. Handy award for Band of the Year. Braunagel also recorded on Buddy Guy's Feels Like Rain (Grammy, Best Contemporary Blues Album, 1994), Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time (Grammy, Album of the Year, 1989), Bonnie Raitt's Luck of the Draw (Grammy, Album of the Year, 1991), and on Trampled Under Foot's Badlands (BMA Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, 2014) which he also produced.
In addition, Braunagel produced and performed on Hard Truth and Coming in Hot with Coco Montoya; My Secret Life, 'Til Your River Runs Dry, Soul of a Man with Eric Burdon; Karen Lovely's 2015 album, Ten Miles of Bad Road. (BMA Nominee, Blues411 "Jimi" Award winner), and Cry No More (Grammy nominee) with Danielle Nicole. In 2019 Braunagel produced Nick Schnebelen's album, Crazy All By Myself. He also co-produced and performed on Curtis Salgado's albums Clean Getaway (BMA nominee), Soul Shot (BMA winner), and The Beautiful Lowdown (BMA winner),
Discography +Performance - Drums & PercussionArtistAlbum titleLabelYearBloontz Bloontz Evolution 1973Lyn Christopher Lyn Christopher Paramount Records1973RabbitDark Saloon Island Records1974Johnny Nash Celebrate Life CBS1974Back Street Crawler The Band Plays On Atlantic1975John Martyn Sunday's Child Island Records1975Speedy Keen Y'Know Wot I Mean? Island Records1975Shusha Before The Deluge United Artists Records1975Back Street Crawler The Band Plays On (EP)Atco Records1975Back Street Crawler 2nd Street Atco Records1976Paul Travis Return Of The NativeA&M Records1976Clover Love On The Wire Vertigo1977Paul Kossoff Koss DJM Records 1977Crawler Crawler Epic1977Robert Campbell Living in the Shadow of a Downtown Movie Show Decca1977City Boy Young Men Gone West Vertigo1977Eddie Quansah Che Che Kule Island Records1977Crawler Snake, Rattle And Roll Epic1978Crawler In Concert-185 BBC Transcription Services1978Mark Ashton Solo Ariola1979Brooklyn Dreams Won't Let Go Casablanca1980Che Blammo "Rock Moderne"Permanent Records 1981Paul Kossoff The Hunter Street Tunes1981Chas Sandford Parallax View Elektra1982Eric Burdon Band Eric Burdon BandLine Records1982Teresa Straley Never Enough Alfa1982Paul Kossoff Leaves In The Wind Street Tunes1982Rickie Lee Jones Girl At Her VolcanoWarner Bros. Records1983Paul Kossoff Croydon June 15, 1975 Street Tunes1983Alex Call Alex Call Arista1983Eric Burdon Power Company Teldec1983Andy Fraser Fine Fine Line Island Records, Island Records1984Sam Harris Sam Harris Motown1984Jimmy Barnes For The Working Class Man Mushroom1985Jimmy Barnes Jimmy Barnes Geffen Records1985Paul Kossoff Paul Kossoff Victoria, Victoria1985Paul Kossoff Blue Soul Island Records1986Marc Jordan Talking Through Pictures RCA1987The Bonedaddys A-koo-de-a! Chameleon Records 1988Marlo Thomas & Various Free To Be... A Family A&M Records1988Eric Burdon Wicked Man GNP Crescendo 1988Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time Capitol Records1989C.P. Love Stubborn Girl Orleans Records1990Bonnie Raitt Red Headed WomanReal Live1991Bonnie Raitt Luck Of The Draw Capitol Records1991Eric Burdon The Unreleased Eric Burdon Blue Wave1992Taj Mahal Dancing The Blues Private Music1993Buddy Guy Feels Like Rain Silvertone Records1993Ian McNabb Head Like A Rock This Way Up1994Maria Muldaur Meet Me At Midnite Black Top Records1994Chris Thomas 21st Century Blues... From Da 'Hood Private Music, BMG1994Otis Rush Ain't Enough Comin' In This Way Up1994Ian McNabb Go Into The Light This Way Up1994Ian McNabb Head Like A Rock This Way Up1994Otis Rush HomeworkThis Way Up, Quicksilver Recording Company Ltd.1994Drivin' N' Cryin' Wrapped In Sky Geffen Records1995Thomas Anders Souled Polydor1995Eric Burdon Rare Masters SPV Recordings1995Taj Mahal Phantom Blues Private Music1996Jimmy Barnes Hits (Anthology)Mushroom1996Eric Burdon Rare Masters Vol. 2 SPV Recordings1996Taj Mahal Señor Blues Private Music1997Alexis Peña AlexisColumbia1997John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers Blues For The Lost DaysSilvertone Records1997Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band Tibetan Freedom Concert Capitol Records1997Cinnamon The Courier Island Records1997B.B. King Deuces Wild MCA Records1997Bonnie Raitt Fundamental Capitol Records, Highway One Media Entertainment, Tower Records 1998City Boy Young Men Gone West / Book Early Renaissance Records 1998Eric Burdon F#¢k Me!!! I Thought He Was Dead TKO Magnum Music1998Eric Burdon Nightwinds DyingInstitute of Art Records, Rough Trade1998The Pearsons One By One Shadow Mountain1998Teresa James The Whole Enchilada Jesilu Records1998Maria Muldaur Meet Me Where They Play The Blues Telarc1999Buddy Guy - Buddy's Baddest: The Best Of Buddy Guy Feels Like Rain Silvertone Records1999Crawler Concert Classics - Volume 10Renaissance Records, 1999Concert ClassicsCal HollowTwo Bulb Twilight Jericho 1999B.B. King Makin' Love Is Good For You MCA Records2000Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band Shoutin' In Key (Live) Hannibal Records, Kan-Du Records2000Taj Mahal Best Of The Private Years Private Music2000Coco Montoya Suspicion Alligator Records2000Barbara Blue Sell My Jewelry BIG Blue Records 2001Lucky Peterson Double Dealin |Blue Thumb Records |2000 |- | rowspan="2" |Billy Branch, Joe Lewis Walker |Hellhound On My Trail | rowspan="2" |Telarc Blues | rowspan="2" |2001 |- |(Songs Of Robert Johnson) |- |Lucky Peterson |Verve Today 2001 |Verve Records, Universal Jazz Germany |2001 |- |Chris Smith |Night Rhythms 2 - Broadcasting The Blues Vol.2 |Taxim Records |2001 |- |Coco Montoya |Can't Look Back |Alligator Records |2002 |- |Chris Smith |Night Rhythms 3 - Broadcasting The Blues Vol.3 |Taxim Records |2002 |- |Taj Mahal |Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues |Legacy, Columbia |2003 |- |Belushi - Aykroyd |Have Love Will Travel |Have Love Records, Doyle-Kos Entertainment |2003 |- |The Mike Reilly Band |Ol' Knuckleheads |Atlas Records |2003 |-