At an early
age Bill’s love of drumming was sparked while watching the drummer on the
Lawrence Welk show. Bill started on cymbals in a drum and bugle corps when
he was 7 and became 1st snare in the Championship Corp by the time he was
13. His first kit was a set of Red Sparkle Ludwigs and he started his
first band in Junior High School. During the era that, Paul Revere &
The Raiders and Don & The Goodtimes were on the scene, Bill was
playing with a group called the “Pide Pipers”. They won a KOL Radio Battle
of the Bands contest, which got them TV spots, radio, and a tour with Paul
Revere and The Raiders, giving him a taste of show business at the early
age of 14.
Musically maturing in the Rock and Funk era of
the late ‘60s and early’70s, Bill was greatly influenced by people like
John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice and David Garabaldi. These
influences coupled with the “Garage Scene” are responsible for what is
known as the “Brammer Groove Machine” and what inspired other players to
refer to him as “The Hitman”. The 70’s culminated in Los Angeles doing
studio work and what ever gigs he could get in an effort to connect with
“that one band”. He did studio work for Warren Zevon, Buddy Miles and
others. The studio ignited his interest in the totaly 
controlled world of recording and all its aspects. While
working in the recording business, Bill’s “Search for the Perfect Tone”
was launched. The tone of his drums and his kick drum driven original
grooves, are the trade mark of Mr. Brammer’s drumming style. In the late
‘70s he played with the local group “Shaker” with Diane Powell, sharing
stages with other upcoming groups at the time such as Tower of Power,
Heart, Cold Blood and many others.
Today you can find Bill heavily ensconced in the Washington Blues
Scene playing with the hard driving blues-rock band Smokin’ Gun, whose
1998 CD release “Bad Luck Blues” won the Washington Blues Sociey’s BB
Award for “Best Northwest Recording” in 1998. That same year the band
was nominated for “Best Band”. Bill has been nominated for “Best Drummer”
in 97’, ‘98 and ‘99. Smokin’ Gun is actively playing the local club
and festival scene throughout Western Washington. He is also playing
with Nicole Fournier. Smokin' Gun had two more releases (Live Rounds
and Running For Cover) before breaking up.
Finding out that dreams are ageless, Bill feels like his future in music is brighter than it ever has been. To quote Bill: “I might not ever hit “The Big Time”, but I thank God for the gift of music and the challenge, satisfaction, both physically and mentally that it gives me.”
You are never to old to bring to life a dream.
| Drum Kit: 1963 Rogers Drums (A.) 22" X 14" Kick- (B.) 14" X 5" Super Ten Snare (C.) 14" X 10" Tom (D.) 15" X 12" Tom- (E.) 18" X 16" Floor Tom - -- - |
Cymbals: |
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| Hardware- Yamaha Stands Gibraltar Rack- Double Kick Pedal-- ----- |
-Heads- Top: White Ambassadors- Bottom: Clear Ambassadors Power Stroke 3 on Snare Power Stroke 3 on Kick ----------- |
Sticks 5A Vic Firth Nylon tip |