SUMTER BRUTON is considered by many to be one of the top interpreters of the T-Bone Walker guitar style as well as an authority on blues and rhythm and blues music. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas and raised in a musical family. His late father was a
jazz drummer and his younger brother, the late Stephen Bruton, was a guitarist, singer, songwriter and
record producer.
Sumter’s career began when he started playing guitar in 1962. The first bands he played
in were college blues and rock & roll combos. In 1968 Sumter joined the Robert Ealey Blues Band.
He was the only white musician in the group that became Robert Ealey and the 5 Careless
Lovers in 1972. In 1974 Sumter formed his own band called Boogie Uproar, a blues and R&B band
that featured a horn section. A year later he formed a similar band called Rhumboogie.
In 1977 Sumter, along with singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim Colegrove, started the
Juke Jumpers, a legendary Texas R&B, rockabilly, jazz and swing band. The Juke Jumpers
recorded five LPs and toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe. The band performed together for 17 years and still get together for annual reunions.
Sumter got together with Mike Price, a singer/songwriter/piano player, in 1993 to
record Bruton & Price—Swingmasters
Revue. He and Mike currently perform together with their
group The Swingmasters. His group has CDs now available. He also performs with Hank Hankshaw’s band. You can find him during the day at his retail record store, Record Town, 3025 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76109. Give him a call at (817) 926-1331. He can help you find that record you’ve been looking for.
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