


In his absence, Bobby Doyle and then Jerry Fisher fronted Blood, Sweat & Tears until Clayton-Thomas' return in 1974.īlood, Sweat & Tears debuted in 1969 with "You've Made Me So Very Happy," the first of three #2 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 that year that also included "And When I Die" and "Spinning Wheel," the latter of which topped the Adult Contemporary chart. Kooper left in early 1968 and was replaced by David Clayton-Thomas who then departed the band in 1972 to pursue a solo career. In 1968, Blood, Sweat & Tears signed to Columbia and released their debut album, "Child Is Father To The Man," which was followed soon after by their hugely successful, Grammy-winning eponymous second album which topped the Billboard 200 the following year.

Their best known songs include the romantic "You've Made Me So Very Happy" (1969), the psychedelic "Spinning Wheel" (1969), and the gospel-infused "And When I Die" (1969).įormed in 1967 in New York City by former Blues Project member Al Kooper (keyboards, lead vocals), the original lineup also consisted of Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn), Bobby Colomby (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Jim Fielder (bass, guitar, backing vocals), Dick Halligan (keyboards, trombone, horns, flute, backing vocals), Steve Katz (guitar, harmonica, flute, mandolin, lead and backing vocals), Fred Lipsius (alto sax, keyboards), and Jerry Weiss (trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals). Their distinctive sound during their hitmaking years came from their punchy, brass-heavy arrangements as well as David Clayton-Thomas' intense, soulful lead vocals. Blood, Sweat & Tears is a veteran jazz-rock fusion band that became famous beginning in the late 1960s.
