Al Bruno-Jerry Cole-Johnny Davis

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

I'm curious to know whether anyone has seen any online reference to Californian guitar greats Al Bruno, Jerry Cole or Johnny Davis..I can't really find anything more on these guys.

Jerry Cole of course played on about a zillion surf and hot rod albums for Capitol Records, Crown Records (under all sorts of names), Beach Boy sessions, etc. Played with Shindig's second band, sometimes augmenting the main group on bass. He also played the clubs with great country groups like Gene Davis and his Star Routers and Red Rhodes and The Detours. I've found next to nothing about him biography wise.

Al Bruno played with Conway Twitty in Canada in the early 1960s (Al is actually French Canadian), recorded rock 'n' roll and country with Conway, went to Oklahoma with Conway, hit L.A around 1965 and played with Blackie Taylor, Jerry Inman, Sammy Masters, Dick Clark's V.I.P club in 1969 then joined the Tony Booth Band at the Palomino Club in 1970-1972. He tried Nashville for a short stint then hit the L.A and Long Beach clubs where he still plays a bit. Al was kind of like a mix of Phil Baugh's and James Burton's style. He did a lot of demo sessions and recordings that didn't make it big. One of his instrumentals from the early 1960s is on a Conway Twitty box set.

Johnny Davis (a.k.a) Johnny D. used to play the Rag Doll club in North Hollywood with Jimmy Snyder and appreared playing Fender steel on the Cal's Corral T.V show inthe early 1960s. He then worked other clubs, including the a stint with the Detours at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood during the mid 1960s. Johnny was apparently so hot that when the great Johnny Meeks joined the Detours in 1966, Johnny D. stayed on lead while Meeks had to chunk out the rhythm parts!
Jonny D. later went with Gene Davis to various Valley clubs around Hollywood in the late 1960s into the early 1970s, later dissapearing into the club scene in SoCal where he was last seen in the early 1990s.

Does anyone on the Forum know anything about where these guys are now, or any websites that mention them?
There used to be a Canadian site that had a page on Al bruno in 1998, but it went down just before I went online in late 1998.
Thanks guys, ..old bandmates of these gentlemen have assured me that these guys were HOT pickers, so I'm keen to find out more and any sessions they may have done.
I have asked about Johnny D. and Al on the Forum before, but as the members keep growing I couldn't resist asking, plus I found out that Johnny D. used to play at the Pal' in the mid 1960s, so I'm hunting around more than ever.
Sorry if I'm being repetative guys and gals.

Jason

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

I still see Al a couple times a year- sometimes at the conventions and sometimes at a great party that is given by John and ToniDawn Blankenship in So. Calif. annually~ nice gathering of folks- many of whom are musicians- and me Smile

[This message was edited by Jim Palenscar on 25 October 2000 at 10:34 PM.]

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Jason - I put some bigsby pedals on Al's 355 Gibson back in 1970, then up-dated them on a tele to swing-aways about three years ago at the St. Louis convention. Since Bernice (his wife) passed away, I don't know if he is at the same phone number, but the last one I had is 818-993-1774. He'll know where Jerry Cole is (I believe he is in the Downey, CA area).

Best, Boomer

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Thanks Boomer, hey that's pretty cool you installed a Bigsby unit for Al.
I think Johnny D. also played a Gibson when he wasn't steelin'

Thanks for the help guys, oh I nearly forgot, Al Bruno was on a 1969 Wynn Stewart sessions that included James Burton, Earl Ball, Jim Pierce, Hap Arnold and Clarence White, pretty cool session band.

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Jason - Jerry Cole was also the guitarist on "The Cher Show" for a time. Both are great guys and excellent players.

Best, Boomer

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Boomer, wow I did not know that.
I have a Lee Hazelwood album from the early 1970s where Jerry plays slide guitar and bass guitar. I has to be some of the loudest bass guitar to ever grace a singer-songwriter style album ever.

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