Bruce Hampton

Bruce Hampton
Hampton performing at the Lantern in Blacksburg, Virginia, August 2008
Background information
Born
Gustav Valentine Berglund III

April 30, 1947
DiedMay 1, 2017(2017-05-01) (aged 70)
Genres
OccupationsMusician, actor
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1960–2017
Labels
Formerly ofHampton Grease Band
Late Bronze Age
New Ice Age
Aquarium Rescue Unit
The Stained Souls
The Fiji Mariners
The Quark Alliance
The Codetalkers
The Pharaoh Gummitt
The Madrid Express
Websitecolbruce.com

Bruce Hampton (born Gustav Valentine Berglund III; April 30, 1947 – May 1, 2017) was an American musician. He was a key figure in the Atlanta music scene, mentoring numerous other musicians who became national stars. His own musical style was avant-garde, combining elements of jazz, fusion, southern rock, and jam band styles.

He first rose to prominence as the leader of the Hampton Grease Band. Adopting the moniker Colonel Hampton B. Coles, Retired or alternatively Col. Bruce Hampton Ret., and sometimes playing a sort of dwarf guitar called a "chazoid", he later formed several other bands, some of whose names include The Late Bronze Age, The Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Fiji Mariners, The Codetalkers, The Quark Alliance, Pharaoh Gummitt, and Madrid Express.