 Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959 in New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.
In the 1980s, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, The Stray Cats. The Stray Cats caught America's attention with the album Built for Speed, which included the three Top Ten hits, "Stray Cat Strut," "Rumble in Brighton," and "Rock This Town." In the 1990s, Setzer led a comeback of sorts for swing music and big band music, when he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Former Stray Cat Brian Setzer was born in New York City and raised in Long Island. His first instrument, at age eight, was the euphonium, and he played the tuba-like instrument for ten years. He began having dreams of leading a big band with horns as a teen, but got sidetracked by punk. Initially, as a guitarist and songwriter, he took his inspiration from blues-rock bands like Led Zeppelin, although as a teen he'd take the train into New York to hang around the jazz clubs, sneaking into places like the Village Vanguard and the Village Gate. After seeing the Mel Lewis Orchestra, he had the idea of leading his own big band, but playing guitar, not clarinet or saxophone.
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