Bruce Cameron (guitarist)

Bruce Cameron (1955 – October 16, 1999)^[1] was a guitarist who managed to attract a number of famous rock-and-roll musicians to record his 1999 debut and only album, Midnight Daydream, released by Brain Cell Records (North Carolina).

The unlikely cast of supporting musicians for this seemingly obscure album included:

• Jack Bruce (Cream, B.L.T., and solo career).
• Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, and Ramatam).
• Buddy Miles (Band of Gypsys, Electric Flag, Buddy Miles Express).
• Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep, Blackfoot).
• Harvey Dalton Arnold (Outlaws).
• Neal Smith (Alice Cooper).
• Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper).
• Bunk Gardner (The Mothers of Invention).
• Billy James (Ant-Bee).
• Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows).

The entire album was self-recorded and engineered by Derrick Acker of Quetzal Recording and Cameron at his own home studio in North Carolina. It was seemingly self-funded and promoted based on the quality of the website, advertisements and production quality. Funds were available due to Cameron's family wealth, allowing him to bring together talent and production for his dream project.^[2]

A press conference concerning the release was held at the Hilton Hotel in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 15, 1999. Those present included Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Cameron, and Cameron collaborator Billy James. Publicity material touted the group of musicians as a reunion of the famous Hendrix band, The Band of Gypsys, on the then Cameron-run website. Full page advertisements promoting the album had been run in a nationally distributed guitar magazine.

Within a month of the press conference, Cameron committed suicide,^[1] ending a rather curious and short high-profile career of recording with world class greats known to millions. The album has been under-represented to the public by its artists, who have tended not to list them in any public forums (with a couple of exceptions). But, the fact remains that the record is a notable one due to the involvement of so many Jimi Hendrix alumni players along with great bassist Jack Bruce among others.

The record itself was a "buffet" of styles that mirrored the past releases of the guest talents involved. For example, the title track, "Midnight Daydream," which featured Band of Gypsys singer/drummer Buddy Miles, sounds like a Hendrix guitar-driven song. He has a son, Riley Cameron, who is determined to become the guitarist his dad wanted to become. Riley is the guitarist of a band that is currently recording their first album. He lives in Rocky Point, North Carolina.

Discography

• Midnight Daydream, 1999

References