Known by his single stage name, glam rocker Jobraith appeared on the American music scene from 1973-74.
His costumes, make-up, and style made for inevitable comparisons to David Bowie. The difference, however, was that while Bowie’s sexuality was craftily ambiguous, Jobraith was admittedly and publicly gay. Not even Elton John was out at that time.
He was born Bruce Campbell and grew up in Philadelphia’s upscale suburb of King of Prussia, PA.
As a teenager, he became a classical pianist and had the gift of being able to play any tune from sheet music without reading it first.
Campbell briefly ventured into folk music in the early 60s, but then got drafted into the US Army.
During basic training, Campbell went AWOL, escaped to Los Angeles, and renamed himself Jobraith Salisbury.
He was cast in the West Coast production of the musical Hair and then did the show in New York. That didn’t last.
He joined the short-lived rock band called Pidgeon. Their only record flopped.
Then the military arrested him for desertion. They placed Campbell/Jobriath in a psychiatric ward. He didn’t stay long.
But that was where he began crafting his music. After his release, he sent out a demo reel.
1972: Carly Simon’s manager heard Jobriath’s tape and signed him to a surprisingly hefty recording contract. That was unusual for an unproven talent.
1973: His first album was released on Elektra Records. It was simply titled Jobraith. Tracks included I’maman, Take Me I’m Yours, Rock of Ages and Earthling.
The release had a massive publicity blitz, including a provocative billboard in Times Square and huge ads in Rolling Stone and Penthouse magazines among others. Jobraith mocked other glam rockers like Tommy Bolan of T Rex by calling himself “a true fairy.”
Critics gave the album lukewarm praise. The general public didn’t care. The record didn’t sell.
1974: Jobraith appeared on the TV show The Midnight Special, a popular late night series that featured prominent recording stars. His costumes and hair style seemed too derivative of Bowie. The studio audience hated his act.
A follow-up album, Creatures of the Street, flopped as well. During the tour to promote the record, Jobraith and his band suffered homophobic taunts wherever they went in the US.
1975: His record label and manager dumped him, and Jobraith made a clean break from rock and roll. He changed his name to Cole Berlin and became a cabaret act. He performed American standards at a Manhattan nightclub.
He lived for the next eight years in the notorious Chelsea Hotel, including during the period when Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols killed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.
1983: Jobraith/Cole Berlin/Bruce Campbell was found dead in his hotel room. He was only 36 years old. The coroner’s report cited AIDS as the cause of death.
He might have been the first rocker to openly declare himself gay, but Jobraith has been lost in the shadows of many other successful LGBTQ+ artists.
ALSO
One well-known musician was credited for playing on both of Jobraith’s albums - Peter Frampton.
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