What Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?

Blood, Sweat & Tears (BS&T) emerged from New York City in 1967, founded by Al Kooper (keyboards, vocals), Steve Katz (guitar, vocals), Bobby Colomby (drums), and Jim Fielder (bass), aiming to blend rock, pop, R&B, and big band jazz. Their debut album, 'Child Is Father to the Man' (1968), showcased this innovative jazz-rock fusion but artistic differences soon led to Kooper's departure in April 1968.

The band's trajectory dramatically shifted with the addition of Canadian lead singer David Clayton-Thomas in 1968. This new lineup released their self-titled second album, 'Blood, Sweat & Tears,' in December 1968, which became a monumental commercial and critical success. It spent seven weeks atop the U.S. charts, yielded three Top 5 singles ('You've Made Me So Very Happy,' 'Spinning Wheel,' and 'And When I Die'), and earned the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970, selling over four million units in the U.S.

However, the band's peak was followed by a period of instability. In June-July 1970, BS&T undertook a controversial U.S. State Department-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe (Yugoslavia, Romania, and Poland), which was reportedly arranged to secure David Clayton-Thomas's green card. This tour, coupled with a lucrative Las Vegas residency and a contract dispute that excluded them from the iconic Woodstock film (despite headlining the festival's final night in August 1969), damaged their counter-culture image. These events, alongside persistent internal squabbling and a rapid succession of personnel changes—reportedly over 160 iterations of the band's lineup over the years—prevented the group from maintaining its early momentum and stable identity.

Original drummer Bobby Colomby ceased performing with the group in 1976 but eventually became the de facto owner of the 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' name. He has since overseen the band's musical direction and managed its touring iterations. While they haven't released a new studio album since 'Nuclear Blues' in 1980, Blood, Sweat & Tears has maintained a consistent touring presence, performing their classic hits with a rotating cast of musicians.

As of September 2026, Blood, Sweat & Tears continues to tour, with Keith Paluso serving as the lead vocalist since 2019, following stints by other vocalists including 'American Idol' alumnus Bo Bice. In early 2025, the band toured with former Chicago singer Jason Scheff as a special guest, and in April 2026, they performed with Jeff Coffey, another former Chicago lead singer. A significant event in 2026 was the passing of their most celebrated vocalist, David Clayton-Thomas, who died in Toronto on June 24, 2026, at the age of 84. The band has upcoming tour dates scheduled for November 2026 and February 2027, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to live performances.