Died On This Date (February 3, 2009) Tom Brumley / Steel Guitar Great
themusicsover Tom Brumley
December 11, 1935 – February 3, 2009
Tom Brumley was an accomplished steel guitarist who played with two of California’s most beloved recording artists, Buck Owens and Rick Nelson. As part of Owens’ Buckaroos from 1963 to 1969, Brumley played on such landmark country records as “Act Naturally” and “I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail.” By doing so, he helped popularize the so-called “Bakersfield Sound.” After leaving Owens, Brumley joined up with Nelson to record and perform for the better part of a decade. His playing was instrumental in the development of Nelson’s latter-day country rock sound. Over the course of his career, Brumley also played with the likes of Rod Stewart, Martina McBride, Waylon Jennings, and Reba McIntire. Tom Brumley passed away on February 3, 2009 as the result of an earlier heart attack. He was 73 years old.