but the songs live on forever

Waylon Jennings

Americana Engineer Musician Producer Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 9, 2009) Stephen Bruton / Austin Music Great

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Stephen Bruton
November 7, 1948 – May 9, 2009

Stephen Bruton was a beloved Texas songwriter, guitarist, and producer.   Born in Fort Worth, Bruton’s first big break came at age 22, when he was asked to play in Kris Kristofferson’s band.   Since then, Bruton has been an entertainment jack of all trade.  After many years as a sideman, Bruton stepped out to the front of the stage and became a headliner himself.  As a respected songwriter, he’s written songs for Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride and many more.  As a producer, he worked the board for such greats as Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Hal Ketchum and others.  Bruton also engineered albums by the likes of Ziggy Marley, John Mellencamp and R.E.M. He even had some acting credits, appearing in such films as A Star Is Born, Miss Congeniality, and Heaven’s Gate.  But it was his outstanding guitar work that might end up being his strongest legacy.  Over the years, he’s been heartily invited to play on projects by Elvis Costello, Delbert McClinton, Carly Simon, Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge, and many more.  Bruton was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2007 and succumbed to it in Los Angeles where he was working on the soundtrack to the Jeff Bridges film, Crazy Heart.

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Country Musician Radio Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (February 13, 2002) Waylon Jennings / Country Music Icon

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Waylon Jennings
June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002

waylon-jenningsWaylon Jennings was a hugely influential country singer, songwriter and musician who was one of the pioneers of the genre’s “outlaw” movement of the ’70s.  Jennings learned to play the guitar and formed his own band before he even hit his teen years.  One of Jennings’ first jobs in music was as a disc jockey at a local Texas radio station.  It was there that he met an up-and-coming rockabilly singer named Buddy Holly.  Before long, Jennings was playing bass in Holly’s band.  On February 3, 1959, Jennings career path suffered a tragic setback when Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Ritchie Valens all perished in a plane crash while they were on tour of the Midwest.  The accident, which has been memorialized as “the day the music died,” almost claimed Jennings’ life as well.  At the last minute Jennings gave up his seat to Richardson who hadn’t been feeling well.  As the musicians were boarding the plane, Holly quipped to Jennings, “I hope your ‘ol bus freezes up.”  Jennings’ retort, “Well, I hope your ‘ol plane crashes” haunted him for the rest of his life.   Jennings took a hiatus from performing and moved to Arizona where he went back to DJ’ing.  By the mid ’60s, he was making music again.     As he began building a following, Jennings met resistance from the Nashville music community for in part, not using the usual session players for his records.  Jennings was adamant that he would only use his traveling band in the studio.  And the rock edge to his music fell outside what was perceived as the “Nashville Sound,” a more slick country-pop.  This “outlaw” movement began to take hold as fellow country men like Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson who preferred to hang on to country’s honky tonk roots.   Over the course of his career, Jennings released a series of top-selling and influential country records.  That list includes Honky Tonk Heroes, Waylon Live, Are You Ready For The Country Lonesome, On’ry and Mean, Good Hearted Woman, and Dreaming My Dreams.  His collaborations with the likes of Nelson, Jessi Colter, the Highwaymen and the Outlaws were critically and commercially acclaimed as well.  Jennings stayed active through the ’90s even as his health began to fail due to diabetes.  On February 13, 2002, the disease claimed Waylon Jennings’ life.  He was 64.

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Honky Tonk Heroes - Waylon Jennings

Early Rock Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (February 3, 1959) Buddy Holly / Rock ‘n Roll Pioneer

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Buddy Holly (Born Charles Holley)
September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959

Buddy Holly was a gifted singer-songwriter who, even though his career lasted just a year and a half, was arguably the most important figure in the birth of rock ‘n roll.  Holly was more of a traditional country artist before being inspired by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley to add elements of rockabilly into his music in 1955.  The following year, he was signed by Decca Records and formed his back-up band, the Crickets.  Over the next eighteen months, Holly released one hit single after another.  They included “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Oh Boy.”  These songs became a direct influence on the likes of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones.  Just as Holly’s career was beginning to take off, tragedy struck.  February 3, 1959…it’s been called “the day the music died.”  While on a U.S. mid west tour called the Winter Dance Party, Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Ritchie Valens were on a small Beechcraft airplane en route from Mason City, IA to Moorhead, MN.  The winter weather was taking its toll on the traveling musicians.  Waylon Jennings had originally been slated to fly ahead, but gave up his seat to Richardson at the last minute.  Shortly after take off, the plane carrying rock ‘n roll’s brightest new stars crashed into an empty field killing everyone on board.  Initial reports blamed pilot error on Roger Peterson, but future examinations vindicated him, putting the blame squarely on the bad weather conditions.  Buddy Holly was 22 at the time of his death.

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The Buddy Holly Collection - Buddy Holly

Early Rock Musician Radio Rock Singer

Died On This Date (February 3, 1959) J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson / Rock ‘n Roll Pioneer

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J.P. Richardson
October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959

big-bopper

J.P. Richardson, or as he was more commonly known, The Big Bopper was an early rock ‘n roll disc jockey turned pop star thanks to his big hit, “Chantilly Lace.”  He was also a successful songwriter who wrote “White Lightning” which became a hit by George Jones, and “Running Bear”, a hit by Johnny Preston.  Richardson began his career on radio during the late ’40s.  His first big claim to fame came in May of 1957 when he set the continuous on-air record by broadcasting non-stop for five days, two hours and eight minutes.  During that time he played over 1800 records.  In 1959, he reportedly coined the phrase “music video” when he made one of himself.  But shortly thereafter, tragedy struck.  On February 3, 1959 – the date that has been called “the day the music died,”  Richardson was killed in one of pop music’s most tragic events.  While on a U.S. mid west tour called the Winter Dance Party, Richardson, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens were on a small Beechcraft airplane en route from Mason City, IA to Moorhead, MN.  The winter weather was taking its toll on the traveling musicians.  Waylon Jennings had originally been slated to fly ahead, but gave up his seat to Richardson at the last minute.  Shortly after take off, the plane carrying rock ‘n roll’s brightest new stars crashed into an empty field killing everyone on board.  Initial reports blamed pilot error on Roger Peterson, but future examinations vindicated him, putting the blame squarely on the bad weather conditions.  The elder statesman of the group, The Big Bopper died at the age of 28.

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The Big Bopper

Country Musician

Died On This Date (February 3, 2009) Tom Brumley / Steel Guitar Great

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Tom Brumley
December 11, 1935 – February 3, 2009

brumleyTom 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.



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