Died On This Date (May 9, 2009) Stephen Bruton / Austin Music Great
themusicsover 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.
What You Should Own
Poodie Locke worked as Willie Nelson’s stage manager for the past 34 years. According to all reports, Locke was loved by all who met him due to his warm personality, bigger-than-life presence, and bear-like hugs. Besides being one of the brightest and strongest stars in the Willie Nelson world, Locke owned his own Austin-area bar and had his own line of barbecue sauces. Locke first met Nelson when he was just twelve years old and went on to work for him after he did a stint as a roadie for 
Hank Locklin was a successful country performer and songwriter who is said to have sold over 15 million records. He was also a member of the Grand Ole Opry for the better part of 50 years and was his oldest member when he died. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Dolly Parton, 
Patsy Cline was arguably the greatest female singer that country music has ever known. If not the greatest, she was clearly one of the most influential, even though her career was cut tragically short after just eight years. With a booming voice, it didn’t take long for Cline to get noticed thanks to numerous radio talent shows on which she performed as a teen. By the mid ’50s, Cline was making her first records, and in 1957, she released “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which became her first hit and propelled her into the national limelight. Over the next several years Cline released such future country standards as “I Fall To Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams,” and of course, the Willie Nelson penned, “Crazy.” She truly was one of the all-time queens of country music, but sadly that all came to a quick end on March 5, 1963. While flying from a show in Kansas City, Kansas, the small plane that carried Cline, manager, Randy Hughes, and band members, 
Webb Pierce was a popular country singer whose career spanned the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Based on chart success, he was the most popular country performer of the 1950s. His biggest hit, “There Stands The Glass” is considered one country music’s greatest songs and has been recorded by the likes of Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, Van Morrison, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Up until his retirement in 1982, Pierce charted 96 singles. Besides, “There Stands The Glass,” his most popular were “In The Jailhouse Now,” and “Why Baby Why.” Pierce was just as well-known for his lavish lifestyle as he was for his music. He drove two Cadillacs that were lined with silver dollars, wore elaborate Nudie suits, and had a $30,000 swimming pool fashioned after a guitar. Webb Pierce was 69 when he died of pancreatic cancer on February 24, 1991.