Musicians Jan - 01 - Nashville Musicians Association

January-March 2009 The Nashville Musician 15
Steel Guitar Hall of Famer Brumley, 73
Noted steel guitar player Tom Brumley, 73,
died Feb. 3, at the Northeast Baptist Hospital
in San Antonio, Texas, following a heart attack.
Brumley, son of renowned gospel composer
Albert Brumley of “I’ll Fly Away” fame, can
be heard on such classic country cuts as Buck
Owens’ “I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail,” Ricky
Nelson’s “Garden Party” and Dwight Yoakam’s
“I Sang Dixie.”
A Lifetime Member of AFM Local 257,
Brumley is also a member of the International
Steel Guitar Players’ Hall of Fame, and from
1963-’69 performed in Owens’ award-winning
band The Buckaroos. Of their seven solo Billboard-charted
Capitol albums, the band’s best
sellers were the Top 10 “The Buck Owens Song
Book” (1965), followed by “America’s Most
Wanted Band” and “Buck Owens’ Buckaroos
Strike Again!” They also charted two Top 40
singles, “I’m Comin’ Back Home To Stay”
(1968) and “Nobody But You” (’69), both written
by Buckaroo Don Rich.
Brumley’s death leaves drummer Willie
Cantu as the last surviving Buckaroo. The band
was voted tops by the Academy of Country
Music annually from 1965-’68; CMA, 1967-
’68; Music City News’ 1967-1970, and in 1966
Brumley took home ACM’s steel player trophy.
The steel guitarist also spent 10 years with
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson’s
Stone Canyon Band, and appears on such albums
as Nelson’s “Live At the Troubadour”
(1969). Tom’s distinctive guitar stylings, known
at the “Brumley Touch,” has influenced both
country and rock pickers for nearly five decades.
Thomas R. Brumley was born Dec. 11,
1935, the son of Goldie and Albert E. Brumley
in Stella, Mo. The senior Brumley wrote hundreds
of inspirational songs, among them “I
Heard My Name On the Radio, “I’ll Meet You
In the Morning” and “Turn Your Radio On.”
At age 14, Tom began playing bass in his
brothers’ band, performing at functions and radio
stations throughout the Missouri area. In
1954, he began playing on steel guitar and
dobro.
During the mid-1950s, Brumley served two
years in the U.S. Army, including a stint in West
Germany. In 1963, Tom joined Owens’ band,
which became one of the best in the business,
helping Buck chalk up a string of 21 #1 songs
and named top artist of the 1960s.
Country Hall of Famer Owens, of course,
helped give birth to the Bakersfield Sound,
boasting high energy, heavy beat and plenty of
steel.
Following Nelson’s death in 1985, Tom also
backed the Desert Rose Band three years, and
performed on such artist discs as those of Merle
Haggard, Glen Campbell, Steve Wariner, Janie
Fricke, Waylon Jennings, Rod Stewart, Reba
McEntire, Ray Price, Rosie Flores, Chris Isaak
and Martina McBride.
From 1989-2003, he presented The Brumley
Family Show in Branson, Mo., performing with
his sons and the participation of his daughter.
Tom, who also owned the ZB Custom Steel
Guitar Company in Austin, Texas, moved to San
Antonio last year. He was an inductee into the
Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, and in 2004
received the Jerry Byrd Lifetime Achievement
Award.
Survivors include Rolene, his wife of 48
years; sons Tom and Todd; and daughter Tracie;
six grandchildren and a great-grandson; brothers
Jackson, Albert Jr., and Bob; and sister
Betty Pockrus. A Celebration of Life was conducted
at the Baldknobbers Country Music
Theater, Feb. 15, in Branson, Mo.
- Walt Trott
Patty ‘s pickin’ on
country’s classics
The 19th Patty Loveless album “Sleepless
Nights” attests to the fact she’s still one of the
top traditional talents around.
CD REVIEW
Usually we don’t favor covers, but listening
to her memorable interpretations on timeless
tunes, a la Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold
Heart,” Carl & Pearl Butler’s “Don’t Let Me
Cross Over” and Conway Twitty’s first #1 country
hit “Next in Line,” drew us right into a captivating
presentation.
Producer (hubby) Emory Gordy, Jr., also deserves
plaudits for a job well done on what
might have been a risky project. Obviously, he
engages only the best backup musicians for his
(Quad) Studio time, and this CD’s no exception.
Listening to the spirited playing by such as
pianists John Hobbs and Pig Robbins; drummer
Harry Stinson; guitarists Biff Watson, Steve
Gibson, Guthrie Trapp, Harold Bradley and
Gordy; fiddlin’ Deanie Richardson (also heard
on mandolin); Billy Linneman on walkin’ bass;
and steel guitarists Pete Finney and Al Perkins,
you know they relished having a go at these
familiar tunes. Sharing in the fun by providing
backup harmonies are the likes of Vince Gill,
Virgie Lee, Jedd Hughes, Sydni Perry, Jim Iler
and Carmella Ramsey.
Writer Holly Gleason, who penned the liner
notes, sums it up succinctly: “These songs are
classics for a reason. Not just for what they say,
who recorded them, who wrote them, but because
of the emotional charge they carry.”
Loveless says, “I felt like I could dip into
my own soul” - and in doing so doesn’t miss a
beat - explaining further: “That’s what makes
country music stand out. ‘Don’t Let Me Cross
Over’ is a cheatin’ line . . . it’s something we’re
not supposed to do, yet it happens . . . for a lot
of different reasons, maybe. But it’s real.”
And so is Patty as she embraces these roots
songs that pay homage to her yesteryear heroes,
like Hank Locklin, “Please Help Me I’m Falling”;
Skeeter Davis (and Betty Jack) via “I Forgot
More Than You’ll Ever Know”; Jack
Greene, “There Goes My Everything”; and
Webb Pierce, “There Stands the Glass,” as well
as to the writers who helped create such gems.
There are 14 ballads total, all technically recorded
by award-winning engineer Justin
Niebank, giving buyers more than their money’s
worth. For the record, when we filed our 2008
year-end Top Five best country CDs, for UK’s
Country Music People magazine’s annual critics
survey, “Sleepless Nights” was near the top
of our list. - Walt Trott
Members reminder
Attend the next General Membership
Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday,
March 18 at Cooper Hall.
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott?
That was what the Reid brothers pondered
back in 1974 on the Statlers’ Top 20 ode to yesteryear
cowboy heroes.
In their medium-tempo tune, Don and
Harold also lyricized about Scott’s singin’ cowboy
contemporaries Gene Autry, Roy Rogers,
Rex Allen and Tex Ritter, as they rhapsodied
about the big screen’s good guys in white hats.
Now, Sony/BMG’s Legacy series boasts a
cherry-picked, 50-track homage to
America’s Western legacy, titled “Boots,
Buckles & Spurs,” a three-disc box-set featuring
an all-star cast.
Among the expected ballads are Gene Autry’s
radio theme “Back In the Saddle Again,” Patsy
Montana’s “I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,”
Roy Rogers & The Sons of the Pioneers’
“Stampede,” and an instrumental offering “Farr
Away Stomp” by Local 257 pickers Riders In
the Sky (penned by the Farr brothers).
As the 20th century drew to a close, the
screen’s King of the Cowboys (Rogers) teamed
with contemporary “cowboy” Clint Black for
“Hold On Partner.” Also showcased are
Lonestar (“When Cowboys Didn’t Dance”),
Montgomery Gentry (“Wanted Dead Or
Alive”), The Highwaymen (“Silver Stallion”),
Charlie Daniels (“Bull Ridin’ Son Of a Gun”),
and Tracy Byrd (“No Ordinary Man”).
We missed the usual recording dates for
each track, at least they’re not listed on our advance
copy of cuts. The more familiar tracks
we knew, like “ . . . Cowboy’s Sweetheart” recorded
by Patsy with The Prairie Ramblers in
1935; Bob Wills’ 1941 “Dusty Skies”; Sons Of
the Pioneers’ later 1948 RCA cut “Tumbling
Tumbleweeds” (though their original ’34 Decca
pop hit was with Roy); and George Strait’s Top
Fiver “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” surfacing
in 1996. A really recent track is Brooks &
Dunn’s “Cowboy Towne” (2007), chosen as the
official theme at the 50th anniversary of the
National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last December
(which offers competing cowboys a
total payout of some $5.6 million), making it
the World Series of rodeos.
Good liner notes, too, by Neal Reid, Pro-
Rodeo Sports News editor, enhancing a select
variety of numbers performed by some true
practitioners of the cowboy song, among these
Canadian rancher Ian Tyson, whose credits include
“Four Strong Winds” and “Someday
Soon,” here singing “Leavin’ Cheyenne”; cowboy-turned-troubadour
Chris LeDoux vocalizing
a rodeo-themed “Hooked On An 8-Second
Ride”; and Red Steagall, a Texan who created
the anthem “Lone Star Beer & Bob Wills’ Music,”
here singin’ why “I Was Born To Be a Cowboy.”
Michael Martin Murphey, who hails from
Dallas, hit big pop in 1975 with his #3 millionselling
single “Wildfire,” revived here, along
with “Born To Buck Bad Luck.” Robert Earl
Keen also bucks in his number “That Buckin’
Song,” which when heard over the airwaves
sounds like another word, explaining why it
didn’t do much on radio.
Not especially known for cowboy singles,
but contributing worthy songs to this set are
such as Tanya Tucker, “Rainbow Rider”;
Rodney Crowell, “Even Cowgirls Get the
Blues”; Craig Morgan “Cowboy and Clown”;
and Jessi Colter, “My Cowboy’s Last Ride.”
Appropriate, too, are Eddy Arnold’s classic
“Cattle Call,” Elton Britt’s “Patent Leather
Boots,” Johnny Cash’s “Rodeo Hand,” Marty
Robbins’ “Strawberry Roan,” Lynn Anderson’s
“Ride, Ride, Ride” and Moe’s heart-tugger
“Bandy the Rodeo Clown.” Nice surprises are
Don Walser’s “Cowpoke,” Trent Willmon’s
“Ropin’ Pen,” Don Edwards’ “Coyotes” and
The Outlaws’ rockin’ “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
Couldn’t complete this without Outlaws’
Waylon & Willie serenading “Mamas, Don’t Let
Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” plus
“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.”
Mine, too, Willie. - Walt Trott
Fire claims dog’s life
Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy experienced
tragedy on the day after being sworn-in
at the Nashville Association of Musicians.
Amidst moving into his new office on Jan.
3, a blaze broke out at his home, claiming the
life of his beloved dog Duke.
According to Dave, “As I was moving into
my office . . . I got a call from my neighbor
saying that my house appeared to be on fire and
that he had already called the fire department. I
rushed over and five minutes later, I was standing
in my yard helplessly watching three trucks
and many firemen trying to extinguish an obviously
big blaze inside the house. I knew immediately
that my beautiful beloved dog Duke
could not have survived the smoke. I will never
get over the shock and loss of such an amazing
animal and incredible friend, and while I cry at
his loss, I will always treasure his memory.”
Apparently faulty wiring beneath the living
room triggered the fire that also engulfed some
of his instruments, destroying them, while others
suffered some smoke damage.
Despite the ordeal, Dave kept a stiff upper
lip: “I'll be fine,” he told The Tennessean’s reporter
Beverly Keel. “I’ve got insurance, and
I’ve got friends. If somebody wants to help me,
just be good to Room In The Inn and homeless
people everywhere, because I've got a home.”
Of course, Room In The Inn is a non-profit
organization assisting Nashville’s homeless.
When we offered our condolences, Dave replied
that he was inspired by the outpouring of
affection, offers and sympathy from neighbors,
friends and family, noting that indeed it was
their support that sustained him throughout.
“A couple of my irreplaceable instruments
(‘The Beast’ electric upright and my childhood
Gibson EB-2) were miraculously OK due to
their position in the house and hard shell cases,
but many others have been severely damaged
or lost altogether.The main studio room is
smoke damaged but hopefully structurally OK.
Time will tell what gear is fixable.”
Dave and Duke.