Obituary of Stars

[Don Bob Bush]

This will be a place to post Obituaries of the stars and big name acts as they pass on

[Don Bob Bush]

Buck Owens' Steel player


BIO ON TOM BRUMLEY...
A LEGEND IN THE STEEL GUITAR WORLD...
THE MANY ARTIST HE RECORDED AND PLAYED WITH.

A LOSS TO THE MUSIC WORLD...
MAYBE YOU REMEMBER SOME SONGS AND ARTISTS
HE WAS WITH...
T

Guys and Gals, thought maybe you might find the following story interesting.

Rodney Lay send me the press release on Tom Brumley’s death this morning

and I sent him a reply with a bit of history.



To: 'Guitar Man'



Thanks Rod.

Another one of my heroes gone.

I remember meeting Tom and his brother Al Brumley Jr. on the Roy and Earl TV show in Pittsburg Kans.

Remember that show. Roy and Earl and Virgil...........:-).

I had won an amateur contest at the Tacket theatre in Coffeyville, Kans and I believe in addition to $25,

I got a chance to perform on Roy and Earls show.

I was 10 or 11 and Tom was about 18 or 19.

Tom and Al were also on the show that night, which was live of course.

I remember that Tom was really shy and both he and Al were wearing shirts that their mother had made.

Anyway, I was playing a double six string Supro and Tom was playing a double neck 8 string Fender.

I thought Wow. Wonder how that is tuned?

I wanted to ask him how he tuned the guitar but we were both to shy.

I met him again years later and introduced myself and darned if he didn’t remember that show

and the fact that when the director pointed a finger at me to play I grabbed the strings and promptly broke one.

Anyway, wonderful memories.



Jim McGinnis, Attorney

501 S. Johnstone, Suite 600

Bartlesville, OK 74003

918-336-5053

FAX: [phone]



Tom Brumley, Country Music Legend

1935 – 2009 San Antonio, Texas


SAN ANTONIO, FEBRUARY 4, 2009-- Country music legend and internationally-acclaimed steel guitarist, Tom Brumley died Tuesday, February 3, 2009. He was 73 years old. Brumley moved to San Antonio in 2008, after he was chosen to headline the San Antonio Rose LIVE Country Music Show at the historic Aztec Theater. The live variety show—celebrating the legends of country music from the 1950s to the '70s, is scheduled to open this spring. Brumley, who handpicked the 10-member headliner band, led rehearsals at the Aztec for the last 10 months, during renovation of the theater.

"Tom Brumley's music is timeless-- it is as fresh today as when he came on the scene in a big way in the early '60s," said Rick Drury, producer of the San Antonio Rose LIVE Show. "It was a coup to have him in our show. He personally selected the band members, and they were honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to perform live with him at the Aztec."

"Country music fans and performers will mourn his passing; he was a musicians' musician—

and it doesn't get any better than that," Drury added. "He would have insisted that the show go on. "Although we can never replace a legend like Tom, the production team and band will regroup and push for a spring opening at the Aztec."



Brumley's "pure" steel sound, known in the industry as "The Brumley Touch" created a legacy in the music industry-- influencing county and rock musicians for the past 40 years.



Brumley was born December 11, 1935 in Stella, Missouri to Goldie and Albert E. Brumley. Albert Brumley, the famous gospel singer, composer and music publisher, wrote more than 600 songs in his lifetime, including "I'll Fly Away", "I'll Meet You In The Morning" and "Turn Your Radio On." Tom was the third of six musically-gifted children. All of the Brumley children pursued successful careers in the music industry.



Tom began his musical career at the age of 14, playing bass in a band with his brothers.

From there he played guitar and in 1954 he picked up his first steel guitar and quickly

became one of the best in the business.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany in the mid '50s.

In a career that spanned almost 60 years, Brumley performed with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. From 1963 to 1969 he was the Buckaroos' original steel guitar player and contributed to the band's "Bakersfield Sound," which led to multiple #1 hits for Owens.



In 1969, Rick Nelson asked Brumley to play steel guitar on his album—"Live at the Troubadour," which led to a full-time career with Nelson, lasting 10 years. He later joined Chris Hillman and The Desert Rose Band, recording and touring with them for three years.

He has recorded on several hit records, including "Together Again," "Tiger by the Tail," and "Act Naturally" with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos; "Garden Party" with Rick Nelson;

"I Sang Dixie" and "Always Have, Always Will," with Dwight Yoakum.



Brumley received the Academy of County Music award in 1966 for #1 Steel Guitarist and he was inducted into both the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. In 2004 he received the Jerry Byrd Lifetime Achievement Award.



From 1989 until 2003 Tom starred in The Brumley Family Music Show in Branson, Mo. performing with his sons, while his daughter participated as lighting technician.



In the past decade he performed or recorded with numerous artists including Rose Maddox,

Chris Isaak, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Sara Evans, Rosie Flores, Steve Wariner,

Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, Janie Frickie, Reba McEntire, Rod Stewart, Burton Cummings,

and Martina McBride to name a few.

Tom also owned the ZB Custom steel guitar company in Austin, Texas.



Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Rolene, three children; Tom, Ozark, MO;

Todd and wife Kristie, Ozark, MO.; and daughter, Tracie, Nixa, MO.; six grandchildren and

a great-grandson.



Other survivors include his brothers: Jackson and wife Elke, Hendersonville, TN.; Albert and wife, Robin, Monett, MO.; and Bob Brumley and wife, Deloris, Rogers, AR., and sister Betty Brumley-Pockrus and husband, Bill of Neosho, MO. Additional survivors include brother and sister-in-laws, Carole Sue and C. Lindy Jackson, Kingsland, TX., and Dennis and Val Spencer, Springfield, Mo.



Tom was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Bill. Funeral arrangements are with Mission Park Funeral Home, San Antonio. Several "Celebration of Life" services for Tom will be held in San Antonio, Branson and Dallas. Dates to be announced.

Contact:
Nancy Scott Jones

NSJ Public Relations

210-222-1615 or 210-365-5200

[Don Bob Bush]

''Louie Bellson''

Huge loss indeed.
Not only in the world music community, but equally in the 'beautiful human spirit'
category. I first met Louie while attending performance/clinic @ Baylor Univ.
I was maybe ten. Louie solidified my path that day. Very gracious man he was,
and never an unkind word or jaded view.
Just class....from bow to stern. Louie took exceptional interest in all young
musicians and somehow found value in the 'silly pop music' we were immersed in.
Thenl he would gently guide us to greater study as he demonstrated and educated
us on the true musical application of the drumset....
Absolute talent, perfect role model and a complete gentleman.
I'm one of many who owe Louie a 'thank you' for the inspiration and lessons he gave
so freely. Louie shall forever remain a huge figure in my life and undoutedly,
always was one of God's magical liaisons....That's no secret.
D Spigener


Ron Koen [e-mail]> wrote:
My very favorite jazz drummer, that wrote "LaBANDA GRANDE" and
"SAMBANDREA SWING" and "LOVE SONG" our bands played in1980
I just received word that our good friend Louie Bellson passed away.
At this moment there is no information regarding a memorial service.

Louie will certainly be missed!

--Joel Leach,
Head of Music Industry Studies
Mike Curb Col. of Art, Media & Communication
Cal. State Univ., Northridge
Northridge, CA 91330

[RONNIE FRAY]

I'M SORRY..CANCER GOT HIM~MY OLD DRUMMER AND VERY GOOD FRIEND 'BILLY HILTON' PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON AT 3.30. IN LONDON ONTARIO. I WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT A LITTLE LATER ON. NOT MUCH FOR TALKIN' RIGHT NOW. WE'LL MISS HIM A LOT! LOVE YOU MAN =R=

[Don Anez]

Hank Locklin, 91, dies; country singer helped usher in 'the Nashville Sound'
Hits included 'Send Me the Pillow You Dream On,' 'Please Help Me I'm Falling' and 'Let Me Be the One.' He was a performer on the Grand Ole Opry for 47 years.
Times Wire Reports
March 10, 2009

Country singer Hank Locklin, whose smooth tenor voice on hits including "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and "Please Help Me I'm Falling" marked a career that spanned half a century, has died. He was 91.

Locklin died Sunday at his home in Brewton, Ala., Grand Ole Opry publicist Jessie Schmidt said in Nashville. She said the cause of death was not being released.



* Hank Locklin
Hank Locklin

A performer on the Grand Ole Opry for 47 years, Locklin helped usher in "the Nashville Sound" that gave country music a more lush feel.

"I've been blessed to have hit songs that are timeless and appeal to the generations," he said in 2001.

Born Lawrence Hankins Locklin in 1918 in Florida's timber-rich Panhandle, as a teenager he played guitar and sang on radio stations across the South, including the "Big D Jamboree" on KRLD in Dallas and "The Louisiana Hayride" in Shreveport, La.

He scored his first top 10 country hit with "The Same Sweet Girls" in 1949 and scored another chart-topper with "Let Me Be the One" in 1953.

Locklin's 1958 recording of his song "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" crossed over from country to U.S. and British pop charts and became a standard for many performers, including Johnny Tillotson, Dean Martin, Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton.

His recording of "Please Help Me I'm Falling" spent 14 weeks at the top of the country music charts in 1960, the same year he joined the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. His last performance at the Opry was in September 2007.

That song's "slip-note" piano style became Locklin's signature, and his version was featured on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie "A Perfect World," directed by Clint Eastwood.

In the 1970s, Locklin was host of TV shows in Houston and Dallas.

His other hits included "Let Me Be the One," "Geisha Girl," "Why, Baby, Why" and "It's a Little More Like Heaven."

Locklin was widely credited as one of the pioneers of the themed concept album with recordings including "A Tribute to Roy Acuff, King of Country Music," "Foreign Love" and "Irish Songs Country Style," which led to tours in England and Ireland.

In 2001, he recorded "Generations in Song," which featured Parton and Vince Gill. His 65th album, "By the Grace of God," was a collection of gospel songs that was released in 2006.

"The Lord gave me a good voice and I can still sing," he said in 2001.

Information on survivors and funeral arrangements was not immediately available.

[Don Bob Bush]

Vern Gosdin Dies

Seems there is much sad news to share lately. At midnight(4/28/09) we lost another one of our great "Country Music Legends". Vern Gosdin ,known as "The Voice" passed away.He was an awesome singer & some of his hits were:"Chiseled in Stone",I"If You're Gonna Do me Wrong ,Do It Right":Set 'Em Up Joe" & many,many more. He will be missed... My Condolences to his family,friends & fan's. RIP..Vern,With Love

Vern was not only one of my favorite singers...He was a hero...Rest in Peace Vern!