Tom Brumley
Encyclopedia
Tom Brumley was an American
steel guitar
ist who played with Buck Owens
and the Buckaroos
in the 1960s, contributing to the group's "Bakersfield sound
", and later spent a decade with Rick Nelson.
to gospel singer, composer and music publisher Albert E. Brumley
, whose songs included "I'll Fly Away
", "I'll Meet You in the Morning" and "Turn Your Radio On". He started playing the bass
as a teenager with his brothers Al, Bill, Bob and Jackson, in a band that performed on area radio and television stations and at local music festivals. He started on the steel guitar in 1954. He served two years in the United States Army
, and worked at his father's music publishing company after completing his military service.
His brother Al had been signed by Capitol Records
and Tom was asked to play steel guitar at a 1962 recording session. Buck Owens
happened to be at the session and heard Brumley play, saying that he would hire him to play if he ever had the chance. Brumley lived in North Hollywood
played at clubs in the area, and moved to Kingsland, Texas
to work at his father-in-law's construction firm. There he got a call to play with Owens, and his reluctance to be back on the night scene and bars was overcome by his father in law, who told him, "You know, if you don't do this, you'll wish you had. So I want you to try it. You can always come back to Kingsland, but at least you'll know what you want to do and won't be sorry".
With Owens from 1963 until 1969, Brumley was featured on recordings including "Act Naturally
", "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail
" and "Together Again
". His performance on "Together Again" has been considered "one of the finest steel guitar solos in the history of country music", as described in an obituary by Country Music Television
. His unique steel guitar sound was known as "The Brumley Touch" and he was recognized by the Academy of Country Music
as the top steel guitarist.
Rick Nelson
lured Brumley to play on his album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969
, accepting on a commitment that he would only do four shows with Nelson, but ended up performing with him for a decade. In a 2005 interview, Brumley called it "a godsend being asked to join Rick's band, and I still think "Garden Party" was a highlight of my recording career".
He spent three years with Chris Hillman
and The Desert Rose Band during the early 1990s, and performed at the Brumley Family Music Show in Branson, Missouri
from 1989 to 2003, with his sons Todd and Tommy. He also performed or recorded with artists including Glen Campbell
, Merle Haggard
, Chris Isaak
, Waylon Jennings
, Martina McBride
, Reba McEntire
, Ray Price
and Rod Stewart
, and was inducted into both the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
In 1999, he was asked to record with The Light Crust Doughboys
by invitation of Doughboys Grammy Award-Winning artist-producer Art Greenhaw
, a lifelong fan of Brumley. Resulting recordings took place over a several year period in Branson, Missouri and Dallas, Texas and spanned several musical genres including gospel, country, country-rock and patriotic.
Brumley died at age 73 on February 3, 2009 at Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas
, a little more than a week after experiencing a heart attack
. He was survived by his wife of 48 years, Rolene, two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
ist who played with Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and the Buckaroos
The Buckaroos
The Buckaroos were a Grammy-winning band led by Buck Owens in the 1960s and early '70s, who were heavily involved in the development and presentation of the "Bakersfield Sound." Their peak of success was from 1965-1970. In 2005, CMT named the Buckaroos No...
in the 1960s, contributing to the group's "Bakersfield sound
Bakersfield sound
The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. The many hit singles were largely produced by Capitol Records country music head, Ken Nelson. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly produced, string...
", and later spent a decade with Rick Nelson.
Biography
Brumley was born on December 11, 1935 in Stella, MissouriStella, Missouri
Stella is a village in Newton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 158 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Stella is located at ....
to gospel singer, composer and music publisher Albert E. Brumley
Albert E. Brumley
Albert Edward Brumley was a shape note gospel music composer and publisher.Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905. Pre-Dustbowl Oklahoma was primarily made up of sparse agricultural communities; Brumley's family was no different. He spent much of his early life chopping and...
, whose songs included "I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away
"I'll Fly Away", is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message...
", "I'll Meet You in the Morning" and "Turn Your Radio On". He started playing the bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
as a teenager with his brothers Al, Bill, Bob and Jackson, in a band that performed on area radio and television stations and at local music festivals. He started on the steel guitar in 1954. He served two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and worked at his father's music publishing company after completing his military service.
His brother Al had been signed by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and Tom was asked to play steel guitar at a 1962 recording session. Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
happened to be at the session and heard Brumley play, saying that he would hire him to play if he ever had the chance. Brumley lived in North Hollywood
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, along the Tujunga Wash. It is bounded on the south by Moorpark Street and the Ventura Freeway, on the southwest by Burbank Blvd...
played at clubs in the area, and moved to Kingsland, Texas
Kingsland, Texas
Kingsland is a census-designated place in Llano County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,584 at the 2000 census. Texas Ranch to Market Road 1431 runs through the community.-Geography:...
to work at his father-in-law's construction firm. There he got a call to play with Owens, and his reluctance to be back on the night scene and bars was overcome by his father in law, who told him, "You know, if you don't do this, you'll wish you had. So I want you to try it. You can always come back to Kingsland, but at least you'll know what you want to do and won't be sorry".
With Owens from 1963 until 1969, Brumley was featured on recordings including "Act Naturally
Act Naturally
"Act Naturally" is a song written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, whose version reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1963, his first chart-topper...
", "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail
I've Got a Tiger By the Tail
"I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" is a song made famous by country music band Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. Released in December 1964, the song became one of Owens' signature songs and showcases of the Bakersfield sound in the genre.-About the song:...
" and "Together Again
Together Again (Buck Owens song)
"Together Again" is a 1964 song by United States country singer and guitarist Buck Owens.The song, best known as the "B" side to Owens' No. 1 hit, "My Heart Skips a Beat", interrupted that song's run at Number One on the U.S. country charts...
". His performance on "Together Again" has been considered "one of the finest steel guitar solos in the history of country music", as described in an obituary by Country Music Television
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
. His unique steel guitar sound was known as "The Brumley Touch" and he was recognized by the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
as the top steel guitarist.
Rick Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
lured Brumley to play on his album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969
In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969
In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 is a live Country rock album by Rick Nelson recorded at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on December 13, 1969. It was the debut of his Stone Canyon Band, which included established and future country rock legends Randy Meisner, Tom Brumley, Allen Kemp, and Patrick...
, accepting on a commitment that he would only do four shows with Nelson, but ended up performing with him for a decade. In a 2005 interview, Brumley called it "a godsend being asked to join Rick's band, and I still think "Garden Party" was a highlight of my recording career".
He spent three years with Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
and The Desert Rose Band during the early 1990s, and performed at the Brumley Family Music Show in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
from 1989 to 2003, with his sons Todd and Tommy. He also performed or recorded with artists including Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, and was inducted into both the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
In 1999, he was asked to record with The Light Crust Doughboys
Light Crust Doughboys
The Light Crust Doughboys is a quintessential American Western swing band from Texas organized in 1931 by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas. The band achieved its peak popularity in the few years leading up to World War II...
by invitation of Doughboys Grammy Award-Winning artist-producer Art Greenhaw
Art Greenhaw
Art Greenhaw is a Grammy Award-Winning recording artist, producer and mixing engineer, having won the Grammy Award in 2003 in New York City for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year" for the album WE CALLED HIM MR. GOSPEL MUSIC: THE JAMES BLACKWOOD TRIBUTE ALBUM...
, a lifelong fan of Brumley. Resulting recordings took place over a several year period in Branson, Missouri and Dallas, Texas and spanned several musical genres including gospel, country, country-rock and patriotic.
Brumley died at age 73 on February 3, 2009 at Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, a little more than a week after experiencing a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He was survived by his wife of 48 years, Rolene, two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.