Stephen Bruton, Longtime Guitarist for Kris Kristofferson, Succumbed to Throat Cancer
- Guitarist, producer and songwriter Stephen Bruton, who played with Kris Kristofferson for 17 years, lost the battle to throat cancer over the weekend. He was 60.
- Austin Music Source’s Michael Corcoran says Bonnie Raitt mentioned Stephen Bruton after almost every song during her concert at the Bass Concert Hall on Sunday.
It’s been a rough week for the Austin music scene, but Raitt was the right performer to start the healing. She mentioned Bruton after almost every song, noting how she couldn’t look at him onstage when he was in her band because they’d always crack each other up midsong. Her voice quivered when she realized that she’d never again see Bruton waiting in the wings to be called out to jam.
- More articles on Stephen Bruton can be found at: The Austin Chronicle, The Tennessean and Los Angeles Times.
- For the most part, this has been a solid week for #1s in country music history during years that end in nine; starting with Hank Williams‘ “Lovesick Blues” in 1949.
- Brooks & Dunn and Dierks Bentley were honored with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award during the last stop on their tour of Australia. The award is presented by the Country Music Association for promoting the genre overseas.
- How does Chuck Wicks compare to Dale Watson and David Allan Coe? Find out on Farce the Music’s Badass-o-meter.
- Edward Morris profiled Keith Whitley’s career for CMT. Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of his death.
- The New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica on Jason Aldean, who played at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill last Wednesday:
If only he weren’t so clean-cut. Mr. Aldean would like to be tough, a hard charger with a raw read on country life, and in fleeting moments, he was. But in truth he’s a gentle singer with traces of soul phrasing — more Phil Vassar than Montgomery Gentry — and though he’s successfully played the role of outlaw for four years, it’s just that: a role.
- Galleywinter posted a list of winners from yesterday’s Gruene With Envy Awards.
- Congrats to Juli Thanki for having her first article published in The Washington Post — a concert review of Eilen Jewell at Iota.
- Johnny Knoxville posted audio from an interview he and his cousin Roger Alan Wade conducted with Poodie Locke on their radio show, The Big Ass Happy Family Jubilee. (via Still Is Still Moving)
- Jamey Johnson is of the mind that country music doesn’t need to be saved, but at the same time, he’d like the valve to be opened a little so that really good traditional singers could get played alongside everything else.
- The Sun, The New York Times and PopMatters have extensive interviews with Steve Earle on the subject of his mentor, Townes Van Zandt, and his new tribute album.
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May 11, 2009 at 12:59 pm Permalink
The Steve Earle tribute album that’s mentioned in the last bullet is available a day early on Amazon, and only costs $2.99.
May 11, 2009 at 1:02 pm Permalink
I’ve heard a few Stephen Bruton covers over the years by some very talented artists, and yet I’ve never heard one that topped his version. Truly a real loss to the music industry.
May 11, 2009 at 1:12 pm Permalink
I really enjoy reading Jamey Johnson interviews.
May 11, 2009 at 2:03 pm Permalink
Nice interview w/Jamey Johnson. Saw him Sat night. Awesome! The man sure does seem angry though.
May 11, 2009 at 4:52 pm Permalink
Congratulations to Juli!! She’s quickly become one of my favorites.
May 11, 2009 at 6:05 pm Permalink
This was indeed a good week in years ending in 9 for # 1 country singles, well up through 1969 anyway…
The only thing Trailer’s “Badass O-Meter” needed was a picture of Julianne Fluff in butch clothing and haircut further up the scale than dainty Chuck.
Juli, you had me right until you mentioned Neko Case. (lol) Also, I think Eilen should spell her first name Elan so as to add a touch of class to offset that tattoo on her forearm. Congratulations on placing the review in a big paper and hopefully it will be the first of many more to come. The NY Times is next!
The Edward Morris article on Keith Whitley is a nice read. Thanks for the link.
That Jamey Johnson interview although brief is one of the best I’ve read. Jamey packs a lot of depth and intelligence in his answers. My favorite quotes:
“The only thing I’ve said about it is, don’t try to stop me from getting my music out there to those people. If you’ll play everything else, you have to play this stuff, too. If you’re going to play contemporary country music, you have to play traditional, too. That’s where it came from. If you’re not willing to play that, then maybe it ought to split. Maybe you ought to have contemporary country radio stations and traditional country radio stations. I don’t know.” Great stuff!
May 11, 2009 at 6:21 pm Permalink
Thanks for the heads up on the Steve Earle album! I downloaded, and sadly, feel pretty happy I didnt spend 15 dollars on it.
May 11, 2009 at 7:38 pm Permalink
Rick will love this: http://www.musicrow.com/2009/05/once-again-underwood%E2%80%99s-a-10/
May 11, 2009 at 8:05 pm Permalink
Thanks Northy! I always appreciate your thoughtfulness! (lol)
Ken over at That Nashville Sound has pointed out that CMT has a music video of the fetching and talented Karen Fairchild singing a duet with John Mellencamp on a song titled “A Ride Back Home”. The sound quality is a bit rough, but I like the song and Karen looks and sounds great! I knew she’d shine apart from Little Big Town…
Link: http://www.cmt.com/videos/john-mellencamp/295244/troubled-land.jhtml?
May 11, 2009 at 8:09 pm Permalink
Oops, the video player switched to the next track before I copied the page address! DOH!
Link: http://www.cmt.com/videos/john-mellencamp/378177/a-ride-back-home-feat-karen-fairchild.jhtml?id=1610472
That’s better….
May 11, 2009 at 9:48 pm Permalink
Rick, don’t be giving my joke ideas for later away. :)
On another note, that Steve Earle album is very solid, well worth the purchase.
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