May 11, 2009

Sad news. Guitarist Stephen Bruton, a good friend of Michael’s passed away on Saturday.
Image and story courtesy of Mitch Mitchell/Star Telegram


Stephen BrutonFort Worth native Stephen Bruton performs at the Caravan of Dreams in 1999. STAR-TELEGRAM ARCHIVES

Guitarist Stephen Bruton, a Fort Worth native, dies at age 60

Stephen Bruton, a real-life guitar hero who played with everyone from Kris Kristofferson to Elvis Costello, died Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Fort Worth native was 60 and had been in California working on the soundtrack to Jeff Bridges’ new movie, Crazy Heart, said his wife of 13 years, Mary Keating-Bruton.

“Cancer is a very evil disease, but he’d work between treatments,” she said.

Mr. Bruton’s friends said he was determined to beat the throat cancer that was diagnosed in 2007.

“Stephen . . . never gave up to the very end,” said Fort Worth blues singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton, Mr. Bruton’s friend of 40 years. “He never complained, and he was always upbeat about it. Everyone should hope they can have as much grace as Stephen did in the end.”

Mr. Bruton described his eclectic and influential career as simply being “a guitar player.”

His last concert in Fort Worth was in May 2008 at Bass Hall with Kristofferson.

He was tapped as Kristofferson’s guitarist at 22 and had achieved acclaim playing with the likes of Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, McClinton, and many others. In March, Mr. Bruton took home the award for best acoustic guitarist at the Austin Music Awards.

Fort Worth is home for the musical Bruton family. The family owns the Record Town music shop across the street from TCU.

The store is run by Mr. Bruton’s brother, Sumter. Their father was a well-known jazz drummer.

Mr. Bruton had beaten drugs and alcohol and then helped turn other musicians toward sobriety, McClinton said. “I was convinced when I saw him a few months ago that it would be the last time I would ever see him,” McClinton said. “Then he came back and had maybe the best three months of his life. He was working and doing what he wanted to do.”

Mr. Bruton will be remembered in Austin and Fort Worth for more than his singing and songwriting, said Glen Clark, another musician friend.

“He truly was a giving person,” Clark said. “I can’t tell you how many times he’d come back from somewhere and just out of the blue, he had brought you a present. It was almost embarrassing.”

Asleep at the Wheel guitarist John Nicholas said Mr. Bruton was an amazing talent who had an ear for good music. What he admired most was Mr. Bruton’s work ethic, Nicholas said.

“He was born with a gift and talent,” Nicholas said. “But a lot of people who are born gifted and talented never reach their potential. What made him so good was that he worked his ass off.”

Through the two years of cancer, Mr. Bruton was a warrior, Keating-Bruton said.

She said arrangements for services, which will be in Fort Worth, have not been finalized.

“I had some beautiful years with him,” she said.

Feb 27, 2009

Danny Gatton's LJ

December 20, 2008

Stevens Greetings!

April 26, 2008

Junior Brown stops by the Stevens Guitars booth

 

April 21, 2008

The Dallas Guitar Show

 

April 15, 2008

A couple of goodies have been added to the 'Extras' page - more to come!

April 11, 2008

News Bulletin! -stop-

Michael will be at the Dallas Guitar Show, April 18, 19 & 20, 2008. -stop-
Booth will join Transpecos Guitars, his exclusive distributor! -stop-

There will be numerous "Stevens Guitars" for sale and on display, including the new much gossiped about "Slant Guitar" -stop-
Play it for yourself! -stop-

"Stevens Electrical Instruments" has procured a stash of SITES certified Brazilian Rosewood fingerboards and peg head veneers!
Instruments using these boards will come with proper documentation. More info on those later.

Also on display will be one of the brand NEW Junior Brown Guit-Steels®.

Thank you and goodnight - MS

December 20, 2007

Stevens Greetings!
(Click here to enlarge)

September 14, 2007

Whilst it has been all quiet on the website front, Michael has been hard at work building a selection of new guitars and new models.

Ash/Maple Les Plank

 

 

Slant Guitar

 

   

LJ

 

 

Gold Top

 

 

Maple Slant Guitar

 

   

LJ

More to come in the next few weeks.

March 27, 2007

The Guitar.

 

 

The Response.

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