Stephen-Bruton-Obituary

Stephen Bruton

AUSTIN, Texas

1948 - 2009

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LOCATION
AUSTIN, Texas
CHARITY
American Cancer Society

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The word has spread like grief fire through the Austin music community that Stephen Bruton, a triple threat as guitarist, producer and songwriter, has passed away. Bruton has been in Los Angeles the past few weeks working on a soundtrack with his old Fort Worth friend T-Bone Burnett.

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Not sure what to say?

Godfather Stephen...

I'm not sure if I can write something here that is worthy of you... that says how much I love you... how much I miss you... what a terrible emptiness has been left in your passing... or how incredibly fortunate and blessed I feel to have had you as my Godfather, had you in my life at all. You were a mentor, an inspiration, a rock... someone who loved me unconditionally and unfailingly. I still haven't accepted this... because if I do it means you're really...

I worked retail in Fort Worth at The Fair and Striplings and in Houston at Sakowitz and Foleys. I knew Kathleen Bruton from one of the jobs! My stint at Sakowitz was 1967-1971 and Foleys was 1974-1986. God bless your family. I loved Stephen's music in Crazy Heart.
Leona Brack, Houston TX

Remembering Stephen and listening to his music this morning. After reading all 42 pages of entries remarking how he was such a true, kind & inspirational person, his legacy will live on though all the many people who were fortunate to have known him. My thoughts are with his family, and his extended family, today and everyday.
I will close by listening to my favorite song " Too Many Memories" Yes there are.....
Play on Stephen...

I have been thinking about Stephen so much lately; Bad Blake comes alive in Crazy Heart through his music. We hung out a little in high school in Ft Worth - just 'simple innocents' in our sheltered world - even then, Stephen was a talent to be reckoned with; I may have been one of his very first groupies!
The Heavenly Band must be a rockin up there.....warm thoughts and fond memories of a fine and fun guy....

You made it look so easy, and it wasn't. It isn't. I can hardly find the words to celebrate the life of someone who captured the small moments, the ones we all experience, and turned our clumsy journey into purpose.

The first time I met you was in 1980. You seemed as happy to meet me as I was to meet you. Your music resonated because you created relationships, friendships; you noticed the moments. From Day Drinkin to Fallin & Flyin, your music has been the soundtrack for so many...

My sympathy to Stephen's family. I knew him at Paschal High School as the truly talented among those of us hanging around the folk club. When I heard of his collaboration on Crazy Heart, I was going to email my congratulations, and found that he was gone. He will always be in my mind as that kid with enviable talent.

I extend my condolences to Stephen's family-Stephen was kind and generous to me as a hero-worshipping. I spoke to his mother in 1974; Neither she nor he were angry(!) so I brought my mother to meet him stage-side at Radio City Music Hall-He believed me that I loved the music not just the starstruck glamor it was like my dad's memory of Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall concert. Songs and artists gathered through this adolescent time have been my mantras, religion and daily friends through my...

Brother Stephen,

I can finally get myself to writing something fitting of our time together. Today I presented the formal written plan to create and produce your tribute/memorial....yes it will be grand and have all the trappings of the many events we conjured together, and include all the big guns to sing your beloved music - but damn Stephen, I so miss you and find it almost impossible to take the band through rehearsal in your absence.

I have "too many memories" my...