During his long career, Bruce recorded 35 hits in total Advertising panel‘s Hot Country Songs chart, including “You are the best break this old heart has ever had” and “Walker’s Woods”. He is perhaps best known for the classic composition “Moms don’t let their babies grow and become cowboys”, which he co-wrote with his ex-wife, Patsy.
The song was later re-recorded by a number of country legends, including Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, whose duet version spent four weeks at the top of Hot Country Songs in 1978. Its version also made it to the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 42 .
“We lost one more of our great country songwriters and singers today,” wrote McGraw on Twitter. “The man behind ‘Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys’ and more. So many cool records from him that I heard while growing up.”
Johnson also paid tribute to the late country star, tweeting, “Thanks Ed Bruce for all the years of dedication to country music that paved the way for composers like me. Hell sir.”
See more tributes to Bruce below.