Singer-songwriter Ed Bruce, who wrote “Moms don’t let their babies grow up to be cowboys” and other classic country hits, died. According to a press release from his representative, Bruce died in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Friday (January 8) of natural causes at the age of 81.
Born on December 29, 1939 in Keizer, Arkansas, Bruce moved to Memphis with his family early in his life and considered Tennessee his home state, according to his official biography on his website. He started writing songs as a teenager and started recording on Memphis ‘legendary Sun Records in 1957, when he was still a senior in high school, releasing a single titled “Rock Boppin’ Baby” under the name of Edwin Bruce.
He wrote “Save Your Kisses” for pop star Tommy Roe in 1962 and, in 1965, Charlie Louvin recorded his song “See the Big Man Cry”, which reached seventh place. Bruce spent the next decade recording for a variety of record labels, including RCA and Wand / Scepter, but mainstream success continued to elude him when he started doing voiceover work. He scored his first single on the charts in 1967 with “Walker’s Woods”, and also had minor hits with “Everybody Wants to Get to Heaven” and “Song for Jenny” after signing with Monument in 1969.
The 1970s saw Bruce’s career luck change considerably, with Tanya Tucker and Crystal Gayle recording “The Man That Turned My Mama On” and “Restless”, respectively, in 1974, while Bruce himself finally reached the Top 20 with “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow and Become Cowboys” in 1976.
Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings recorded “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” as a duet in 1978, taking the song to first place in the ranking Advertising panel‘s Hot Country Songs chart and winning a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1979. This track appeared in the film by Robert Redford and Jane Fonda The Electric Knight, who also featured Nelson on his debut as an actor. Tanya Tucker also reached fifth place with Bruce’s “Texas (When I Die)” in 1978.
Bruce signed to MCA Records in 1980, where he achieved a series of solo hits that included “Diane”, “The Last Cowboy Song”, “When You Fall In Love (Everything’s a Waltz)”, “Evil Angel” and “Love’s I found you and me. “He reached the top spot with” You are the best opportunity this old heart has ever had “in 1982.
He returned to RCA Records in 1984 and reached third place with “You Turn Me On Like a Radio” in 1985. Bruce scored his last Top 10 single with “Nights” in 1986 and his last Top 40 single with “Quietly” Crazy “in 1987.
Bruce also made his name as an actor, appearing on TV shows Bret Maverick alongside Jamer Garner, in addition to hosting Truckin ‘USA and American Sports Cavalcade on The Nashville Network and appearing in films made for TV, including The Chisolms and The last days of Frank and Jesse James. He graced the big screen in Fire Down Below with Steven Seagal, among other films.
Bruce received the Arkansas Country Music award for his work as a whole in 2018. No funeral plans have been announced.