Acclaimed country music star and producer Tommy Detamore has died aged 70.
The celebrated pedal steel guitarist, who worked with some of the biggest names in country music during a career spanning several decades, died on Wednesday, August 5.
His wife of 41 years, Sandra Detamore, announced the heartbreaking news on Facebook, paying tribute to the musician, producer and mentor she described as “the love of my life”.
“Tommy was and will always be remembered as a respected musician, producer, collaborator, mentor, and creative force in Country Music,” she wrote. “Not to mention the love of my life.”
Sandra added that her husband’s work would “always leave a lasting mark in the country music community”, saying his talent for performing and producing had allowed him to lift up other musicians and help shape the genre. A cause of death has not been publicly revealed.
Sandra said she and the couple’s son, Thomas, were finding comfort in the knowledge that Tommy was “at peace” and reunited with family.
© Sandra Detamore/FacebookShe also reflected on one of the musician’s recent achievements, revealing that the family had been celebrating after a recording he produced received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
As she asked friends and fans to keep the family in their prayers, Sandra explained that she wanted to give Tommy’s loved ones and the wider country music community a chance to celebrate his life.
“I want to make sure he is celebrated with family and friends and the community,” she said. “This way we can all say our goodbyes, since this was so sudden.”
© Sandra Detamore/FacebookShe concluded her emotional message by thanking God for allowing her “to love and be loved by Tommy”.
Over the course of his career, Tommy worked with an impressive list of artists including Ray Price, Jim Lauderdale, Doug Sahm, The Texas Tornados, Robert Earl Keen, Sunny Sweeney, Micky Dolenz and Dallas Wayne.
His engineering work on Bill Kirchen’s “Poultry in Motion” also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance, while in 2008 he was named Record Producer of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists.
© Sandra Detamore/FacebookTommy was also recognised for his mastery of the instrument that became synonymous with his career, earning induction into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Sandra and their son Thomas.
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