Clarksville NowEd Bruce, country singer-songwriter, dies in Clarksville at 81.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Ed Bruce, a country music songwriter renowned for writing chart-topping hits such as “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” died in Clarksville on Friday, Jan. 8 at the age of 81.
Bruce was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and the Musician’s Union, dabbling in several realms of entertainment during his 64-year career.
Beginnings
Born William Edwin Bruce Jr. on Dec. 29, 1939, in Keiser, Arkansas, the songwriter and musician was raised in Memphis. When he was 17, Sun Records owner and record producer Sam Phillips took notice of Bruce and promptly signed him to the label.
Ed Bruce , the country singer-songwriter best known for writing the classic "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," died of natural caus.
Ed Bruce , the country singer-songwriter best known for writing the classic "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," died of natural caus.
A teenager at Sun
Born in Keiser, Arkansas in 1939, Bruce was a Memphis resident of only 17 when he approached Cowboy Jack Clement and eventually Sam Phillips and ended up recording the rockabilly single “Rock Boppin’ Baby” for the Sun label, then under the name of Edwin Bruce.
“Rockin’ Boppin’ Baby” was released in 1957, but it wasn’t until 1966 that Bruce began to appear on country charts. His own version of “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” preceded Willie Nelson’s and represented his first entry into the Top 20, at No.15 in 1975.
Ed Bruce co-wrote “Mammas…” with his then-wife Patsy. It was also recorded by country star Chris LeDoux in 1976 before Nelson and Jennings memorably got to it in 1978. Their version, from the album
Iconic Singer/Songwriter and Actor Ed Bruce Dead at 81
Country singer-songwriter and actor William Edwin Bruce Jr. (Ed Bruce) has died in Tennessee, his publicist confirmed. He was 81.
Bruce, best known for co-writing “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” together with his wife Patsy Bruce in 1975, died from natural causes in his Clarksville home on Friday, his publicist confirmed to Fox News.
A rendition of the hit song originally recorded by Bruce peaked the country music charts about three years later, spending four weeks at No. 1 after Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings cut the song on their 1978 duet album.