Biography
Stephen Bruton (born Turner Stephen Bruton) was an American musician, songwriter and actor. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1948, he moved with his family to Texas as a child and graduated from Texas Christian University. He joined Kris Kristofferson’s band shortly after university and remained a collaborator and band member for nearly forty years.
Bruton worked extensively as a session guitarist, songwriter and producer with artists including T Bone Burnett, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson and others. He released several solo albums and appeared in films and television, with roles including the Bartender in Miss Congeniality (2000), John Cortland in Man of the House (2005) and parts in Convoy (1978), Heaven’s Gate (1980) and The Alamo (2004). He co-wrote and supervised much of the music for Crazy Heart (2009) with T Bone Burnett; the film was dedicated to him.
Bruton died of throat cancer in Los Angeles on 9 May 2009, aged 60.
