Pedal Steel Guitarist and Producer Tommy Detamore Dies at 70

Tommy Detamore, a revered pedal steel guitarist and producer whose work shaped the sound of Texas country and Western swing for decades, died on August 5, 2026. He was 70. His wife, Sandra Detamore, announced his death in a Facebook post, describing it as sudden. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Sandra Detamore confirmed her husband’s passing in an emotional tribute posted on August 6. She wrote that he “went home to be with the Lord” the previous day, Wednesday, August 5. She remembered him as a respected musician, producer, collaborator, mentor, and creative force whose work left a lasting mark on the country music community.

Detamore’s career spanned more than four decades, beginning in the 1970s when he took up the pedal steel guitar. He studied under legendary steel guitarist Buddy Charleton and later toured as a musician for artists including Darrell McCall and Moe Bandy, performing on major stages like the Grand Ole Opry. In 1991, he founded Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, which became a cornerstone for the regional music scene. From that studio, he produced, engineered, and performed on records for a wide array of artists such as Ray Price, Jim...