Country music guitarist and producer Tommy Detamore has died at the age of 70, his wife announced on Facebook. Sandra Detamore wrote on Thursday that her husband passed away on Wednesday. She did not reveal his cause of death in her post.
"Tommy was and will always be remembered as a respected musician, producer, collaborator, mentor, and creative force in Country Music," Sandra wrote. She added that he was "not to mention the love of my life."
"His work has and will always leave a lasting mark in the country music community," Sandra continued. She stated that Detamore's musical gifts and skills as a producer helped "shape the sound of country music we hear today."
Detamore was an acclaimed pedal steel guitarist and in-demand sideman who was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he earned several affectionate nicknames, including Dr. Tom, Sir Punchalot, Drama Papa, and The Man.
Sandra recalled celebrating a recent recording her husband produced that was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), indicating it sold one million album equivalent units. She wrote that she and their son, Thomas Detamore, take "comfort in knowing he is at peace and is now with his family and that his music will live on and will be cherished forever."
She asked followers and fans to pray for her family and the staff of Drama Kids, a children's drama summer-camp program she founded. Thomas Detamore serves as the assistant director of the program.
"I want to make sure he is celebrated with family and friends and the community," Sandra said of her late husband. "This way we can all say our goodbyes, since this was so sudden."
Career in Country Music
Although Detamore was based in Texas and spent much of his career in the state, he got his start in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he grew up and began playing guitar, according to SavingCountryMusic.com. He later expanded into playing the pedal steel guitar, studying under Buddy Charleton.
In 1981, Detamore rose to a new level of prominence when he began playing steel guitar in Darrell McCall's band. During his career, he was also pictured with former President George H. W. Bush.
Detamore joined Moe Bandy's band in 1982 as a steel guitar player for the next seven years. That role included high-profile performances on Grand Ole Opry, Hee-Haw, and Nashville Now.
Detamore also performed with other country music legends, including Clay Baker, Johnny Bush, and Ronnie Milsap, according to SavingCountryMusic.com. He was a popular touring and studio musician on the steel guitar.
A major change in his career came in 1991 when Detamore opened Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas. The recording facility marked a new phase in which he worked as an engineer and producer to shape the recordings of other artists.
