Ed Bruce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Bruce
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Edwin Bruce Jr. |
| Born | December 29, 1939 Keiser, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | January 8, 2021 (aged 81) Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, singer, commercial voice-over |
| Years active | 1959–2021 |
| Labels | Sun, RCA, United Artists, MCA, Monument, Lamon Records |
William Edwin Bruce Jr. (December 29, 1939 – January 8, 2021), known as Ed Bruce, was an American country music star. He was a talented songwriter, singer, and actor. Ed Bruce is famous for writing the song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys". He also had a number one hit song called "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had". You might also know him from the TV show Bret Maverick, where he acted alongside James Garner.
Contents
Early Life & Music Start
Growing Up in Arkansas
Ed Bruce was born in Keiser, Arkansas, in the United States. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was 17, in 1957, he met Jack Clement. Jack was a recording engineer at Sun Records.
First Songs at Sun Records
Ed got the attention of Sam Phillips, who owned Sun Records. Ed then wrote and recorded his first song, "Rock Boppin' Baby". He released it under the name "Edwin Bruce".
Music Career in the 1960s
Recording for Different Labels
In the early 1960s, Ed Bruce recorded for RCA Records and other smaller companies. He sang different types of music. This included rockabilly, country, and pop songs. One of his pop songs was "See the Big Man Cry".
Songs Written for Others
In 1962, Ed wrote "Save Your Kisses" for pop singer Tommy Roe. In 1963, Ed's own song "See the Big Man Cry" became a minor hit. Later, Charlie Louvin recorded "See the Big Man Cry" in 1965. Louvin's version became a much bigger hit, reaching number 7 on the country charts. Many songs Ed wrote became more popular when other artists recorded them.
Returning to RCA Records
In 1966, Ed Bruce returned to RCA Records. He released songs like "Walker's Woods" in 1967. This was his first song to appear on the music charts. He also had a minor hit with his version of The Monkees' song "Last Train to Clarksville". In 1969, Ed signed with Monument Records. He continued to have small hits with songs like "Everybody Wants To Get To Heaven".
Success in the 1970s
Writing Hits for Other Artists
Ed Bruce wrote "The Man That Turned My Mama On". This song became a big hit for Tanya Tucker in 1974. His song "Restless" also became popular for Crystal Gayle in the same year. In 1973, he signed with United Artists Records. He released several songs, but only one was a small hit in 1974.
A Big Hit Song
Ed finally made it into the Top 20 on country charts in 1976. This was with his own version of "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys". He wrote this famous song with his wife at the time, Patsy Bruce.
More Success and Famous Covers
After this, Ed had two more Top 40 hits in 1976. In 1977, he signed with Epic Records. In 1978, "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" was recorded by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Their version became a huge hit. This helped Ed Bruce's career grow even more. In 1979, Tanya Tucker took Ed's 1977 song "Texas (When I Die)" into the country Top 5.
Achievements in the 1980s
Signing with MCA Records
In 1980, Ed Bruce signed with MCA Records. This is where he had his biggest successes. His early hits with MCA included "Diane" and "The Last Cowboy Song".
Number One Hit Song
His biggest hit, "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had", reached number one on the country chart in 1982. This was Ed Bruce's first Top 10 hit as a singer after many years. He had other hit songs that made the Top 10. These included "Ever, Never Lovin' You" and "My First Taste of Texas".
Later Hits and Chart Singles
In 1984, Ed Bruce returned to RCA Records. He had a number 3 hit with "You Turn Me On Like A Radio" in 1985. His last Top 10 song was "Nights" in 1986. His last song to appear on the charts was "Quietly Crazy" in 1987.
Acting Career
Voice-overs and TV Shows
Besides singing, Ed Bruce also did voice-overs for TV and radio commercials. In the late 1980s, he hosted two TV shows: Truckin' USA and American Sports Cavalcade.
Starring in Bret Maverick
He had a main role in the TV show Bret Maverick. This show was a new version of the old TV series Maverick. It starred James Garner as a western gambler. The show was on NBC from 1981 to 1982. Ed Bruce played a tough town lawman. His character ended up owning a saloon with Maverick. Ed Bruce also sang and wrote the theme song for the show.
Movies and Films
Ed Bruce also appeared in several movies. One of these was Fire Down Below in 1997, where he acted with Steven Seagal.
Later Life and Legacy
Passing Away
Ed Bruce passed away from natural causes in Clarksville, Tennessee. He was 81 years old when he died on January 8, 2021. His former wife, Patsy Bruce, who was also a songwriter, passed away four months later at the same age.
Special Recognition
On June 3, 2018, Ed Bruce received a special award. He was honored with the Arkansas Country Music Award for "Lifetime Achievement". This award recognized his amazing career in music.
Images for kids
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Ed Bruce
See also
In Spanish: Ed Bruce para niños
