Bruce Bouton

Bruce Bouton
Born1954 (age 69–70)
South Carolina, U.S.
GenresCountry music
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Pedal steel guitar, slide guitar, electric guitar, resonator guitar, keyboards
Years active1978–present
Member ofThe G-Men
Websitebrucebouton.com

Bruce Bouton is an American guitarist, session musician, producer, and songwriter. His pedal steel guitar has been featured on many country music recordings, and he helped reintroduce the pedal steel guitar to the forefront of the Nashville sound.[1][2] Bouton is also a member of The G-Men, the group of session musicians who has played on the vast majority of Garth Brooks albums.

Biography

Bouton began playing pedal steel in 1973 while studying at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He played with a number of local ensembles, including the Good Humor Band. In 1978, Bouton moved from Vienna Virginia to Nashville Tennessee in pursuit of a music career. His first work in Nashville was touring with Dottie West, then Lacy J. Dalton and then recording and touring with Ricky Skaggs.[3]

Garth Brooks

Bouton has toured and recorded with Garth Brooks from the beginning of Brooks career. Bouton co-wrote the song "Against The Grain" for Brooks’ Ropin' The Wind album.[4]

As part of Brooks' studio band the G Men, Bouton was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame and Museum.[5]

Session work

Bouton has played steel guitar on records by Kenny Rogers,[6] Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban,[7] Lonestar,[8] Pam Tillis, Lady Antebellum, and Shania Twain.[9]

Songwriting

Songs Bouton wrote or co-wrote have been recorded by T. Graham Brown ("The Last Resort"), George Strait ("I Ain't Never Seen No One Like You"),[10] Glen Campbell ("Who's Minding the Garden"), and George Jones ("Walls Can Fall").

Touring

Bouton has toured with Ricky Skaggs,[11] Mel Tillis, Foster and Lloyd,[12] and Reba McEntire.[13]

Music instruction

1986 Bouton created an instructional video Learn To Play Pedal Steel Guitar for Homespun.[3]

Other

In 1994, Bouton was executive producer of Mama's Hungry Eyes: A Tribute to Merle Haggard on the Arista label.[14]

Bouton hosts The Sidemen on Acme Radio, which features Nashville session musicians.[15]

Discography

With Ricky Skaggs

With Garth Brooks

As composer

Also appears on

1986 – 1993

1994 – 1997

1998 – 2006

2007 – present

Music instruction

  • 1986: Learn To Play Pedal Steel Guitar VCR (Homespun) reissued on DVD in 2004

References

  1. ^ Kingsbury, Paul (Feb 1, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199920839. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  2. ^ Michael Ross (February 17, 2015). "Pedal to the Metal: A Short History of the Pedal Steel Guitar". Premier Guitar. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Derek Williams. "Artist Interview: Garth Brooks Pedal Steel Guitarist Bruce Bouton". That's My Gig. Retrieved October 26, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Bale Cox, Patsi (May 28, 2009). The Garth Factor: The Career Behind Country's Big Boom. Center Street. ISBN 9781599952758. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Nate Rau (October 18, 2016). "Garth Brooks' G-Men get their moment in the spotlight". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  6. ^ Paul W. Dennis (October 25, 2017). "Album Review: Kenny Rogers – 'She Rides Wild Horses'". My Kind of Country. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  7. ^ Woodstra, Chris; John Bush; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2008). Contemporary Country. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879309183. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  8. ^ Paul W. Dennis (September 6, 2016). "Album Review: Lonestar – 'Lonestar'". My Kind of Country. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  9. ^ Eggar, Robin (June 15, 2010). Shania Twain: The Biography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781451604542. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  10. ^ Bego, Mark (March 1, 1999). George Strait: The Story of Country's Living Legend. Kensington Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9780786006717. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  11. ^ Geoffrey Himes (July 21, 1983). "Ricky Skaggs At Wolf Trap". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  12. ^ Jim Caligiuri (May 28, 1999). "See What You Want to See". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  13. ^ archive (May 6, 2006). "Reba: Keeping it simple". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Jack Hurst (September 1, 1994). "New Album To Salute Merle Haggard". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Bruce Bouton – Wayne Moss: The Sidemen". Cinderella Sound Studio. April 27, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.