Steel Guitarist Bruce Bouton Talks About Playing With Country Music's Elite

Bruce Bouton is one of Nashville's top session and touring pedal
steel guitarist. He has played on all of Garth Brooks's studio
albums and with many of Country Music's elite artists.


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After moving to Nashville from his home state of Virginia in
1978, Bruce joined Dottie West's band as pedal steel guitarist
and has toured and recorded with such legends as Keith Whitley,
Lacy J. Dalton, Ricky Skaggs, Tracy Lawrence, Brooks & Dunn,
Kathy Mattea, Tracy Bryd, Conway Twitty, LeAnn Rimes, Trace
Adkins, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith,
Eric Church, Keith Urban, and a host of others.
The Glory Days of Country Music Sessions

The music industry has gone through monumental changes over the
past several decades. Bruce was fortunate to play a part in what
he considers the "glory days" of Nashville's recording sessions.
"I remember in the late 1980s and 90s on Monday mornings when
there were 30 recording sessions with five to seven musicians at
each one," Bouton said, reflecting on playing with so many of
Nashville's top artists. "We had a blast and recorded some of
Country Music's biggest hits."


A member of the Musicians Hall of Fame, Bruce spent his early
years in Nashville touring with Ricky Skaggs, who when they first
met, was just beginning his solo career. "Ricky is one of the
most talented instrumentalists I know and I was lucky to play
with him. I've never seen anyone practice as much as he does."


He still tours with major acts and recently played with Brooks in
his home state of Virginia. Bruce also played with Brooks on his
2018 TV special, Garth: Live at Notre Dame!
Fighting For Artist Royalties

Recorded on the stage at the original and historic Puckett's
Grocery in Leiper's Fork, TN, Bruce talks about fighting for and
protecting the rights and royalties of professional musicians. He
discusses how the deregulation of radio stations has hurt
musicians and the industry and also talks about the "glory days"
of Nashville's recording sessions along Music Row and 16th
Avenue. Bruce also hosts the show, "The Sidemen" on Acme Radio,
where he interviews the Nashville's multi-talented session
players.


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Today Bruce spends time in Nashville with his college-aged
daughter who is also finding her way into the music industry. A
lifelong student of music, Bruce even takes an occasional guitar
lesson from some of his session buddies.


If you're a fan of Country Music and it's incredible history, you
don't want to miss listening to Bruce's stories about how
Nashville music is made and played.