Ed Bruce, a country singer/songwriter and actor has died at age 81. Bruce had his own run of hits on the country charts but was best known for co-writing Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys. He died in Clarksville, Tennesse and the cause of death was given as natural causes.
Bruce was also recognized for playing the second lead to James Garner on NBC’s 1981-82 Bret Maverick, a one-season reboot of Maverick, as well as writing and singing the show’s theme song.
Speaking of Mammas, one of the most iconic country hits of all time, Bruce said in a 2012 interview, “It was a top 15 record for me. And actually, when I finished writing it, there was a question of whether I was gonna record it or whether I wanted to pitch it to Waylon.”
“There was no doubt in my mind it was a No. 1 song. It wound up I had the best of both worlds, really. Because it established me as an artist, and of course later Waylon cut it and drug Willie in off the street and overdubbed him, and gosh, it was No. 1 for two or three more weeks. [The song remained on top for four weeks, actually.] It was a good song.”
Listen to the country classic below:
Ed Bruce had a No. 1 hit in 1982 with You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had; which finally had the singer reaching the top after 21 previous charting hits.
His discography actually dated back to 1957, when he released Rockin’ Boppin’ Baby. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that he began to appear on country charts. His own version of Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys preceded Nelson’s. It represented his first entry into the top 20, at No. 15 in 1975.
You’re the Best Break… in 1982 was his first top 10 song, as well as his only chart-topper. Bruce went on to have a total of a half-dozen top 10 country hits, the last of which was Nights in 1986; after which he only intermittently released new material.
