Ed Bruce
Like so many other artists, singer Ed Bruce got his start as a rockabilly act for Memphis' famed Sun Records but he was probably best known for his songwriting acumen. Born William Edwin Bruce, Jr. in Arkansas in 1939, he cut his first sides for Sun at the age of 17. His career as a frenetic rockabilly performer was largely unsuccessful, however, and by 1964 Bruce had moved to Nashville to become a member of the Marijohn Wilkin Singers. He also entered into a lucrative career singing advertising jingles; his best-known campaign cast him as a character called "The Tennessean."
In 1966, Bruce signed with RCA, notching his first chart hit with the single "Walker's Woods." More singles and a change of labels followed, but the singer struggled until 1975, when he took his composition "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" into the Top 20. The song, Bruce's best-known, was later a monster hit when covered by the duo of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson in 1977. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Charlie Louvin, Tex Ritter, Tanya Tucker, and Crystal Gayle.
After a brief tenure at Epic Records between 1977 and 1978, Bruce achieved his greatest commercial success with MCA in the '80s. "The Last Cowboy Song," featuring guest vocals from Willie Nelson, hit number 12 in 1980; both "Girls, Women and Ladies" and "(When You Fall in Love) Everything's a Waltz" fell just short of entering the Top Ten. In 1981, Bruce hit number one with "You're the Best Break This Heart Ever Had"; other Top Five singles included "Ever, Never Lovin' You" (number four, 1982), "After All" (number four, 1983), "You Turn Me On (Like a Radio)" (number three, 1984), and "Nights" (number four, 1986). After the 1986 album Night Things and a 1988 self-titled release, Bruce made a conscious decision to cut back on his music to focus on his acting career, appearing in several made-for-TV films, though he cut a pair of gospel albums in the mid-2000s. Ed Bruce died on January 8, 2021 in Clarksville, Tennessee; he was 81 years old.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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Discography
18 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Ed Bruce
Country - Released by Hickory Records (2009 Deal) on Jan 1, 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
If I Could Just Go Home
Country - Released by RCA - Legacy on Mar 25, 1968
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Tennessean
Country - Released by Columbia - Legacy on Feb 7, 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cowboys & Dreamers
Country - Released by Columbia - Legacy on Feb 7, 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ed Bruce & Lynn Anderson - Live at Church Street Station (Live)
Country - Released by Torill Music on Nov 11, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
July, You're a Woman / The Rain in Baby's Life
Country - Released by Good Time Records on Jul 9, 2021
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Sweet Woman / Part of My Life
Rock - Released by Sun Records on Jan 1, 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sun Records Originals: Rock Boppin' Baby
Rock - Released by Sun Records on Jul 21, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Than Yesterday / Rock Boppin' Baby
Rock - Released by Sun Records on Jan 1, 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ed Bruce (A.K.A Edwin Bruce) - Rock Boppin' Baby
Rock - Released by Charly Records on Jun 25, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ed Bruce Live From Church Street Station (Live)
Country - Released by Eastmill on Nov 22, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ed Bruce (A.K.A Edwin Bruce) Selected Hits
Country - Released by Charly Records on Jun 12, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sing About Jesus
Miscellaneous - Released by MRT on Mar 30, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo