Country musician Tommy Detamore died on Wednesday, Aug. 5, his wife of 41 years confirmed on social media. He was 70.
"Tommy was and will always be remembered as a respected musician, producer, collaborator, mentor, and creative force in Country Music. Not to mention the love of my life," Sandra Detamore wrote on an Aug. 6 Facebook post. "His work has and will always leave a lasting mark in the country music community."
She said that his "God-given gift for playing and producing music" helped shape the genre country music fans enjoy today.
Detamore was known for playing the pedal steel guitar since the 1970s and continued a successful career in country music ever since. In 1991, he founded the Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, and collaborated
with major country acts from Jim Lauderdale to the late Ray Price.
He is survived by his wife Sandra and their son Thomas. His cause of death was not shared.
"My son and I take comfort in knowing he is at peace and is now with his family and that his music will live on and will be cherished forever," Sandra wrote. "Please continue to pray for me and my family and our Drama Kids Staff as we figure out how to honor my beloved 'Steelman.'"
She continued: "I want to make sure he is celebrated with family and friends and the community. This way we can all say our goodbyes, since this was so sudden. Lastly, thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing me to love and be loved by Tommy. I know where he is and I thank you and one day I too will be with him again in our mansion in the sky."
His death comes after he was unable to attend a Cowtown Society of Western Music ceremony in Wichita Falls, Texas, on July 25, where he was honored with the Hero of Western Swing award. "I was unfortunately unable to attend, so I also thank my friend Michael Markwardt for accepting on my behalf!" he wrote on Facebook that day.
Country music community mourns Tommy Detamore's death
When news of Detamore's passing broke, several country artists paid homage online, including "From a Table Away" singer Sunny Sweeney, who called him "my great friend and mentor." She said she wishes him "smooth sailing up to heaven. I just spoke with him three days ago and we discussed a new project we were gonna work on.”
"Our hearts are with Tommy’s family, friends and fans," Lauderdale wrote on Facebook. "It’s hard to find the right words right now. He will be missed terribly."
The band Tris Munsick and the Innocents wrote on Instagram that working with the legend was an honor, adding that "He was a one-of-a-kind musician, producer and human being."
Texas singer-songwriter Gary P. Nunn took to Instagram to say Detamore was "the absolute best in any category of virtues you can imagine" and described their time working together as "the highlight of my career."
"After the basic tracks were cut, it was just Tommy and me, head to head. I was in creative paradise! I will always treasure that experience. Watching him put on the steel tracks was [a sight] to behold," he wrote in the caption. "The computer, the board and the steel guitar and Tommy all became one as he would meticulously overdub the tracks, over and over till he was satisfied."
"Thank you from all of us to whom you gave so much!" he concluded.
Singer-songwriter and producer Jesse Daniel said on an Instagram post that he moved to Texas to pursue a career in country music because of Detamore. "When we moved out to Texas we only knew a handful of people, but he and his family welcomed us with open arms. When the time came to make my next album, Tommy was the natural choice. Over the course of those two albums, he taught me how to make a record," he wrote.
In her Instagram tribute, singer Kim Carson said there were no words to describe the loss of "our dear friend."
"Tommy was a well-respected producer of numerous projects, including my last three CDs. I can’t imagine recording without Tommy," she wrote. She shared a selfie of her with Detamore holding her late dog, writing, "I have many photos of Tommy in the studio, but this is a favorite along with Bobby Flores, another friend gone too soon."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Country musician Tommy Detamore dies at 70, shortly after Western swing honor
