Phases and Stages, and the Frog rumbles again...

As promised (better late than never, I suppose), here's the re-started version of Lone Star Guitar, my 'lil 'ol corner of ye olde internet. A lot has happened in the past year, personally and professionally, some of which I will talk about and some of which I won't. Some good and some bad. Suffice to say that I have a few more battle scars and rough edges than last time you checked in. 'Tis the story of us all and I'm no different. Time changes men, and occasionally, men change with time for the better.

The one thing that I'd really like to share with everyone is a fairly recent acquisition to my guitar harem. Some background troddings though, to set the stage...I've been a huge fan of an artist named Stephen Bruton for years. Dad took me out to see him when I was about a freshman in college and it changed my life. I owe my Dad for my very musical existence, and I consider the first time I saw Stephen play as one of the cornerstones of my musical development. You rule, Dad.

Stephen Bruton
1948-2009

 Stephen was a Fort Worth native who, along with many of his contemporaries, found his way to Austin in the '70s. Successful tours and records with Kris Kristoferson, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, and many others ensued and secured his place in the pantheon of Texas guitar gods. Production credits include Alejandro Escovedo, Storyville, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and many, many more. This guy was the real deal. And I knew it from the first note I heard the man play. I was changed forever.

Stephen passed away on May 9, of 2009. We all knew he had been struggling with throat Cancer for some time, but I had no idea he had taken a turn for the worse. He was living in Los Angeles at the time with his old Fort Worth buddy T Bone Burnett, and the two had just completed the soundtrack for "Crazy Heart". I was crushed.

Like all us guitar nerds, Stephen was a bit of a collector of musical instruments. After a while, I started hearing rumblings about his collection being up for sale. After a call to my good buddy Doug Swancy, he put me in touch with a gentleman named Harry Harris. Harry grew up with Stephen and his older brother, Sumpter, who is also a damn fine guitar player. Harry also had connections with representatives from Stephen's estate and had purchased a couple of instruments for himself that Stephen used to own. Harry informed me of what was left on "the list" and I immediately gravitated towards the Jerry Jones baritone guitar that was still available. This was "Froggy", an instrument I had seen Stephen play many, many times.

Stephen playing Froggy at Antone's in Austin
Photo by Ron Baker

Long story short(er), I was in Austin a couple of months later doing some session work, and Harry calls me and says he is also in town and would be happy to purchase Froggy for me from the estate lawyer, deliver it to the studio, and I could pay him back. Wow. Naturally, I drove as fast as I could to an ATM and withdrew the necessary funds. Froggy was in my hands about an hour later. I couldn't believe it; still can't, really. I was laying down tracks with it the next day, and I continue to use it as one of my road guitars.

This instrument is something that will henceforth remain in my family. It's a true treasure. I am lucky to own it, along with Dad. I will cherish it forever. I will continue to take it out on the road and play the guts out of it, just like Stephen did. He would have wanted it that way. Guitars were tools to him, and he felt they were meant to be played - alot. I agree. 

Thanks TSB, for all the music, heart, soul, tone and licks you passed our way. You are dearly missed.


JTW