Country and western singer-songwriter born William Edwin Bruce Jr. in Keiser, Arkansas whose family made a fortuitous move to Memphis when he was young, and he was signed by Sun Records out of high school.
An odd turn of events resulted in early financial success for Ed Bruce: He co-wrote a song called “Save Your Kisses” that was recorded by Tommy Roe in 1962. It was instead the B side, “Sheila”, that ingratiated itself with DJs. ” Sheila” went #1.
Record sales allowed him the luxury to move to Nashville and in 1978, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson covered a meager Bruce chart entry from 1975 called “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” which of course went #1.
Royalties undoubtedly gave Bruce the time to pursue his other interest: Acting. His rugged, weather-beaten countenance has appeared alongside Robert Preston in the CBS mini-series The Chisolms, Steven Seagal in Fire Down Below, and James Garner in Bret Maverick (for which he also wrote and recorded the theme song, with Garner).
His later albums were the 2010 In Jesus’ Eyes and the 2011 The Last Cowboy Song.
He died of natural causes when he was 81 years old in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Ronny Robbins recordings
True Love’s Forgiving (Ed Bruce)
MCA-40055 (124, 147)
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