Bruce Bouton is one of Nashville’s top session and touring pedal steel guitarist. He has played on all of Garth Brooks’s studio albums and with many of Country Music’s elite artists.
RELATED: Welcome to the Southern Americana Podcast
After moving to Nashville from his home state of Virginia in 1978, Bruce joined Dottie West’s band as pedal steel guitarist and has toured and recorded with such legends as Keith Whitley, Lacy J. Dalton, Ricky Skaggs, Tracy Lawrence, Brooks & Dunn, Kathy Mattea, Tracy Bryd, Conway Twitty, LeAnn Rimes, Trace Adkins, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Eric Church, Keith Urban, and a host of others.
Pedal Steel guitarist Bruce Bouton has played on all of Garth Brooks studio albums
The Glory Days of Country Music Sessions
The music industry has gone through monumental changes over the past several decades. Bruce was fortunate to play a part in what he considers the “glory days” of Nashville’s recording sessions. “I remember in the late 1980s and 90s on Monday mornings when there were 30 recording sessions with five to seven musicians at each one,” Bouton said, reflecting on playing with so many of Nashville’s top artists. “We had a blast and recorded some of Country Music’s biggest hits.”
A member of the Musicians Hall of Fame, Bruce spent his early years in Nashville touring with Ricky Skaggs, who when they first met, was just beginning his solo career. “Ricky is one of the most talented instrumentalists I know and I was lucky to play with him. I’ve never seen anyone practice as much as he does.”
He still tours with major acts and recently played with Brooks in his home state of Virginia. Bruce also played with Brooks on his 2018 TV special, Garth: Live at Notre Dame!
Fighting For Artist Royalties
Recorded on the stage at the original and historic Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork, TN, Bruce talks about fighting for and protecting the rights and royalties of professional musicians. He discusses how the deregulation of radio stations has hurt musicians and the industry and also talks about the “glory days” of Nashville’s recording sessions along Music Row and 16th Avenue. Bruce also hosts the show, “The Sidemen” on Acme Radio, where he interviews the Nashville’s multi-talented session players.
Country Music pedal steel player Bruce Bouton hanging out in Nashville between tours and recording
RELATED: A conversation with singer/songwriter/actor J.T. Hodges
Today Bruce spends time in Nashville with his college-aged daughter who is also finding her way into the music industry. A lifelong student of music, Bruce even takes an occasional guitar lesson from some of his session buddies.
If you’re a fan of Country Music and it’s incredible history, you don’t want to miss listening to Bruce’s stories about how Nashville music is made and played.