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Tommy Detamore Dies at 70, Renowned Texas Pedal Steel Guitarist and Producer

Family confirmed his sudden, unexplained death, marking a significant loss for Texas country music.

Overview

  • Tommy Detamore died suddenly on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, his wife Sandra announced on Facebook and the family has not disclosed a cause.
  • Detamore built a decades-long career as a pedal steel guitarist, producer and engineer and founded Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, in 1991.
  • Peers and artists paid public tribute, with several saying they had spoken to him days earlier and calling him a mentor who shaped other musicians' careers.
  • Late-career honors included a 2019 Hall of Fame induction and a 2025 Steel Guitar Player of the Year award, and the family said a recent project he worked on went platinum.
  • The family is planning funeral and celebration-of-life arrangements, has asked for privacy, and the music community is expected to mark his influence on Texas and traditional country recording.