RIP: Stephen Bruton

From the Los Angeles Times:

Stephen Bruton, a Texas musician long admired and much in demand as much for his astute guitar work as for his insights as a songwriter, died Saturday in Los Angeles of complications of cancer that he'd been battling for several years. He was 60.
Bruton, who had played with Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and whose songs had been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett and numerous others, died at the home of his friend since childhood, musician-producer T Bone Burnett, with whom he'd recently completed work on a film, "Crazy Heart," that Burnett is producing and for which he asked Bruton to produce the music.

Bruton released five albums as a solo artist, and was the guitarist of choice for many longtime associates when they needed an evocative sound, instrumental color, to-the-point solo or melodic idea to complement their songs.
"Stephen is an extraordinarily influential character," Burnett said. "He had broad knowledge of music and music history. He never was a household name, but his influence behind the scenes has been profound, and it will be felt for a long, long time."

Earlier this year, Bruton again collaborated with Kristofferson on the esteemed songwriter and actor's new album, "Starlight and Stone," due to be released in the fall. Bruton was still recuperating from treatment he'd been receiving for cancer and had been in and out of remission for about three years. He told Kristofferson and producer Don Was that he wasn't "at the top of my game" for one session, but added, "What are you going to do -- just sit around till they throw dirt on you?" Instead, he brought out one of his favorite guitars, listened to raw tracks and offered suggestions on what he thought they needed musically, swapping stories and joking in the control booth.

"He fought a courageous fight right up to the end," said Was, producer of several Kristofferson albums on which Bruton played. "The great thing about Stephen was that he was a wonderful guy who valued making real music more than anything. He never once sacrificed the quality of this experience by bowing to the trends and fashions of the moment."