Country musician Tommy Detamore dead at 70
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- Country musician and producer Tommy Detamore died at age 70, his family announced.
- Detamore was known for his work on the pedal steel guitar and as a producer, collaborating with numerous artists.
- He founded Cherry Ridge Studio in Texas and was recently celebrated for a platinum-selling project he produced.
Tommy Detamore, a respected figure in country music known for his skills as a pedal steel guitarist and producer, has died at the age of 70. His wife, Sandra Detamore, confirmed his passing on Facebook, stating he "went home to be with the Lord" on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
It is with a broken heart, I share that my husband of 41 years, Tommy Detamore went home to be with the Lord yesterday, Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
Sandra Detamore remembered her husband of 41 years as a "respected musician, producer, collaborator, mentor, and creative force in Country Music." She highlighted his "God-given gift for playing and producing music" that "helped shape the sound of country music we hear today." She also noted that he was recently involved in producing a project that went platinum.
His work has and will always leave a lasting mark in the country music community. His Godgiven gift for playing and producing music allowed him to lift others up and help shape the sound of country music we hear today.
Detamore, who began playing the pedal steel guitar in the 1970s, established Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, in 1991. Over his decades-long career, he worked with notable artists such as Ray Price, Jim Lauderdale, and James Talley. His contributions to the genre have left a lasting mark, and his music is expected to be cherished forever.
With the most giant broken heart, I want to wish my great friend and mentor, Tommy Detamore, smooth sailing up to heaven. I just spoke with him three days ago and we discussed a new project we were gonna work on.
The cause of Detamore's death was not disclosed. His family is currently making funeral arrangements to celebrate his life with friends and the community. In a recent Facebook post on July 23, Detamore mentioned he was unable to attend a Cowtown Society of Western Music event where he was honored with a 'Hero Of Western Swing' award, which was accepted on his behalf by a friend.
Our hearts are with Tommy’s family, friends and fans. It’s hard to find the right words right now. He will be missed terribly.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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