Who Was Tommy Detamore? Country Music Legend and Pedal Steel Player Dies

Tommy Detamore, a pedal steel guitarist and producer whose work shaped country and Americana records for more than four decades, has died. He died Aug. 5, 2026, according to his wife, Sandra Detamore. He was 70.

Detamore built his career largely behind the scenes, working as a producer, engineer and steel guitarist on albums for artists including Ray Price, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Bush, Robert Earl Keen and Sunny Sweeney. His fingerprints were spread across country music, often centered in Texas but heard well beyond it.

His most recent credit came as master engineer on Ty Myers’ breakout 2025 album “The Select.”

Who Was Tommy Detamore?

Detamore was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sept. 8, 1955. He graduated with honors from Albemarle High School and attended Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg, later earning a degree in education, cum laude, from Piedmont Virginia Community College in 1978.

He took up guitar in high school, then developed an interest in pedal steel while in college, studying under steel guitar legend Buddy Charleton. He also counted the late John Hughey, Conway Twitty’s longtime steel guitarist, as his first major influence on the instrument.

Rise as a Performer

Detamore moved to Texas in 1981 to play steel guitar for Darrell McCall. A year later, he became the mainstay steel guitar player behind Moe Bandy, touring with him for seven years across the United States and Europe and appearing on “The Grand Ole Opry,” “Hee Haw” and “Nashville Now.” That run led to further work with Johnny Bush and Ronnie Milsap.

Cherry Ridge Studio and Production Career

In 1991, Detamore founded Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, which became a destination for country and Americana artists from Texas and beyond. He went on to engineer, produce or master more than 150 albums and play on well over 300 more, spanning artists such as Jim Lauderdale, Doug Sahm and The Texas Tornados. He also co-produced Doug Sahm’s final album, “The Return of Wayne Douglas,” completing and releasing it after Sahm died in 1999.

In 2001, he engineered and performed on Bill Kirchen’s “Poultry in Motion,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance. The Academy of Western Artists named him Record Producer of the Year in 2008, and he was later inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Association Hall of Fame.

Faith and Family

Detamore was active in church music throughout his life, playing guitar and steel guitar at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, serving as Pastor of Music at Oak Hills Baptist Church in Floresville, and later playing in the band at Life Church in La Vernia. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, and their son.

A Career Behind the Studio Glass

Detamore made his home base at Cherry Ridge Studio in Floresville, Texas, where he worked with artists ranging from Ray Price and Johnny Bush to more contemporary acts. His credits also included Jim Lauderdale, Doug Sahm, The Texas Tornados and the Texas Tornados’ extended circle of collaborators.

In 2001, he engineered and performed on Bill Kirchen’s “Poultry in Motion,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance.