Country Music Musician Tommy Detamore Dies Suddenly at 70

Country musician, producer and Steel Guitar Hall of Fame member Tommy Detamore has died at the age of 70. His wife, Sandra Detamore, announced his sudden death in a Facebook post on Thursday. No cause of death was disclosed.

Sandra described her husband as a respected musician, producer, mentor and creative force in country music. She said his work left a lasting impact on the genre and asked for prayers as the family plans a celebration of his life.

Detamore grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and began playing guitar in high school. He moved to Texas in 1981 to play steel guitar for Darrell McCall before joining Moe Bandy's touring band in 1982. He performed with Bandy for seven years, including appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.

Over his career, Detamore worked with artists including Jim Lauderdale, Micky Dolenz, Dallas Wayne, Doug Sahm, Augie Myers and The Texas Tornados. In later years, he focused on engineering and producing while continuing to influence country music through his work behind the scenes.