Today is Tom Brumley's birthday.

Tom Brumley · Post by **Tom Brumley** » 11 Dec 2010 10:34 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM, to Heaven. We miss you so much.

"With tearful eyes, I watched you saw you pass away. I could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke my heart to prove to me, He only ....takes the Best!..!!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 11 Dec 2010 1:11 pm

rolene, i didn't know you or tom, but he was a joyful inspiration to me. it is clear to me that he had a wonderful woman by his side as is quite a help to any steelman!
happy birthday to tom and best of everything to you.
i think the 'garden party' era was one of my favorites.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Dec 2010 2:50 pm

My inspiration and hero. One of the kindest persons that I ever met. Happy birthday Tom. Your style will live forever in other's hands.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 11 Dec 2010 2:55 pm

Happy B-day to Tom. I'll be playing my beloved ZB tonight at my gig, in honor of his memory.

Shane Reilly · Post by **Shane Reilly** » 11 Dec 2010 6:12 pm

Hi Rolene, such beautiful words.The world was blessed to have Tom and Tom was blessed to have you.
Tom's artistry will continue to inspire,comfort,heal and bring joy to lives for as long as music is heard.
Shane
Here's a glimpse at what's going on in heaven today,notice Tom's reassuring smile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf0munZ09ps

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 11 Dec 2010 7:48 pm

Tom was my hero and my friend. I miss him alot. He was the inspiration for me to take up steel guitar. Happy Birthday Tom!!!! Rolene, hope you are doing well!!!

Greg

steinar · Post by **steinar** » 12 Dec 2010 1:09 am

Greg Jones speaks for me, too.
Tom may be gone, but he lives on in our hearts.

Robert Fleming · Post by **Robert Fleming** » 12 Dec 2010 2:34 am

What a beautiful posting this is. To Tom, I listened to you since I was a kid. You inspire to this day countless musicians and are missed in our mortal world. I am sure your playing with the greatest in heaven. Thanks to Rolene for her great words

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 12 Dec 2010 2:51 am

Tom was a wonderful and kind person, in addition to being a unique stylist on steel guitar. He is synonymous with the ZB guitar, and many of us in the UK who were connected with that make of guitar in the 70's owe him and Zane a lot.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 12 Dec 2010 5:49 pm

Was listening to a Buck Owens Christmas tune about blue lights today on XM-13, with TB's marvelous work in the background. Had to stop what I was doin' and just listen.
Rolene, know well that Tom's work lives on and on...

Billy McCombs · Post by **Billy McCombs** » 12 Dec 2010 8:27 pm

Rolene, I got to meet your son Todd last night out here in Bakersfield. He sang a song to me that he wrote about how much he misses his Dad, It was very touching. Happy birtday Tom, and God bless you both.

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 13 Dec 2010 3:28 am

I am sure like many others I played and scratched up a lot of LPs trying to get some licks from Mr Brumley.For me it was the Ricky Nelson stuff that really hooked me.At a time when I was still gettin my steel playing together I was able to talk to Tom on the phone a few times and he gave me some great advice that changed my approach and raised my level of playing.Here is the advice,it came as I was getting all caught up in different tunings and knee levers and such,YOU KNOW JERRY ONE OR TWO NOTES WITH GOOD TOUCH AND TONE GO A LONG WAY.I still think about it whenever I really want to play some nice stuff or when I get in a little rut.Sorry for the long post but people like Tom seem to jump through time and distance and I thought some young players might enjoy that story.I never got to meet him in person.

Eddie Lane · Post by **Eddie Lane** » 13 Dec 2010 6:25 am

Rolene,

Tom was a good friend to me and I will never forget him. He always had that smile with a little twinkle in his eye when we talked. I'm sure you know that the smile and twinkle in his eye is even bigger now.
Wishing you and your family much comfort and joy during this CHRISTMAS season.

Eddie

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 13 Dec 2010 12:52 pm

Those who knew Tom personally are blessed,and those who didn't are nonetheless Friends of Tom.And the family.

Tom Brumley · Post by **Tom Brumley** » 13 Dec 2010 4:04 pm

Thank you all for all the lovely comments about "My Tom". I know you all loved him as I do and miss him too. To you, Chris,Kevin, Dave, Shane, Greg, Steinar, Robert, Ken, Ray, Billy, Jerry, Eddie, and Dave,I want to thank you for all the nice words and to wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas. I'm not sending cards this year, maybe next.........
Love you all
Rolene

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 13 Dec 2010 5:43 pm

Don't come any better than Tom and Rolene. Two of the nicest people in the world. I sure miss him, we talked a lot.
Rolene, Merry Christmas
Billy

Don Ricketson · Post by **Don Ricketson** » 13 Dec 2010 7:38 pm

Hi Rolene, I'm sorry I missed the very day of Toms birthday. I guess it's better late than never. Tom was a very good friend of mine. So are you. I cherish the times when ya'll lived in Granite Shoals and he had the ZB shop in Kingsland. I was flying a Cessna 140 at the time and would come pick him up at the grass strip in Granite Shoals and we would fly around to all the lakes in the area. Tom always liked to take the controls and I would let him fly us around until it came landing time, then I would kinda help. We had lots of good times together. And probably the most cherished time with Tom is when he showed up at the Llano Opry a couple weeks before he got sick and played "Together Again" om my Steel. He got a standing ovation. He told me later it would have been a lot better if he'd had his steel.
Happy birthday my friend and Rest in Peace.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 14 Dec 2010 9:21 am

Last night I was working on Don't Let Her Know for a band I am playing with New Years and all over again was completly amazed at the beauty and smoothness of Tom's playing. Just doesn't get any better.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 15 Dec 2010 10:25 am

Happy Birthday from all of us Tom...Peace!

Thiel Hatt · Post by **Thiel Hatt** » 15 Dec 2010 11:04 am

I met Tom in Las Veags at a music convention while he was owner of ZB guitars. We had a an extended chat and I found him to be a real gentleman. I had always admired his talent and unique style and on that occasion he did demostrate his versatility. He even complimented me on my playing.
My personal conviction is that beyond what we call death there is a conscious and very real existence. Tom is alive and well on the other side. Our talents and character go with us into our post-earth life and there is music there and social inter-action. Yes Tom is still displaying his unusual talent there. Are pedal steel guitars there too. Of course, after all, Shot Jackson is there along with Jimmy Crawford, Zane Beck and others who were expert builders who took those talent with them and utilize them there. Bold statements? Perhaps, but it's my view-point and conviction.

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 18 Dec 2010 4:04 am

Tom is certainly missed by many down here under the X in Texas.....

For me, big shoes that are impossible to fill...

Jeremiah Hanley · Post by **Jeremiah Hanley** » 18 Dec 2010 9:43 am

Rolene,
I'm late with this, but just now saw this!!! What a beautiful couple you two were! Our hearts go out to you! I enjoyed our visit at the Community Center at the February Show in Branson so much! We love you!!
Venda

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 18 Dec 2010 4:22 pm

Hi Rolene,

I met the two of you at Scotty's a number of years back, and was impressed by how considerate Tom was and how good the two of you were together. I know you must miss him terribly. It's all so hard to comprehend. Thanks for posting and letting us send our love.

We are blessed out here in California to have JayDee and Bobby Black who are also amazing as people, beyond their prodigious talents. All three are inspirational.

Thanks and take care,
Joe

Ron Scott · Post by **Ron Scott** » 21 Dec 2010 11:57 am

Rolene,My wife Lana and I both just loved Tom and followed his playing ever since Buck Owens. I am sure glad I got to know him and spend time with him at his shows and in person in Branson at the Baldknobbers Green room.We talk about him every time we hear him play on the radio.Hope everything is still good for you and your family...Lot of love and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Ron and Lana Scott

The Steel Guitar Forum

Today is Tom Brumley's birthday.

Today is Tom Brumley's birthday.

Tom Brumley

Tom Brumleys Birthday

Great inspiration

Tom

Tom