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Ed Bruce was a singer/songwriter/actor who had a long, varied and very interesting career.
In 1957, at the age of 17, Ed was signed by Sun Records in Memphis, the same label that originally signed Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich...etc.
Unfortunately, Ed didn't break through like those other guys--at least not right away.
For the next several years, Ed recorded some original stuff and wrote for other artists--mostly country music--but all with only occasional success.
In the '70s however, good things started to happen: Ed wrote a couple of hits for Tanya Tucker--including "The Man Who Turned My Mama On" (#4 on Billboard's Country Chart in 1974), and then, one of his older "Mama" songs was covered by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," which became a #1 country hit in both the US and Canada...as well as a "Great Song of 1977!"
In the '80s, Ed's acting career really took off, with several credits to his name, including a co-starring role with James Garner in "Bret Maverick," an update of the original "Maverick" TV series from the '50s.
Ed's music career also peaked with a number of hit country songs, but that's a topic for my "Great Songs of the '80s" blog which is COMING SOON!
But back to 1977...
"Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys: was a "Great Song" then, and it's still a classic on country radio stations and jukeboxes everywhere--thanks to Waylon and Willie, of course...but they couldn't have done it without Ed Bruce!
Waylon & Willie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZTwjljm5qc
Ed's original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_PAbbSmV4w
Tanya Tucker: "The Man Who Turned My Mama On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuNa0IMGc24
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