Former Buckaroo Tom Brumley — whose keening steel guitar gave the Buck Owens classic “Together Again” its soul — died Tuesday in Texas of complications of a heart attack. He was 73.

Buckaroo Jim Shaw said Brumley’s death leaves drummer Willie Cantu as the sole remaining Buckaroo of the classic era, illustrated by the iconic image of happy-go-lucky guys in shiny suits.

“Many of us in the group had been there close to 40 years, so in terms of that, that was the era when they did the Carnegie Hall concert and several things that were very important in Buck’s career,” said Shaw, who joined the band two years after Brumley left.

Owens thought Brumley’s performance on “Together Again” was the best steel guitar recording ever made.

“Buck always enjoyed the way he played the steel and the way he kind of twined around Buck’s lyrics and didn’t get in the way and supported his vocal,” Shaw said. “He really thought Tom was great at that.”

The son of “I’ll Fly Away” gospel songwriter Albert E. Brumley, he grew up in a music-loving Missouri family, turning to the steel guitar as a youngster. At 14 he played bass in a band with his brothers.

His wife, Rolene, said his career really started around 1961 when, at 28, his brother Albert Brumley Jr. invited him to Capitol Records in Hollywood to record on a country album.

Owens and guitarist Don Rich were in the building and heard Tom’s performance.

“Buck told Don, ‘I’m gonna hire that guy,’ soon as he needed someone,” Rolene said.

Around 1962 Owens tracked down the musician, who’d moved to Texas and worked in construction with Rolene’s father. Owens offered him a job, but Brumley was hesitant after a discouraging stint in the Los Angeles club scene.

Rolene’s father talked him into it.

“‘Go on and try it and, you know, you might like it,'” Rolene recalled her father telling Brumley. “‘And if you don’t, you’ll be sorry you didn’t.'”

The couple moved to Bakersfield in 1963. Brumley worked with Owens for six years, but the couple stayed in town for 20 years.

Rolene saw her husband three months out of the year as Brumley traveled the world with Owens and played on his top hits of the time, including “I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail” and “Act Naturally”. Brumley received the Academy of County Music Award in 1966 for No. 1 Steel Guitarist, according to his publicist. Daughter Tracie said Brumley left the band because he was tired of the road. After the Buckaroos, he performed with Rick Nelson for 10 years, recording on the hit “Garden Party,” and later joined Chris Hillman’s The Desert Rose Band.

From 1989 until 2003 he starred in The Brumley Family Music Show in Branson, Mo., performing with his family.

He worked with a plethora of stars, including Rose Maddox, Chris Isaak, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Sara Evans, Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, Reba McEntire, Rod Stewart and Martina McBride.

Recently, he worked on creating a country music show at The San Antonio River Walk.

Tracie said her father thought his time with the Buckaroos was magical. He returned to Bakersfield around four years ago to perform at the Crystal Palace for Owens’ birthday.

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A recently formed Community Pride Committee in Branson will plant flowers at the intersection of U.S. 65 and Missouri 76.

The flowers will be planted by volunteers on the intersection’s islands, which have been covered by gravel for several years. The flowers will be maintained by volunteers with assistance from the Branson Public Works Department.

According to a press release from the city, the unattractiveness of the intersections led local businesswoman Judy Hartley of Mountain Man Nut and Fruit Company to address the Board of Aldermen last summer about creating a committee to improve the intersection and others around the city to make them more attractive to visitors. The board appointed the Community Pride Committee with Hartley serving as chairwoman.

The committee is also working to install “Welcome to Branson” signs at the outskirts of the city.

The committee is working closely with the Missouri Department of Transportation on both projects.

The next meeting of the committee will be 1:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the public works offices in the Pacific Street Water Tower. The meeting is open to the public.

Skaggs Community Health Center has shed the “community” from its name.

The Branson hospital today announced it has changed its name to Skaggs Regional Medical Center. The new moniker “places a greater emphasis on the broad region we already serve,” the hospital said in a news release.

Skaggs serves the northern Arkansas and southwest Missouri regions, with most of its patients in Stone and Taney counties, according to Skaggs Media Relations Specialist Michelle Leroux. It operates 22 satellite clinics.

Skaggs was founded in 1959 as Skaggs Community Hospital and was later renamed Skaggs Community Health Center, Leroux said. Since opening, Skaggs has added specialized centers for outpatient care, cardiac care, women’s health, cancer care, orthopedic care, neurology and spinal care, as well as a health and fitness center, and urgent care and walk-in clinics, the release said.

The hospital also announced today it has been named a HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence for the fourth time. The designation means Skaggs is in the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical quality and low mortality rates.

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Country music legend and internationally-acclaimed steel guitarist, Tom Brumley died Tuesday, February 3, 2009. He was 73 years old.

The “Celebration of Life” services for Tom Brumley will be held in Branson on Sunday, February 15 at 2 pm at the Baldknobbers Country Music Theater.

BRANSON, MO. – Branson’s first and only Internet radio network, BRANSON WORLD RADIO, has recently been named the #2 Hot Country Radio Station on the Internet. With thousands of stations and more than 4 million listeners a month, BRANSON WORLD RADIO is broadcast on “Live365”, the world’s largest Internet radio network. Live365 is a two-time winner of the Best Radio Website Award from the Web Marketing Association, a two-time winner of the People’s Voice award for Best Music Site at the Webby Awards (2001, 2002), a winner of the Webby’s People’s Voice Award for Best Radio Site (2004), and has received Best-of-Web designations from Forbes.com and the San Francisco Chronicle. Since 1999, BRANSON WORLD RADIO now serves air radio stations in more than 50 markets, and has established a loyal Internet fan base in 43 states and 33 countries around the world.

Find out more about this powerful marketing opportunity for the 2009 season by contacting us through the BWR website at www.bransonworldradio.com, Email at [email protected], or call us (870) 743-1311.

2009 in Branson, Missouri, dubbed “the live music show capital of the world”, promises to be a banner year packed with a variety of celebrations by shows, attractions, and others, marking historic anniversary dates. The biggest of which is 50 years of live music shows. And kicking that off on Monday, February 9, 2009, at 7:00 pm at the Jim Stafford Theatre is Branson’s 15th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show!

If you’re looking for a chance to escape the winter blues, and finding yourself cooped up with cabin fever, getaway to Branson for the 15th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show! This upcoming Monday the Jim Stafford Theatre will be rockin’ with entertainers and you’re invited to join the fun. Tickets for Branson’s 15th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Jim Stafford Theatre directly at 417-335-8080.

Audience members will enjoy a sample from a wide variety of Branson shows in this jam-packed, star-studded event. Featured shows this year include Jim Stafford, Legends in Concert, Roy Rogers, Jr. and The High Riders, Baldknobbers, Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience, Riders of the Circle B, Hamner Barber Variety Show, New’s Country, Grand Jubilee, Magnificent Variety Show, Comedy Jamboree, Cassandre’ The Voice Of An Angel, Keith “Red” Allen, 50’s At The Hop, and Red Hot & Blue. Emceeing The Big Show again this year will be Branson favorite and member of the Baldknobbers Jamboree Show, Bob Leftridge.

“From 1959 to today Branson shows have helped keep the heartbeat of tourism strong and vibrant for our visitors. With over 100 shows, we offer a wide variety of musical styles, performance art, and family fun that everyone can enjoy. The Hot Winter Fun Big Show is a perfect way to take a peek at the diversity of our shows. It is also a popular annual event for our community members as well as our visitors,” says Jeannie Horton, President of The League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers and Operations Manager for Legends In Concert. “Another great thing about this show is that all of the money raised goes to help market the Branson area.”

All of the entertainers donate their performances while many volunteers and local businesses help produce and market the show. Some of those include producer Jeannie Horton, the staff of the Jim Stafford Theatre, the Springfield NewsLeader, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber & CVB, Cindy Merry Marketing, and many other area businesses. The League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers (The Branson Show League) sponsors the annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show.

For tickets to the 15th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show call 417-335-8080 today. Tickets are $30 plus tax and service charge for adults, $ 9.95 plus tax and service charge for children ages 7 through 12, and $ 3.37 plus tax and service charge for children 6 years old and under using a seat.

For more information about The Branson Show League visit ShowsInBranson.com. For more information about the season of Hot Winter Fun or the Branson/Lakes Area call 1-800-Branson.

Media Contacts:
Cindy Merry – 417-739-4925,
[email protected]

About The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers:
The Branson Show League works to increase the success and well-being of the theatrical industry in the “Live Music Show Capital of the World”, Branson, Missouri. With over 100 live shows featuring music, comedy, magic, dancing, acrobats, theatrical plays, and more, the diversity and variety of choices of live shows make Branson a unique and fun-filled family vacation destination. The League strives to increase interest in Branson shows and show attendance, increase profitability for the Branson show community, and to promote communications among the shows as well as throughout the Branson community.

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BRANSON, MO. – Branson’s first and only Internet radio network, BRANSON WORLD RADIO, is pleased to announce that “BWR Newsradio” on line services are now powered by Google.

“BWR Newsradio”, a locally produced News program, is a daily 5 minute radio feature on the events and happenings in Branson, and the Ozarks of S.W. Missouri AND N.W. Arkansas. The focus of “BWR Newsradio” is on the special shows, guest stars, area events and developments across the Ozarks. In addition to the hourly web casts on BRANSON WORLD RADIO, “BWR Newsradio” is broadcast on air radio stations in key market areas throughout the Midwest.

Along with it’s listener base, BWR Newsradio also provides Branson news and information to a strong subscriber database through RSS feeds, Newsletters, Windows Mobile, iTunes, iPods, iPhones, My Yahoo, My AOL, and now Google.

Recently named the #2 Hot Country Radio Station on the Internet, BRANSON WORLD RADIO is broadcast on “Live365”, the world’s largest Internet radio network. With thousands of stations and more than 4 million listeners a month, Live365 is a two-time winner of the Best Radio Website Award from the Web Marketing Association, a two-time winner of the People’s Voice award for Best Music Site at the Webby Awards (2001, 2002), a winner of the Webby’s People’s Voice Award for Best Radio Site (2004), and has received Best-of-Web designations from Forbes.com and the San Francisco Chronicle. Since 1999, BRANSON WORLD RADIO now serves air radio stations in more than 50 markets, and has established a loyal Internet fan base in 43 states and 33 countries around the world.

Find out more about this powerful marketing opportunity for the 2009 season by contacting us through the BWR website at www.bransonworldradio.com, Email at [email protected], or call us (870) 743-1311.

Master impressionist, Tim Rowland is back in the Branson karaoke scene after starring in the stage production called “An evening with Elvis”, a one man show in which Tim played the King of Rock and from his early years at Sun records to the Comeback special in 68′ to his final days in the jumpsuits. The show was met with rave reviews for Tim’s performance in the world famous “Gene Williams theatre” on 76′ Country Blvd!
Now, Tim will be performing his impressions/Karaoke show at both the Lakeside pub on Indian Point rd. (formerly called Killarney’s) 7pm on Saturday nights and Waxy O’Shea’s at the Branson Landing at 9pm on Friday nights!
Tim is the absolute “King Of Karaoke” and you’ll know exactly why once you’ve been to one of his shows! The best Karaoke equipment combined with Tim’s fantastic impersonations of 200 famous celebrities will be the greatest time you’ll ever have! So come on out and join in the fun!

As he moves into his eighth year of taping the Lucas Oil Products sponsored Gene Williams Country Music Television Show live in Branson, Mo., Gene Williams is moving his show to the 50’s at the Hop Theatre beginning with the Sunday, Feb. 15 taping.

The move also marks Williams’ celebration of more than a half century of working in country music – his first job was on KWAM radio as a disk jockey – and more than four decades of country music television – he blazed a trail in country music television beginning in the late 1960s on KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Ark., and KARK-TV in Little Rock.

“I’m looking forward to being in one of the newest and nicest theatres in Branson. I am looking forward to a long relationship at this new, state-of-the-art theatre,” said Williams.

The 50’s at the Hop Theatre is located in the Branson Meadows Mall, 4230 N. Gretna Rd., 417-335-5300.

As part of the celebration an extended list of door prizes will be given away on Feb. 15. The first 50 will receive dinners at the world’s largest Golden Corral in Branson and the next 200 families will receive Lucas Oil caps. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the first taping of three shows at 2 p.m. Following the tapings, everyone upon exiting the theatre will be given an apple courtesy of the Black Apple Man from Leslie, Ark.

Williams is the star, producer and creator of his weekly television show that is seen across the nation and into Canada and Puerto Rico in more than 90 markets and broadcast to more than 60 million households. Williams will announce the addition of 22 more stations soon.

In addition to Feb. 15, shows are taped approximately every third Sunday. Set on the schedule are March 8 and 29, April 19, May 10 and 17, June 14, July 12, Aug. 2 and 16, and Sept. 13.

The Gene Williams Country Music Television Show is the longest running weekly television show in Branson and was listed as the most popular TV show in national ratings on WNGS Buffalo/Rochester, N.Y., and as a favorite TV show in the national magazine “Maxim.”

Williams and his co-host Katie Lynn interview guests in an up-close-and-personal format and the guests and Katie Lynn perform with Williams’ band, the Country Junction Band. Guests have included Mickey Gilley, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Doug Kershaw, Ed McMahon, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, the Osmonds, Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Fred Travalena, Charlie Louvin, Narvel Felts, Margo Smith, Mary Lou Turner, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, Little Jimmy Dickens, Ava Barber, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Jim Owen, Buck Trent, Johnny Lee, the Blackwoods, Wanda Jackson and Razzy Bailey.

In recognition of Williams’ country music career, he holds an honorary doctorate degree in television and broadcast communications from St. Martins College and has also been honored by the states of Arkansas and Missouri for his work in tourism, entertainment and community.

He recently had a road named after him by his hometown of Dyess, Ark. This followed a 2007 presentation of the key to the city and a historical marker in appreciation for his support to help preserve the town’s history. A historical building there will be used for a museum recognizing the town’s significance and its former residents, Johnny Cash, Tommy Cash and Williams and in 2008 he was the grand marshal for the Christmas parade.

Williams also was presented the key to the city of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., for his work to bring significant country entertainment to the resort community during its early development and April 11 will be celebrated as Gene Williams Day.

Nominated for induction into two halls of fame, the Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame Museum and the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, Williams has worked with such greats as Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, Charlie Walker, Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Minnie Pearl and Jack Greene.

Williams’ co-host Katie Lynn has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the “Mickey Gilley Show.” She has worked with Gilley for more than eight years and also worked with Jim Owen for seven years. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent.

For more information go to the website genewilliamscountry.com.