Bruce Bouton


Bruce Bouton is an American guitarist, session musician, producer, and songwriter. His pedal steel guitar has been featured on many country music recordings, and he helped reintroduce the pedal steel guitar to the forefront of the Nashville sound. Bouton is also a member of The G-Men, the group of session musicians who has played on the vast majority of Garth Brooks albums.

Biography

Bouton began playing pedal steel in 1973 while studying at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He played with a number of local ensembles, including the Good Humor Band. In 1978, Bouton moved from Vienna Virginia to Nashville Tennessee in pursuit of a music career. His first work in Nashville was touring with Dottie West, then Lacy J. Dalton and then recording and touring with Ricky Skaggs.

Garth Brooks

Bouton has toured and recorded with Garth Brooks from the beginning of Brooks career. Bouton co-wrote the song "Against The Grain" for Brooks’ Ropin' The Wind album.
As part of Brooks' studio band the G Men, Bouton was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame and Museum.

Session work

Bouton has played steel guitar on records by Kenny Rogers, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Lonestar, Pam Tillis, Lady Antebellum, and Shania Twain.

Songwriting

Songs Bouton wrote or co-wrote have been recorded by T. Graham Brown, George Strait, Glen Campbell, and George Jones.

Touring

Bouton has toured with Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Foster and Lloyd, and Reba McEntire.

Music instruction

1986 Bouton created an instructional video Learn To Play Pedal Steel Guitar for Homespun.

Other

In 1994, Bouton was executive producer of Mama's Hungry Eyes: A Tribute to Merle Haggard on the Arista label.
Bouton hosts The Sidemen on Acme Radio, which features Nashville session musicians.

Discography

With [Ricky Skaggs]

  • 1981: Waitin' for the Sun to Shine
  • 1982: Highways & Heartaches
  • 1983: Don't Cheat in Our Hometown
  • 1984: Country Boy
  • 1985: ''Live in London''

    With [Garth Brooks]

  • 1989: Garth Brooks
  • 1990: No Fences
  • 1991: Ropin' the Wind
  • 1992: The Chase
  • 1992: Beyond the Season
  • 1993: In Pieces
  • 1995: Fresh Horses
  • 1997: Sevens
  • 1998: Double Live
  • 2014: Man Against Machine
  • 2016: Gunslinger
  • 2016: Christmas Together with Trisha Yearwood

    As composer

  • 1987: T. Graham Brown – "The Last Resort"
  • 1992: Glen Campbell – Wings of Victory – track 6, "Who's Minding the Garden"
  • 1992: George Jones – Walls Can Fall – track 2, "Walls Can Fall"
  • 1996: George Strait – Blue Clear Sky – track 5, "I Ain't Ever Seen No One Like You"

    Also appears on

1986 – 1993