Departures of note

Tommy Detamore was a respected country musician, producer, and steel guitar player who left a lasting mark on the country music community. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, he began playing guitar in high school and moved to Texas in 1981 to play steel guitar for Darrell McCall.

The following year, Detamore became the mainstay steel guitar player for Moe Bandy, touring with him for seven years at prestigious venues including the Grand Ole Opry. His exceptional talent earned him induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Detamore collaborated with numerous notable artists including Jim Lauderdale, Micky Dolenz, Dallas Wayne, Doug Sahm, Augie Myers, and The Texas Tornados. In later years, he transitioned toward engineering and producing, working on albums by artists such as Ty Myers and Sunny Sweeney. He died suddenly at age 70 in August 2026.