He was a good and treasured friend of mine beginning back the 70's when he started the New England chapter of the Pedal Steel Guitar Association and had put on some great concerts for the members, as well as the general public, with performers including Buddy Emmons, Doug Jernigan, DeWitt "Scotty" Scott and many, many others.
Here's a photo of Bruce, myself and Buddy in my office at Berklee College of Music. Buddy had donated his double neck to the Guitar Department. I called the photo "Passing the Bar." Having that steel allowed a lot of students to have access to a professional level instrument that they could practice on without having to spend a ton of money on some 3 and 1 axe that never stayed in tune. He called that particular guitar "Old Betsy" (the cow) because it had 9 pedals and 10 knee levers!
Bruce held monthly meetings at the Weymouth Air Base and there were always local bands with steel players to entertain everyone. He was a warm and giving person who did so much to further the love for steel guitar. I will miss his friendly smile and infectious laugh.
His memory will live on because of all the people he touched during his life. He will be missed.
