From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Dec 29, 2002  7:24 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Edwin Bruce

EDWIN BRUCE (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born William Edwin Bruce Jr, 29 December 1940, Keiser, Arkansas

Born in Arkansas, Edwin moved to Memphis with his family where he attended
the Messick High School, where he graduated in June 1957, around the same
time that he made his first recordings for Sun Records.
Edwin recalls having always been attracted by music. The legend says that
Scotty Moore and Bill Black saw Edwin's live performance at the Rebel Club,
but Edwin himself told a slightly different story. Scotty and Bill were
apparently backing him. Anyway, it was a very logical move to head for Sun.
Edwin went to the Sun studios around April/May 1957 (or a bit earlier) to cut
a demo record that his parents paid for, and this led to Sam Phillips signing
him to the label. "Eight Wheel Driver" and "Doll Baby" were recorded first, but
it was "Rock Boppin' Baby" and "More Than Yesterday" (a cover of the Dream
Kings on Checker) that were chosen for his first single, Sun 276, out in August
1957. "Rock Boppin Baby" is a very nice rockabilly bopper that stands out,
IMHO, as one of the best singles on Sun. But, despite appearances on local
TV shows such as Dewey Phillips' Top Ten Dance Party, it didn't see any
chart action at all.
Edwin pursued his studies, enrolling at Memphis State University in the fall
of 1957, majoring in drama and speech. During the Christmas break and the
next two following months, he returned to the Sun Studios and recorded a
number of titles. From these sessions, his second single "Sweet Woman" /
"Part Of My Life", Sun 292, was finally released in April 1958, with no more
success than the previous one. Some unissued session, featuring the
Johnny Cash-sounding "King Of Fools" was recorded later, but that was it
concerning his Sun career.
After graduation in 1960, Edwin made two recordings that were leased by Jack
Clement to RCA in Nashville, "Spun Gold" and the sickie song "Flight 303"
and had a single on Wand ("See The Big Man Cry"/ "I Won't Cry Anymore").
The British Invasion hit hard and Edwin returned to Memphis, apparently
working as a car salesman, until getting his first BMI's writer award for
"See The Big Man Cry", successfuly covered by Charlie Louvin in 1965. The
following year, Ed(win) recorded his first country single for RCA, "Walker's
Mood", a minor hit in 1967, followed by a country version of the Monkees'
"Last Train To Clarksville". He then moved to Monument, United Artists, Epic
and MCA. In 1975 he wrote (with his wife) the urban cowboy anthem "Mamas
Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", covered by Waylon Jennings
and Willie Nelson, establishing him as one of the main actors of the "Outlaw"
movement. He had country hits with "You're The Best Break This Old Heart
Ever Had" (# 1 in 1981), "Girls, Women And Ladies", "Everything's A Waltz"
and "When I Die Just Let Me Go To Texas". He also embarked on an acting
career, he can be seen in "The Chisholms" and "Bret Maverick" series, and
also made a lucrative living in commercials.

Recommended listening:

Unfortunately, the complete Sun recordings have not been reissued on CD,
so far. Apart from the best known tracks, usually available on Sun comps,
his complete SUN recordings are available on:
- Edwin BRUCE "Rock Boppin Baby" BEAR FAMILYY BFX 15194, 1986 (LP)

Some country records by Ed (listed but can't recommend as I don't have them):
- Ed BRUCE "Puzzles" BEAR FAMILY BCD 15830,  1995 (CD)
(first RCA Sessions)
- Ed BRUCE "The Best Of" VARESE SARABANDE VSSD 5566, 1995 (CD)
(70s and 80s hits from UA, MCA and RCA)