Stephen Bruton, an Austin, Texas-based guitarist, songwriter and actor, has died at age 60, after battling throat cancer for more than two years. Bruton died peacefully in his sleep on May 9, at the Los Angeles, California home of his childhood friend, musician and producer T Bone Burnett, who considered him “the soul of Texas music” and with whom he was working on the soundtrack for Jeff Bridges’ film “Crazy Heart.”

Bruton was “an extraordinarily influential character,” Burnett told a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. “He never was a household name, but his influence behind the scenes has been profound, and it will be felt for a long, long time.”

Born in Delaware, Stephen Bruton moved with his family to Texas when he was about two and grew up surrounded by music. His father was a jazz drummer who also ran a record store. Weaned on musical classics from the blues, country, jazz and pop to classical, Bruton recalled his dad’s early-on advice: “If you’re going to listen to music, listen to the best music.”

Bruton took up the banjo at a young age, winning contests on it as a youngster before switching to the guitar in his late teens. As teenagers, he and Burnett were laying down tracks in Burnett’s makeshift home recording studio in between gigging with other buddies like Delbert McClinton, who considered Bruton “a true and exceptional friend” and said that “my life and career have been made better because of him.”

According to his website, during those days, Bruton sharpened his guitar chops playing high lonesome bluegrass by day and then soaked up some soul by grinding out the blues at night on the other side of town. After heading east to Woodstock, New York in 1970, Bruton became a guitarist in his friend Kris Kristofferson’s band. He spent close to two decades on the road with Kristofferson, as well as touring with such artists as Bonnie Raitt, who considered Bruton one of her favorite players and songwriters. “His songs,” she said, “have the kind of bite, humor, and deep insight that can only come from being banged up against love one too many times.”

In the mid 1980s, Bruton returned to his Texas roots, settling in Austin, where he became part of the capital city’s thriving music community and began handling production for other artists like Marcia Ball, Alejandro Escovedo, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Hal Ketchum and Chris Smither. In 1993, he released What It Is, the first of his own five solo albums. His latest release was From The Five (2005). A number of notable artists also have recorded his songs. Among them are Ketchum, Kristofferson, Raitt, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, The Highwaymen, Waylon Jennings, Little Feat, Patty Loveless, Martina McBride and Lee Roy Parnell.

Bruton also was an actor on both the big and little screen, with credits that included “A Star Is Born,” “Convoy,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Miss Congeniality,” “Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid,” “Songwriter,” “Sweet Thing” and “The Alamo,” as well as supporting roles in the TV series “Matlock,” the mini-series “Amerika,” and made-for-TV movies.

On Bruton’s website is a not so recent quote from noted music producer Don Was that may be more prophetic with Bruton’s passing. “It’s only a matter of time until some brilliant record executive decides to round-up our favorite singers for the ‘Tribute to Stephen Bruton’ album.” He said. “I pity the poor souls who try to top the performances on his records.”