Renowned steel guitar player and producer Robby Turner, known affectionately as the “Man of Steel,” passed away on September 4 at the age of 63. Turner, who performed with legendary artists such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, The Highwaymen, and Chris Stapleton, was integral to country music’s evolution. Turner contributed to landmark projects like the platinum-certified Wanted! The Outlaws, and toured with The Highwaymen, the country music supergroup featuring Jennings, Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash. “That was the greatest band that you could ever ask to play with,” Turner said of performing with The Highwaymen, calling the experience “one of the highlights of my life.”
Serving as the primary steel guitarist for Jennings until his death in 2002, Turner also played on albums by Tanya Tucker, Randy Travis, John Prine, Marty Stuart, Loretta Lynn, Travis Tritt, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more recently, successful projects from Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, and Colter Wall. Turner was featured on Stapleton’s CMA Album of the Year winners Traveller and From A Room: Volume 1, Simpson’s High Top Mountain, and Wall’s self-titled album. Honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Nashville Cats series in 2019, Turner was celebrated for his exceptional talent and collaborative spirit. Waylon’s son Shooter Jennings paid a heartfelt tribute to his legacy by writing: “So sad to hear about Robby Turner. A once in a lifetime talent and the funniest guy I ever met. What a player. Was lucky to have toured and recorded with him many times. Rest in Peace, Robby.” (Billboard)
