Tommy Alverson obit

Country music legend Tommy Alverson passes away

Texas country music icon, known for blending country with folk and rock, dies sparking emotional tributes online 

He was not on the list.

Tommy Alverson, a beloved figure in Texas country music known for his "tapping, soul-stirring tunes," has passed away, his wife, Amy Carol Alverson, announced on Facebook on Thursday, November 14. He was from Mineral Wells.

Amy described his peaceful passing, writing, “Just like the lucky ol’ sun, he’s got nothing to do but roll around Heaven all day.” She added that she would share more details when ready.

Alverson’s passing sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians, celebrating a career that blended traditional country with folk and rock influences. Drawing inspiration from legends like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, his music explored themes of love, heartbreak, and life’s simple joys, captivating audiences with its heartfelt lyrics and melodies.

Born in Itasca, Texas, Alverson graduated from Itasca High School and attended Hill College. His passion for music led him to share the stage with icons such as Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Ray Wylie Hubbard, cementing his place as a staple in the Texas country scene.

Amy noted that Alverson had been unwell in the days leading up to his passing. As fans mourn his loss, they celebrate a legacy that continues to inspire and define the soul of Texas country music. Future tributes and performances are likely to honor his enduring impact on the genre.

Alverson shared the stage with Texas musicians Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Johnny Gimble, Jerry Jeff Walker, Clay Blaker, Gary P. Nunn, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, and Steven Fromholz, as well as Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Charlie Robison, Dale Watson, and singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale.

Alverson was born in Itasca, Texas on June 10. His regular bandmates were son Justin on lead guitar, Ray Austin on steel and Dobro, Ron Thompson on drums, Jerry Abrams on bass, and Thurston Selby and Heather Woodruff on fiddle. His new band consists of Ray Austin, Eric Holmes on drums, Justin Lightfoot on bass and vocals, Thurston Selby on fiddle and vocals, and Justin Alverson on guitar and vocals. Alverson and the band were picked along with 19 other acts, for the Miller Lite True to Texas campaign in 2000. Alverson has been featured in radio and TV commercials for Dairy Queen, Miller Lite, and Texana Grill. Alverson was also voted The Terry Award's Entertainer Of The Year in 2000.

Alverson released Heroes and Friends in June 2004. Several guest artists included on the CD, were Gary P. Nunn, Rusty Wier, Mike Graham, Davin James, Mike Crow and Heather Morgan. Alverson's fifth studio release, titled Country to the Bone, was his debut on Palo Duro Records. The album won the 2007 Best Country and Western Music Award from Fort Worth Weekly, and was released at Alverson's 10th annual Texas Music Family Gathering.

Country to the Bone started out as a redo of some older Alverson compositions, before it morphed into more of an homage to some of his favorite songwriters, from Jim Lauderdale and Doug Sahm to Mickey Newbury, Clay Blaker and the team of Roy Robinson (aka Amos Staggs) and Jerri Lynn Robinson. One special guest was Pauline Reese, who sang with Alverson on "Tequila Rose", a Robinson/Robinson composition that Alverson turned into a duet. In the July 2007 Cowboys & Indians magazine, Palo Duro label founder Chris Thomas listed "Texas Woman" as one of his favorite tracks, calling it, "one of the finest love songs ever written." It also includes "Got Here as Fast as I Could," a song that might serve as the answer to Lyle Lovett's "That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)." Alverson and Wilkins co-produced the 2006 Palo Duro release, Luckenbach! Compadres! (The Songs of Luckenbach, Texas), a multi-artist celebration recorded live at Luckenbach, Texas.