If you ever tapped your boots to a Waylon Jennings track, sang along to a Highwaymen hit, or felt the raw emotion in a Chris Stapleton ballad, you have been moved by his work. For decades, his was the soul-stirring cry of a steel guitar that defined countless ‘90s country hits, a sound that could feel like heartbreak and a Saturday night honky-tonk all at once. He was the musician’s musician, a legend who stood just outside the spotlight, making the superstars shine brighter, the secret ingredient on records from country music’s biggest icons.
Now, the Nashville community and fans around the world are mourning the loss of its “Man of Steel,” Robby Turner, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 62.
A true prodigy, Turner was already touring and playing drums with country music duo The Wilburn Brothers by the age of nine, Saving Country Music reported. But his heart was set on the steel guitar, and by eleven, he was working gigs in an Arkansas honky-tonk to save up for his own instrument. His dedication paid off—at just 12 years old, he became the youngest player ever to be sponsored by the iconic Sho-Bud steel guitar company.
The rest of his career reads like a who’s who of country music royalty. In 1990, Turner was tapped to join the backing band for the ultimate supergroup, The Highwaymen, featuring Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.
That gig sparked a deep and lasting friendship with Waylon Jennings, as Turner became the outlaw icon’s go-to steel player, playing on Jennings’ final nine albums. He was even entrusted with finishing Jennings’ last-ever recordings, which became the critically acclaimed 2012 album Goin’ Down Rockin’. His incredible resume also includes work with Chris Stapleton on his blockbuster 2015 album Traveller, Sturgill Simpson on his 2013 album High Top Mountain, and tours with The Chicks (formerly The Dixie Chicks).
After his work on Traveller earned him widespread acclaim, Turner wrote on Facebook, “I did not start playing music with winning awards in mind.” Instead, he explained, “I have a deeply embedded love for music and the history of it that has been inside of me before I ever picked up my first instrument.”
Just days before Turner’s passing, his son, Bobby, shared a heart-wrenching update with friends and fans on Facebook, revealing that his father had been discharged from the hospital and was receiving hospice care at home. Turner had been battling several health issues, including leukemia and severe osteopenia.
On Thursday, Bobby shared a second Facebook post, this time with the tragic news that his father “gained his wings” while surrounded by loved ones. Turner was with “his wonderful friend Tish, who has been taking care of him for the past few months, Cowboy, his steel guitar brother for the past 40 years, and his protege (and my new little brother) Benjo,” Bobby wrote. “We’re sad, but we know he’s walking without any help, and he’s no longer in pain.”
His protégé, rising star musician Benjo Markus, shared a moving tribute on Instagram, calling Turner his mentor and one of his best friends. “He was one of the funniest and most caring people I’ve ever met and it’s truly an honor to have been trusted with sharing his legacy,” Markus wrote. “He gave me my first bar and picks, loaned me one of his steels when I was first getting started, and helped hook me up with my first steel. He was a wealth of knowledge on all things steel, country music, engineering, and musicianship in general.”
Fellow musician Luke Munday also memorialized the music giant on Instagram, remembering him as “truly a legend in music,” adding, “To know him was to love him. One of the coolest, funniest, and most talented guys in the business.”
“Dang i’m sorry,” country music artist Dylan Smucker commented to Munday’s post, “He was such a big part of the musician community here. He will be missed.”
“Man. Gone but never forgotten. A true steel legend. 💔” One fan commented to Benjo’s tribute.
Another fan commented to Munday’s post with a simple, heartfelt message echoed by fans across social media: “One of the best to ever do it, eternal respect…👏”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
