Bruce Hauser, the founder and frontman of Bruce Hauser and the Sawmill Creek Band, passed away peacefully at his home on October 12, 2023, at the age of 74 with his daughter by his side.
Born and raised at Ft. Riley, Junction City and Manhattan, Kansas, Bruce graduated high school in Junction City and attended K-State in Manhattan, Kansas and Sheridan College in Wyoming. Bruce’s love for music was evident from an early age, first learning to play the accordion as a kid and later becoming a master guitar and banjo player. He began singing and playing guitar in Manhattan – including a duet with friend Max Pfrang; in a band called The Stepping Stones in 1967 with Mike Lacer, Luis Acevedo, Ron, Mike Russ, and Bill Glenn; in a band that drove to gigs in a hearse; and playing a solo called “The Poor Boy” - but he longed to move to the mountain west. He started that journey in Colorado Springs in 1973 forming a band called Ironstone and then in early 1974, he formed Sawmill Creek in Wyoming. Bruce remained the constant in the band, including a brief stint as “Bruce and The Flamingos,” but the roster of members and studio musicians evolved over the decades – please see sawmillcreekband.com for all the amazing musicians Bruce has worked with.
Although based out of Jackson, Wyoming for nearly 3 decades and playing many gigs throughout the mountain west, Bruce Hauser and The Sawmill Creek Band also headlined all over the US, as well as tours throughout Europe. Sawmill Creek, which quickly became a cornerstone of the country music scene in the western states in the early 70’s, was renowned for Bruce's evocative storytelling, and good old ‘boot scootin’ fun.
The band garnered a devoted fanbase throughout the years, and many a night – in Jackson Hole at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, The Wort Hotel’s Silver Dollar Bar; in Cody at the Bronze Boot; in Casper at The Beacon; just to name a few - was packed to the gills in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with Sawmill fans listening and dancing to their favorite band. Bruce’s mom (who was a house mother for the Acacia Fraternity in Manhattan), dad (who was in the army for 22 years and was stationed at Ft. Riley and later worked at Johnson Brother’s furniture in Junction City and owned a store called F.A.S.T. in Coffeyville), brother Mark (who graduated from Manhattan, attended K-State and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 39 years) and family often drove to see him play; daughter Shannan often spent weeks in the summer on the road with him and the band.
During his music career, Bruce wrote hundreds of original songs and published at least 8 albums. His songwriting, characterized by its lyrical depth and authenticity, touched on themes of love, loss, the beauty of Wyoming and the mountains and wilderness he loved so much. Bruce called it Rocky Mountain Music.
Under Bruce's leadership, the Sawmill Creek Band released a series of acclaimed albums and singles, including fan favorites like Wild Western Windblown Band, Barely Gettin' By, Cold Wyoming Snow and Grandma Shoes, a song about his maternal grandmother (born Eva Graham in Kansas in 1879) who wore the old-time lace up boots that fascinated him.
In 1981, "BARELY GETTIN' BY," broke into the top 100 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Country Singles Chart. In 1983, "SWINDLER OF FEELINGS" became a nationally charted single. CROSS COUNTRY was named one of the Top 10 Country Albums of the Year by Critic's Choice - Billboard Magazine in 1985. "I JUST CAME BACK" made it into the Billboard Top 100 charts and stayed there for six weeks, reaching No. 70 on the list. In 1986, "SOMETHIN' OLD FASHIONED" was named #6 Critic's Choice in Billboard Magazine with a review that stated: "The lyrics are exquisitely wrought and impeccably sung." Also in 1986, "BIDDING AMERICA GOODBYE" became a critically acclaimed, nationally charted Billboard Top 100 single.
Bruce's first songs were rock and roll and if not for Shannan’s maternal grandfather, he might not have gone country! At the start of his career, Bruce’s father-in-law was Gerald Roberts – a Twice All-Around World Champion Rodeo Cowboy. Each time Bruce would play a song, Gerald would say with a grin, “Don’t you know any good cowboy songs?” Bruce said of Gerald, “he was one of the finest men I’ve ever known” and he promptly started expanding his playlist to include country. In the late 60s in Strong City, Kansas, at the Flint Hills Rodeo, Gerald’s sister-in-law, Jo Roberts (who was married to 3-time bull riding champion Ken Roberts), taught Bruce one of his first country songs – The Long Black Veil. Later in his career, Bruce wrote a song called “Echo of an Old Man’s Last Ride” that was in part about his rodeo cowboy father-in-law, and in part about his friend and backcountry guide, Rod Doty.
Many bands have covered Bruce Hauser’s songs including Reckless Kelly’s version of Wild Western Windblown Band.
During his long career, Bruce saw the evolution of music formats from vinyl to 8-track tapes to cassettes to CDs and now streaming, and he has released music on every version! He was thrilled to have his music on streaming platforms and in 2020, released a streaming-only album called “Songs Along The Way.”
After being on the road for the better part of 3 decades, Bruce longed for a stationary home life. He began working in the RV industry in Oregon and The Coachella Valley and once again, made lasting friendships. In the last 20 years, Bruce played occasional gigs in Wyoming and Montana. Daughter Shannan would often accompany him, staying in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks between shows. The last time Bruce performed on stage was 9/11/22 at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole with many of his musician friends for a Celebration of Life for his late wife, Linda "Bubbles" Willis Hauser.
Beyond his musical achievements, Bruce was a very sentimental, spiritual, kind and funny soul. He had an inherently quick-witted sense of humor and a knack for "thinking outside the box,” which lent itself well to becoming a singer/songwriter. A treasured guitar was always at his fingertips, and he often wrote lyrics down for later creative writing sessions. Not surprisingly, he was a Scrabble-loving, crossword puzzle guru.
He had a taste for the finer things in life and was a meticulous "doer" who was always working on upgrading, cleaning, or creating something. He kept his house in tip-top shape and would spend an entire day washing every window inside and out after one smudge on a window got him going. He was a truck guy through and through. His first truck was a ‘30 Model A. He got a loan at age 13 for $75 and had to put it together. He recently had a '67 Chevy that he restored and a 2020 model that he "souped" up to the hilt.
Bruce was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed back-country camping, whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, and scuba diving. He was a gentle soul and an animal lover who always had a cherished dog by his side.
Born "Walter Bruce Hauser" July 7, 1949, at Fort Riley, Kansas, to Wilma Maxine (Walter) Hauser and William “Bill” Edward Hauser, Bruce was a beloved son, father, brother, husband and friend. He married Kasey Dawn Roberts in 1968 and had a daughter Shannan. He married Linda “Bubbles” Willis in Jackson, Wyoming in 1981. “Bubbles” traveled with Bruce and the band and became a fixture in the band’s history. Bruce spent the last two decades taking excellent care of his ailing Bubbles after she had cancer in 1998 and then several strokes.
Later in life, Bruce discovered that his biological father was Martin McGuire, and this unlocked a treasure-trove of new Irish relatives and the discovery that Martin and many others in the family were also musically and artistically inclined.
Bruce was the loving father to daughter Shannan Hauser (Mike) of Texas; brother to Dona Jean Goff Shry (1938-2004), Mark Hauser (Lina) of Nebraska, his McGuire siblings: John, Dennis, Kathleen, Michael, Lisa, Brian and Kevin; uncle to Michael “Mick” Wunder (Barb) (1956-2022), Cheri Shry Husted (1958-2018), Bill Harvey (Carolyn), Donnell Hauser, John Harvey (Gina), Sarah Hauser (Adam), Eddy Harvey; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Bruce Hauser’s music is forever etched in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. If you can tell the character and heart of a man by the depth of love his children have for him, by the depth of camaraderie his friends share with him, by the depth of loyalty his pets feel for him, and by the depth of heart and soul he exudes in his work and actions, then Bruce Hauser's cup was overflowing.