Texas Musicians Support Guitarist Rich Brotherton With ALS — Rolling Stone
In the United States, musicians from Texas are organizing benefit concerts and releasing musical tributes in support of guitarist Rich Brotherton, who announced in August 2025 that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Brotherton is best known for his long-term collaboration with singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, as well as performances and studio work with Patty Griffin, Caroline Herring, Rodney Hayden and Andy Hedges.
Rolling Stone reports on the support for the musician. At the end of August, Robert Earl Keen organized a benefit concert for Brotherton at Devil’s Backbone Tavern in Texas Hill Country. All proceeds from the performance were to go to the guitarist. The concert was livestreamed on Keen’s YouTube channel.
John Baumann’s song
In September, San Antonio songwriter John Baumann released the song “Brotherton,” dedicated to the musician. Brotherton was Baumann’s mentor and produced his debut EP, West Texas Vernacular, which was released in 2012. Baumann told the publication that Brotherton believed in his songs when he was only beginning his work in the music industry.
According to Baumann, he tried to pass the song’s proceeds on to Brotherton, but the guitarist refused.
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Work with Robert Earl Keen
Keen invited Brotherton to join his band in 1994. The guitarist played acoustic and electric guitar, and his involvement added a rock sound to the performer’s concerts. Brotherton can be heard on Keen’s 1996 live album No 2. Live Dinner, including on the song “The Road Goes on Forever.”
Brotherton also produced two of Keen’s albums, including Farm Fresh Onions. While working on the bluegrass record Happy Prisoner, he helped select cover songs and played and sang on the recording. Brotherton left Keen’s band in 2019; at the time, the musicians explained this by irreconcilable differences. Keen said that the benefit concert helped them reconnect.
At the end of 2025, Patty Griffin, Charley Crockett, Lyle Lovett and other performers held “A Night for Rich Brotherton” at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. The event raised nearly $80,000 to support the guitarist.
