Stephen Bruton | Guitarist, songwriter, 60

Stephen Bruton, 60, a guitarist and songwriter who played with Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and whose songs had been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett and others, died Saturday of complications of throat cancer in Los Angeles.

Mr. Bruton died at the home of the musician-producer T-Bone Burnett, who said Mr. Bruton had recently finished working with him on a movie called Crazy Heart. Burnett had asked him to produce the music.

Mr. Bruton released five albums as a solo artist and was a favored guitarist for many longtime associates when they needed an evocative sound or instrumental color to complement their songs. - AP