Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett Instagram – Gene Elders played in the Large Band for ten years, until 2009. All of us in the band and crew were deeply saddened by his passing last week. Gene’s main job was playing in @georgestrait’s Ace in the Hole Band. He joined George in 1984 and played with George all these years. But because George’s concert schedule and mine didn’t overlap from 1999 to 2009, Gene was able to play with us in the Large Band too. Gene was always stellar onstage, and he was as kind offstage as he was talented. He and I rode the same bus. You really get to know people when you ride a bus with them. Gene Elders was thoughtful, kind, and good, through and through. His dry sense of humor always made us laugh. He was a joy to be with. His mom would come to our shows when we played near her in Colorado, and his brother, motorcycle stunt rider, “Deathwish” Dan Elders, would come to our shows in the Midwest. Gene was an artist all around. In addition to his fiddle, he was an expert with his camera. He had an early Canon digital, pocket-sized ELPH camera, and he took wonderful pictures every day we were on tour—of places and people and of us in the band. He inspired me to get my camera out and start shooting again. He had an amazing eye for light, composition, and for humanity. I loved seeing the world as he saw it. @micartwil took these pictures of Gene with @kraussviktor, @keithsewellmusic, @russellkunkel, and me. April gave me that belt buckle in 2002, so Michael must have taken them around then. I cherish my memories of Gene, and I pray for his family’s comfort. I loved him, and I miss him already. | Posted on 28/Mar/2024 00:19:08