# Texas Music Rallies for Guitarist with ALS Diagnosis

> Texas musicians rally around guitarist Rich Brotherton after his ALS diagnosis.
- Title: Texas Music Rallies for Guitarist with ALS Diagnosis
- Summary: Texas musicians rally around guitarist Rich Brotherton after his ALS diagnosis. Texas musicians organized a fundraiser concert for Rich Brotherton, who was…
- Keywords: rich brotherton, robert earl keen, als, texas music, devil's backbone tavern, applause for the cause, patty griffin, caroline herring, rodney hayden, andy hedges, john baumann, Texas
- Source: Rolling Stone — https://rollingstone.com/music/music-features/rich-brotherton-texas-guitarist-als-diagnosis-1235633136
- Author: Josh Crutchmer
- Published: 2026-09-28T18:36:39+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rich brotherton, robert earl keen, als, texas music, devil's backbone tavern, applause for the cause, patty griffin, caroline herring, rodney hayden, andy hedges, john baumann
## Rich Brotherton diagnosed with ALS
Rich Brotherton confirmed an ALS diagnosis in August 2025.
## Texas musicians rally for Brotherton
Musicians throughout Texas rallied around Brotherton after his ALS diagnosis.
## Keen organizes fundraiser concert
Robert Earl Keen organized a fundraiser concert for Brotherton at Devil's Backbone Tavern in September 2026.
## John Baumann releases tribute song
John Baumann released a tribute song to Brotherton titled 'Brotherton' in September 2026.
## Baumann credits Brotherton's mentorship
Baumann credits Brotherton for mentoring him when he was 24 years old and helped him start his music career.
## Brotherton's impact on Keen's music
Brotherton added rock edge to Keen's sound and produced two of his most acclaimed albums.
## Keen and Brotherton's past relationship
Keen and Brotherton had irreconcilable differences in 2019 but Keen says they rebuilt their relationship through the fundraiser.
## Fundraiser raises $80,000
A Night for Rich Brotherton raised nearly $80,000 in late 2025 through Austin's Paramount Theatre event.
## Key takeaway

Texas musicians organized a fundraiser concert for Rich Brotherton, who was diagnosed with ALS, raising funds through the Devil's Backbone Tavern event.