Harold Bradley
AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Harold Bradley, Music Row Legend and Hall of Fame Guitarist, Dies at 93

Harold Bradley, legendary Nashville guitarist and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died at 93.

The Tennessean reports that Bradley's daughters confirmed his passing in a Facebook post.

"Many of you know him as a successful musician and no doubt many stories will be told in the coming week," his daughters wrote. "But to us, his greatest accomplishment was being the best dad in the world. We love you, dad."

Music Row reports that Bradley died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of Jan. 31.

Bradley, who grew up in Nashville, was the younger brother of influential Music City producer Owen Bradley. The brothers built The Bradley Film & Recording Studios, which became known as the The Quonset Hut, the first recording establishment on Music Row.

Harold Bradley began recording at the age of 20. Over his 60 year career, Bradley played on iconic records by Patsy Cline ("Crazy"), Loretta Lynn ("Coal Miner's Daughter"), Tammy Wynette ("Stand By Your Man"), John Anderson ("Swingin'") and many more. The revered guitarist also played with Elvis Presley, Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

He's believed to be the most recorded instrumentalist in history.

Bradley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

"For decades, Harold Bradley went to work doing something that he called 'playing.' He surveyed every sonic situation and determined what he could do to make things better, more melodic, and more harmonious," Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young said in a statement. "There are lessons in Harold's approach to playing that go far beyond music. He lived his life with kindness, gentility, and discretion. On hopeful days, I will try to view Harold Bradley as an inspiration and not an aberration."