Jack Browning Pays Tribute To The Late Luke Bell With Cover Of “The Bullfighter”

Monday marked what would have been Luke Bell’s 35th birthday, and almost three years after his passing, Jack Browning is sure doing his part to ensure the legacy lives on.

For anyone who may not be familiar, Luke Bell was a respected songwriter and musician who built a cult following in his short lived career behind the strength of his old school honky-tonk sound and the captivating tales of larger-than-life characters, much like himself, that he told through his songs.

Born in Kentucky and raised in Wyoming, Bell spent most of his adult life as a drifting musician, spending time in Austin, New Orleans, and Nashville, among plenty of other places, and recorded three albums between 2012 and 2016. The third record, his self-titled project Luke Bell, is the only one available on streaming services, which in some ways, contributes to the mysterious nature of Bell’s life and career.

Bell struggled with severe bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues throughout his life, and although he touched countless people with his kindness and eccentric personality over the years, he was no stranger to trouble and despair, and largely lived his life outside of the public eye. At just 32 years old, amidst a change in his bipolar medication, Bell was reported missing in Tucson, Arizona on August 20, 2022, and he was found dead nine days later. While the cause of death was ultimately reported to be a fentanyl overdose, his volatile mental issues undoubtedly played a large role in the tragedy.

Nevertheless, certain groups and individuals within the country music community have done what they can in the years since to ensure that Luke Bell, and the incredible music he left us, do not go unforgotten. Notably, filmmakers Kevin Romeo and Matt Bakken are in the process of creating a documentary about Bell’s life titled Where Ya Been? The Odyssey and Elegy of Luke Bell, which will include plenty of never before seen footage and first-person accounts of Bell’s life from family, friends, and other acquaintances.

Tons of musicians have done their part in carrying on Bell’s legacy as well, and most recently, English artist and singer-songwriter Jack Browning released a heartfelt cover of Bell’s deftly written tune “The Bullfighter.” Deeply inspired by Bell’s music and story, Browning, who has also become known for painting portraits of country musicians, painted Luke Bell in 2023 and has frequently covered his music during his live set.

Earlier this month, Browning took to Instagram to announce his plans to release the cover, and provided some pretty awesome insight into his personal journey with Bell’s legacy.

“Friends, at the end of 2023 I painted a portrait of someone I’d never met but whose work I put up there with the best of them – that person was Luke Bell.

Well, I posted the painting and it sent ,me on an incredible journey, whereby I got to hear from and even meet so many of his incredible friends and family. The original portrait wound up exactly where is should have, too – right up on the wall of his family’s home and it’s one of the honours of my life.

I’ve had some of Luke’s songs in my own set for a few years now, and one that folks talk about in particular is ‘The Bullfighter,’ which may be as modern-day classic as any of ’em. I’ve carried it round with me here in the UK, to the US and the Netherlands. The one consistent thing is the amount of people that come up and share their own story of discovering Luke’s songs.

On January 17th I’m putting out my humble tribute wherever you get your music. please consider supporting Kevin Romeo and his Where Ya Been? project, and the wonderful work being done by Luke’s family to provide counseling to folks back home that need it.”

https://www.instagram.com/jackbrowningartistmusician/p/DEffs60NfYh/?img_index=1

Now, with all of that important context addressed, check out Browning’s cover of the late Luke Bell’s tune “The Bullfighter.”

“Some folks are getting tired
They get old and lose their fire
They find the grace of light to lean upon
But, ‘duel the bull,’ says I, just as long as I live
For I am the greatest bullfighter that ever dared to the pen..”

And to give credit where credit is due, here is a video of Bell performing “The Bullfighter” with his band in Brooklyn, NY circa 2014.

If you’re looking to learn more about Luke Bell’s story, make sure to keep an eye out for updates on the Where Ya Been? documentary, but in the meantime, Western AF posted a pretty amazing tribute video for Bell to their YouTube channel just yesterday.

And before we’re done here, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Noeline Hofmann’s beautiful cover of “The Bullfighter” as well.