BUCK OWENS

Biography

Alvis Edgar 'Buck' Owens Jr. was born on August 12, 1929, in Sherman, Texas, to sharecropper parents. Growing up in poverty, he learned to play mandolin, guitar, and horns as a teenager to escape a life spent picking cotton in the fields. After moving through Arizona and eventually settling in Bakersfield, California, Owens began his music career as a session musician and rockabilly recording artist under the name 'Corky Jones' before signing with Capitol Records in 1957. His breakthrough came in 1959 with 'Second Fiddle' reaching No. 24 on the Billboard country chart, followed by 'Under Your Spell Again,' which climbed to No. 4 and established his future in country music.

Throughout the 1960s, Owens pioneered the 'Bakersfield Sound'—a hard-edged, guitar-driven alternative to Nashville's lush orchestral arrangements that dominated mainstream country music. Leading his band the Buckaroos (named by Merle Haggard in 1963), Owens achieved remarkable commercial success with 15 consecutive No. 1 hits, including 'Act Naturally,' 'Love's Gonna Live Here,' and 'I've Got a Tiger by the Tail.' His signature Fender Telecaster electric guitar, played loud enough to keep bar crowds dancing, became iconic in defining the sound. Between 1968 and 1969, the band evolved with new members including pedal steel guitarist JayDee Maness and drummer Jerry Wiggins, recording the live album 'Live in London' in 1969.

Beyond his recording career, Owens became widely recognized as co-host of the television variety show 'Hee Haw' (1969–1986) alongside Roy Clark, though his musical contributions to the show diminished over time in favor of comedy. In 1988, at age 58, Owens experienced a career renaissance when country star Dwight Yoakam convinced him to record 'Streets of Bakersfield,' which soared to No. 1 on the charts. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and opened Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, where he performed regularly until his death on March 25, 2006, from an apparent heart attack after a performance. His influence on country music remains profound, shaping the genre's direction and inspiring generations of artists.

Fun Facts

• Buck Owens borrowed his nickname 'Buck' from a favorite mule, not from any person or place.
• In 1960, Owens won Billboard's 'Most Promising Country and Western Singer of the Year,' marking his official recognition as a rising star.
• Owens recorded a live version of Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' with the Buckaroos during their 1969 'Live in London' album, showcasing the rock influences in the Bakersfield Sound.
• In 1993, Owens had a piece of his tongue removed after doctors discovered he had throat cancer, yet he continued performing and maintained his Crystal Palace venue until his death in 2006.

Associated Acts

• Buck Owens and His Buckaroos - eponymous
• The Hee Haw Gospel Quartet
• The Buckaroos

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Bill Woods - Led the house band where Buck worked as lead guitar player and singer, working marathon shifts playing country and other genres to get folks dancing (House band performances) [Early career, 1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Don Rich - Fiddle player and guitarist who became Owens's best friend and key member of the Buckaroos; met Rich in Tacoma, Washington in 1958 (The Buckaroos band, numerous hit recordings) [1958–1974]
• Merle Haggard - Fellow Bakersfield Sound pioneer who once played bass in Owens's band and named the Buckaroos in 1963; collaborated on popularizing the Bakersfield Sound (The Buckaroos, Bakersfield Sound recordings) [1960s]
• JayDee Maness - Pedal steel guitar player who joined the Buckaroos in 1968, replacing Tom Brumley (The Buckaroos, 'Live in London' album) [1968–1969]
• Jerry Wiggins - Drummer who joined the Buckaroos in 1969, replacing Willie Cantu (The Buckaroos, 'Live in London' album) [1969 onwards]
• Dwight Yoakam - Modern country star who convinced Owens to perform together; their duet revitalized Owens's career in 1988 ('Streets of Bakersfield' (No. 1 hit)) [1987–1988]
• Roy Clark - Co-host of the television variety show 'Hee Haw' with Owens ('Hee Haw' television series) [1969–1986]

Artists Influenced

• Merle Haggard - Influenced by Owens's Bakersfield Sound; played bass in Owens's band and later became a major Bakersfield Sound artist (Bakersfield Sound recordings) [1960s onwards]
• Dwight Yoakam - Strongly influenced by Owens's Bakersfield Sound; sought out Owens for collaboration and helped revive his career ('Streets of Bakersfield' and subsequent work) [1980s onwards]
• Linda Ronstadt - Influenced by Owens's guitar-driven country music style (Country rock recordings) [1970s onwards]
• Gram Parsons - Influenced by Owens's pioneering country rock fusion and Bakersfield Sound (Country rock albums) [1960s–1970s]
• The Eagles - Influenced by Owens's country rock innovations and Bakersfield Sound (Country rock albums) [1970s onwards]
• Garth Brooks - Influenced by Owens's pioneering country sound and commercial success (Modern country recordings) [1980s onwards]
• Brad Paisley - Influenced by Owens's guitar-driven country style and Bakersfield Sound (Contemporary country recordings) [2000s onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Act Naturally (Together Again / My Heart Skips a Beat)
2. Act Naturally
3. I've Got a Tiger By the Tail (I've Got a Tiger By the Tail)
4. My Heart Skips a Beat (Together Again / My Heart Skips a Beat)
5. I've Got a Tiger by the Tail (I've Got a Tiger By the Tail)
6. Streets Of Bakersfield (Buck 'Em! Volume 2: The Music Of Buck Owens (1967-1975))
7. Together Again (Together Again / My Heart Skips a Beat)
8. Hello Trouble (Buck 'Em: The Music Of Buck Owens (1955-1967))
9. Together Again (I've Got a Tiger By the Tail)
10. Made In Japan

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #bakersfield-sound, #country, #honky-tonk