Buffalo Springfield

Biography

Buffalo Springfield was a pioneering folk rock and country rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1966. The group emerged from a chance meeting in a Los Angeles traffic jam between Stephen Stills and Richie Furay—both veterans of the Greenwich Village folk scene—and Canadian musicians Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, who were drawn to the burgeoning West Coast music movement. Drummer Dewey Martin, another Canadian, soon joined, completing the classic lineup. The band took its name from a steamroller manufactured by the Buffalo Springfield Roller Company, spotted outside their house in Hollywood.

Buffalo Springfield quickly became known for their inventive songwriting, intricate harmonies, and masterful musicianship. Their music blended elements of folk, country, and rock, with influences from the British Invasion and psychedelic rock. Their debut single, 'Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,' was a local hit, but it was 'For What It’s Worth'—written by Stills in response to protests on the Sunset Strip—that became their defining anthem and a symbol of 1960s counterculture. Despite internal tensions, lineup changes, and legal troubles, the band released three influential albums: 'Buffalo Springfield' (1966), 'Buffalo Springfield Again' (1967), and 'Last Time Around' (1968).

Though Buffalo Springfield's career lasted less than two years, their impact was profound. The group is credited with laying the groundwork for the folk rock and country rock genres and launching the careers of its members, who would go on to shape the sound of American rock music for decades. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, cementing their legacy as one of the most influential acts of the 1960s.

Fun Facts

• The band's name was inspired by a steamroller manufactured by the Buffalo Springfield Roller Company, spotted outside their house.
• 'For What It's Worth' was written in response to the 1966 Sunset Strip curfew riots, not as an anti-war song as often believed.
• Despite their brief existence, every original member went on to have a significant solo career or join other influential bands.
• Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Members

• Neil Young - original (from 1966 until 1968-05)
• David Crosby - additional
• Richie Furay
• Doug Hastings - additional
• Dewey Martin
• Jim Messina
• Bruce Palmer
• Stephen Stills
• Joe Vitale
• Bob Jones

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Byrds - Stylistic influence; both groups were instrumental in developing folk rock in Los Angeles. (Influence evident in Buffalo Springfield's early sound and harmonies.) [mid-1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Stephen Stills - Founding member, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. (All Buffalo Springfield albums (1966–1968)) [1966–1968]
• Neil Young - Founding member, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. (All Buffalo Springfield albums (1966–1968)) [1966–1968]
• Richie Furay - Founding member, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. (All Buffalo Springfield albums (1966–1968)) [1966–1968]
• Bruce Palmer - Founding member, bassist. (Buffalo Springfield (1966), Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)) [1966–1968]
• Dewey Martin - Founding member, drummer. (All Buffalo Springfield albums (1966–1968)) [1966–1968]
• Jim Messina - Bassist and engineer, replaced Palmer in 1968. (Last Time Around (1968)) [1968]
• David Crosby - Temporary fill-in for Neil Young during absences. (Live performances (not on studio albums)) [1967]

Artists Influenced

• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Formed by Stills and Young after Buffalo Springfield's breakup, carrying forward the folk rock sound. (Déjà Vu (1970), other CSNY albums) [1969–present]
• Poco - Founded by Richie Furay and Jim Messina, advancing country rock. (Pickin' Up the Pieces (1969)) [1968–present]
• Eagles - Cited Buffalo Springfield as a key influence on their blend of rock and country. (Eagles (1972), Desperado (1973)) [1970s–present]
• Tom Petty - Influenced by Buffalo Springfield's songwriting and folk-rock style. (Damn the Torpedoes (1979)) [1970s–2010s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
2. Mr. Soul (Buffalo Springfield Again)
3. Flying on the Ground Is Wrong (Buffalo Springfield)
4. Expecting to Fly (Buffalo Springfield Again)
5. Pretty Girl Why (Last Time Around)
6. Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (Buffalo Springfield)
7. Kind Woman (Last Time Around)
8. Questions (Last Time Around)
9. I Am a Child (Last Time Around)
10. Hot Dusty Roads (Buffalo Springfield)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #american, #baroque-pop, #classic-pop-and-rock