The Steel Guitar Forum

What blow, to lose a KING. Living in northern Cal.,I didn't miss vary many week end gigs where Buck and the Buckaroos were performing. He played his music his way with his sound, and his volume. Playing in a small club in Rosville, Cal. one Saterday night, sombody complained about the music being to loud,Buck immediately said, OK guys, were to loud, turn it down to 10. God Speed my friend,give DON a hug for us all

Buck's just doin a gig up on "Old Rocky Top", guess I'll have to get out my LP, grab a kleenex, and listen in!

Wayne

Joey, Thank you for the video. I can't get sound on this computer, but I have the music of "Sam's Place" programed in my memory banks, Twin Telecasters and all the great harmony. It is truley a sad state of country music. I believe Buck Owens, and The Buckaroos gave a BOOSTER SHOT to country music back in the early sixties. Who's going to step up to the plate and do it again? God Bless Buck, and the few artists like him.

Here's a copy of an article my cousin Bill Hullihen from New Jersey wrote and sent to me, and I found it touching.

"Together Again"

The great country music legend Buck Owens passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2006 and the sad news caused me to reflect and reminisce on my childhood, to which his music was a main ingredient of my upbringing. Every Saturday and Sunday Dad would stack a few records on the turntable and the house was filled with the sounds of Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Connie Smith, Eddie Arnold, Merle Haggard, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb and many other greats.

But it was the crisp instrumentals and tight vocals of Buck Owens and his Buckaroos that took top billing. As I listen now to the recorded CDs, transferred by Dad from his albums of over 35 years ago, the joyous memories of the timeless melodies of my youth (including the crackle and pop of scratches undoubtedly caused by yours truly) come streaming back, taking me to a time where the true meaning of country music was a reflection of reality.

As I listen to these tunes a smile comes to my face as I somehow manage to remember all of the words to most of these songs: “Saw Mill, Under Your Spell Again, King of Fools, Together Again, My Heart Skips a Beat, Tiger by the Tail, Under the Influence of Love, Waitin’ in your Welfare Line, Second Fiddle, Only You, You’ve Been Foolin’ Round, Love’s Gonna Live Here” and many, many more. As a kid I spent hours and hours playing air guitar and singing these songs, which is probably why I’ll never forget the lyrics.

Buck’s music had a very unique sound that was delivered by the greatest, most talented group of band members ever assembled - Don Rich, Doyle Holly, Tom Brumley and Willie Cantu - the Buckaroos. If there ever was a more talented, diversified musician than Don Rich, then he’s still a distant second; Don’s great vocals, guitar pickin’ and fiddle playing - combined with Buck and the other band member’s musical talents - created a knee slappin’, toe tappin’ sound that has yet to be duplicated. Doyle Holly’s fantastic baritone vocals; Tom Brumley’s wonderful steel guitar talent and Willie Cantu’s wizardry on the drums blended together to give us country music the way is was meant to be.

The Buckaroos recorded several great albums without Buck, featuring the individual talents of each band member. Doyle Holly’s “Night Time is Cry Time” and “Just a Foolish Notion” are great tunes. And who can forget “Understand Your Man, Streets of Laredo” and “Abilene?” And Tom Brumley’s pedal steel licks? I’m pretty sure I listened to their instrumental album more than any other. And there’s no question in my mind that my Dad’s favorite Don Rich vocal was “You bring out the Best in Me.” Great stuff.

Buck’s music always brought a smile to your face, and that’s because you could just tell that he and his band were having a great time singing and playing together. Albums such as “Live at Carnegie Hall, Live from Japan and Big in Vegas” were proof of that. And, of course, his tenure on the Hee Haw TV show also shows just how much Buck enjoyed his music and enjoyed performing. The man was the consummate professional.

Many people argue that Don Rich made Buck Owens what he was, and Buck admits to that claim. But they complimented each other and Don was content being Buck’s right-hand man. Don’s unfortunate death in 1973 was a tragic loss to country music and to Buck Owens especially. Buck is on record as stating that he never really recovered from the loss of his dear friend, and that is easily understood. It was hard to decipher who was singing melody and who was singing harmony - and their collaboration on their Fender Telecasters was also a match made in heaven.

Speaking of heaven, although I’m sad to hear of the passing of one of my childhood idols - Buck Owens - part of me is happy to know that he’s making music with his good friend, Don Rich.

And nothing else matters now, they’re Together Again.

Danny. Very well said.

Did ya'll know, Buck was a steel player, before he started the Telecaster thing.

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David.C. Wright
GFI SD10 Dynacomp RV-3 Evans SE200 Strats POD Fender Deluxe Reverb

No I didn't,,,,,,
But the two times I got to see him live at the Crystle Palace he did play a Dobro some!

Buck thanks for the music and the memories!!

spelling<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 29 March 2006 at 01:01 PM.]</p></FONT>

I still don't know what to say. Don was killed before I was ever born, but I grew up watching him and Buck on Hee-Haw and listening to them on AM Radio (the only place left for legends anymore), and now they're both gone. All I ever wanted to do was play great American music just like the Buckaroos, but, at 26, I'm still learning how to make that Telecaster talk.
Now, you tell me that music and television don't influence children and I'll argue with you until my throat hurts! I seem to be the only person in Memphis, Tennessee, who is irritated that Mr. Buck, a true American icon, couldn't get anything more than "that Hee-Haw dude died" from the mouths of youths bee-boping to the trash forked-out by our local "Three 6 Mafia" rap group. I was not surprised, however, for some of these same kids to state that they never watched Hee-Haw because they were told it was a racist program which featured only rural whites.
In short, I hate Memphis, Tennessee, for the way the locals brush history under the doormat of progressive times. Buck even covered the song "Memphis Tennessee", but nobody around here cares about that.
I regret that I never got the chance to shake Mr. Buck's hand. So, I'll just have to keep pickin' my Telecaster and pass his legacy on to my kids, someday.

Yours truly,
Tay Joslin

Buck was my Hero, I loved his music. He will truely be missed but his music will live for many years not only in my house but throughout the world