Country Music's Buck Owens
Hee Haw Star's #1 Hits: Act Naturally, Together Again, Sam's Place
Buck Owens (1929-2006) remains one of the giants of country music. Known as the "Baron of Bakersfield," Owens picked and sang his way to Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, topping the charts with such hits as "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" and "Buckaroo."
Buck Owens Born in Texas
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. was born in Sherman, Texas, on August 12, 1929.
Legend has it that Owens acquired his famous moniker when he was three or four-years old, walking into the house one day and telling his sharecropper parents, Alvis Sr. and Maicie, that he was now "Buck," a name lifted from the family mule.
Owens Family Music
Young Buck grew up in a music family. Alvis Sr. played the harmonica while Mother Owens tickled the piano ivories, strummed a little guitar and also made the rounds of various churches. Here, she introduced her children, Mary, Buck, Melvin and Dorothy, to southern gospel music.
When Buck was 13, he was presented with a mandolin for Christmas and later his own Regal guitar, which he learned to play himself through persistence and hard work.
Music Influences
Buck Owens began playing the Arizona honky tonks around Phoenix and Mesa, earning a few dollars in order to learn a trade.
Among the artists influencing Buck's early musical development were Moon Mullican, Ted Daffan, Bob Wills and T. Texas Tyler.
Buck's First Radio Show
In 1945, Buck Owens landed his first regular radio gig, teaming up with 19-year-old guitarist Theryl Ray Britten for an unpaid 15-minute show broadcast over Mesa's KTYL.
Later, while working with a group called Mac's Skillet Lickers, Buck made the acquaintance of Bonnie Campbell. Buck and Bonnie later married on January 13, 1948.
Bakersfield Sound
In 1951, Buck and Bonnie headed to Bakersfield, California, where Buck joined a band led by Dusty Rhodes. He then hooked up with Bill Woods & The Orange Blossom Playboys, whose home base was Bakerfield's Blackboard nightclub.
From 1951-58 Buck could be seen as lead guitarist and singer for the Playboys, whose eclectic playlist included country, rhythm & blues, rockabilly, pop and polkas.
While working with the Playboys, Buck began moonlighting as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, backing such Capitol recording artists as Gene Vincent, Del Reeves, Wanda Jackson, Faron Young and Sonny James.
Buck also found time to record five songs for the obscure, Los Angeles-based Pep label in 1956. One of those recordings, "Hot Dog" (Pep 107), was a rockabilly tune done under the name "Corky Jones."
Buck Signs with Capitol Records
In 1957, Buck Owens signed a recording contract with Capitol Records.
It was slow going at first, but Buck -- with the assistance of Don Rich, the leader of Buck's band, the Buckaroos -- eventually began the climb up the ladder.
In 1963, Buck scored his first number one hit, "Act Naturally," which was followed by a string of 19 other Billboard number ones, including "Together Again" (1964), the rollicking "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" (1965), "Think of Me" (1966), "Sam's Place" (1967) and "Made in Japan" (1972).
Hee Haw Years
From 1969 to 1986 Buck Owens co-hosted (with Roy Clark) the popular television show Hee Haw. Known for its cornfield jokes, buxom girls and unparalleled music guests, Hee Haw made Buck Owens a household name.
Buck Owens' Death
Buck Owens died in his sleep on March 25, 2006. Only hours before, Buck had simply been "acting naturally," performing for his devoted fans at his Bakersfield Crystal Palace restaurant.
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