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{{short description|American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and luthier}}
{{short description|American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and luthier}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2012}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2012}}


'''Howard "Buzz" Feiten''' (born November 4, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, [[session musician]], and [[luthier]]. He is best known as a lead and rhythm guitarist and for having patented a tuning system for guitars and similar instruments. Feiten also manufactures and markets solid-body electric guitars.
'''Howard "Buzz" Feiten II''' (born November 4, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, [[session musician]], and [[luthier]]. He is best known as a lead and rhythm guitarist and for having patented a tuning system for guitars and similar instruments. Feiten also manufactures and markets solid-body electric guitars.


==Early years==
==Early years==
Feiten grew up in [[Huntington Station, New York|Huntington Station]] and [[Centerport, New York]], where he was known by schoolmates and friends as "Buzzy". The son of a musical mother, Pauline (a classical pianist), and an airline pilot, Howard Sr., Feiten received training in classical music as a child. His older sister Paula was a flautist and fashion model in the mid-1960s. A younger brother, Jon, was also involved in music and the arts. In youth, he studied several musical instruments, settling on the [[French horn]]. As a teenager, he played in all-county (Suffolk) and all-state (New York) youth orchestras on the instrument.
Feiten grew up in [[Huntington Station, New York|Huntington Station]] and [[Centerport, New York]], where he was known by schoolmates and friends as "Buzzy". The son of a musical mother, Pauline (a classical pianist), and an airline pilot, Howard Sr., Feiten received training in classical music as a child. His older sister Paula was a flautist and fashion model in the mid-1960s. A younger brother, Jon, was also involved in music and the arts. In youth, he studied several musical instruments, settling on the [[French horn]]. As a teenager, he played in all-county (Suffolk) and all-state (New York) youth orchestras on the instrument.


Feiten first played [[Carnegie Hall]] in 1966 on French horn in American Youth Performs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hankboerner.com/biography/careerarchives/AA%20-%20American%20Youth%20Performs%2003-08-71.pdf |title=American Airlines sponspored the American Youth Performs program |publisher=Hankboerner.com |access-date=June 25, 2014}}</ref> In 1966, he auditioned at the [[Juilliard School]] on French horn but was rejected. In high school he belonged to a band called The Reasons Why with Steve Beckmeier (rhythm guitar), Al Stegmeyer (drums), Danny Horton (lead guitar), and Daniel Kretzer (keyboards). The band was successful on Long Island, and two songs, "Tell Her One More Time" and "Same Old Worries", were mentioned in a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' 'new singles' article in the summer of 1966.
Feiten first played [[Carnegie Hall]] in 1966 on French horn in American Youth Performs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hankboerner.com/biography/careerarchives/AA%20-%20American%20Youth%20Performs%2003-08-71.pdf |title=American Airlines sponsored the American Youth Performs program |publisher=Hankboerner.com |access-date=June 25, 2014}}</ref> In 1966, he auditioned at the [[Juilliard School]] on French horn but was not admitted. In high school he fronted for a group called 'The Reasons Why' with Steve Beckmeier (rhythm guitar), Al Stegmeyer (drums), Danny Horton (lead guitar), and Daniel Kretzer (keyboards). The band was successful on Long Island, and two songs, "Tell Her One More Time" and "Same Old Worries", were mentioned in a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' 'new singles' article in the summer of 1966.


==Career==
==Career==
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Feiten replaced [[Elvin Bishop]] in the [[Paul Butterfield]] Blues Band,<ref name="Legends">{{cite book|last1=Prown|first1=Pete |last2=Newquist|first2=Harvey P. |title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA41|access-date=March 25, 2019|year=1997|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-7935-4042-6|pages=41–}}</ref><ref name="Erlewine2007">{{cite book|last=Erlewine|first=Dan |title=Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain, and Repair Electrics and Acoustics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zF24JMkjSpQC&pg=PA66|access-date=March 31, 2019|year=2007|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-921-3|pages=66–}}</ref> and recorded on the group's fifth album, ''[[Keep on Moving (The Butterfield Blues Band album)|Keep on Moving]]''.<ref name="Erlewine2007" /> With Butterfield, Feiten toured internationally and played at the [[Atlantic City Pop Festival]] and the [[Woodstock Festival]].
Feiten replaced [[Elvin Bishop]] in the [[Paul Butterfield]] Blues Band,<ref name="Legends">{{cite book|last1=Prown|first1=Pete |last2=Newquist|first2=Harvey P. |title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA41|access-date=March 25, 2019|year=1997|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-7935-4042-6|pages=41–}}</ref><ref name="Erlewine2007">{{cite book|last=Erlewine|first=Dan |title=Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain, and Repair Electrics and Acoustics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zF24JMkjSpQC&pg=PA66|access-date=March 31, 2019|year=2007|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-921-3|pages=66–}}</ref> and recorded on the group's fifth album, ''[[Keep on Moving (The Butterfield Blues Band album)|Keep on Moving]]''.<ref name="Erlewine2007" /> With Butterfield, Feiten toured internationally and played at the [[Atlantic City Pop Festival]] and the [[Woodstock Festival]].


In 1970-71, Feiten was lead guitarist for [[The Rascals]] on their albums ''[[Peaceful World (album)|Peaceful World]]'' and ''[[Island of Real]]''.
In 1970–71, Feiten stepped in as lead guitarist for another well-known Long Island group, [[The Rascals]] (formerly 'The Young Rascals') on their albums ''[[Peaceful World (album)|Peaceful World]]'' and ''[[Island of Real]]''. His original song 'Jungle Walk', on the latter album, is regarded as a guitar 'tour de force' by fellow musicians, and served as part of the inspiration for David Bowie's and John Lennon's song '[[Fame (David Bowie song)|Fame]]'.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}


Feiten's debut album ''Full Moon'' was released<ref name="Erlewine2007" /> by Warner Bros. in 1972 and was recorded with [[Ray Barretto]], [[Randy Brecker]], [[Robin Clark]], [[Gene Dinwiddie]], [[Dave Holland]], [[Neil Larsen]], [[Airto Moreira]], [[Tasha Thomas]], and [[Phillip Wilson (drummer)|Phillip Wilson]]. A sequel, ''Buzz Feiten & The New Full Moon'', was released in 2002 and recorded with Freddie Beckmeier on bass (brother of Steve from The Reasons Why), [[Jai Winding]], [[Brandon Fields]], and [[Gary Mallaber]]. In 1998–99 he was a member of the [[Dave Weckl Band]]. In 2008, Feiten recorded with Steve Postell of [[Pure Prairie League]] on the album ''Time Still Knocking'' (Immergent).
His debut 'project' album ''Full Moon''<ref name="Erlewine2007" /> was released in 1972 by Warner Bros. and included band members [[Neil Larsen]], [[Gene Dinwiddie]], [[Phillip Wilson]] and Freddie Beckmeier, (brother of Steve from 'The Reasons Why'), with 'sidemen' [[Ray Barretto]], [[Randy Brecker]], [[Robin Clark]], [[Dave Holland]], [[Airto Moreira]], and [[Tasha Thomas]]. A 2002 sequel, ''Buzz Feiten & The New Full Moon'' also featured Beckmeier on bass, Jai Winding, [[Brandon Fields]], and [[Gary Mallaber]]. Another notable 1998-99 Feiten affiliation was with the [[Dave Weckl Band]] on the albums [[Rhythm of the Soul]] and [[Synergy]].


Feiten has worked with [[Gregg Allman]], [[The Brecker Brothers]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Michael Franks (musician)|Michael Franks]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Rickie Lee Jones]], [[Chaka Khan]], [[Dave Koz]], [[Kenny Loggins]], [[Bette Midler]], [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Wilson Pickett]], [[David Sanborn]], [[James Taylor]], [[Stevie Wonder]],<ref name="Thompson">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Art |title=Buzz Feiten's Obsession with Making Guitars Play and Sound Better |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/buzz-feitens-obsession-with-making-guitars-play-and-sound-better |website=GuitarPlayer.com |access-date=April 1, 2019 |date=July 2, 2014}}</ref> [[Etta James]], Dave Weckl and [[Don McLean]].<ref>[http://www.stevelukather.net/Session.aspx?id=281 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329035630/http://www.stevelukather.net/Session.aspx?id=281 |date=March 29, 2009 }}</ref>
He has worked with a very wide array of artists including [[Gregg Allman]], [[The Brecker Brothers]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Michael Franks (musician)|Michael Franks]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Rickie Lee Jones]], [[Chaka Khan]], [[Dave Koz]], Neil Larsen, [[Kenny Loggins]], [[Bette Midler]], [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Wilson Pickett]], [[David Sanborn]], [[James Taylor]], [[Stevie Wonder]],<ref name="Thompson">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Art |date=July 2, 2014 |title=Buzz Feiten's Obsession with Making Guitars Play and Sound Better |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/buzz-feitens-obsession-with-making-guitars-play-and-sound-better |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401020604/https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/buzz-feitens-obsession-with-making-guitars-play-and-sound-better |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |website=GuitarPlayer.com}}</ref> [[Etta James]], and [[Don McLean]].<ref>[http://www.stevelukather.net/Session.aspx?id=281] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329035630/http://www.stevelukather.net/Session.aspx?id=281|date=March 29, 2009}}</ref>


==Tuning system==
==Tuning system==
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==Guitars==
==Guitars==
In 2012, Feiten announced the founding of Buzz Feiten Guitars<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzfeitenguitars.com |title=Buzz Feiten Guitars — The Ultimate Guitars, For Serious Players |publisher=Buzzfeitenguitars.com |access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> to manufacture and market solid-body electric guitars. The firm initially offered five models, the Blues Pro, T Pro, Signature Elite, Classic Pro, and Elite Pro.
In 2012, Feiten announced the founding of Buzz Feiten Guitars<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzfeitenguitars.com |title=Buzz Feiten Guitars – The Ultimate Guitars, For Serious Players |publisher=Buzzfeitenguitars.com |access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> to manufacture and market solid-body electric guitars. The firm initially offered five models, the Blues Pro, T Pro, Signature Elite, Classic Pro, and Elite Pro.


In 2018, the company was renamed Buzz Feiten Guitar Research, offering three models of SuperNova guitar: Classic (two [[humbucker]] pickups), Futura (bridge humbucker and neck single-coil pickup), and Futura Super-Trem (three single-coil pickups with [[Vibrato systems for guitar#Fender synchronized tremolo|synchronized vibrato]]). The "Buzz Feiten Tuning System" is mentioned only in regards to the Classic.
In 2018, the company was renamed Buzz Feiten Guitar Research, and began offering three solid-body models with the brand name 'SuperNova': the 'Classic' (two [[humbucker]] pickups), the 'Futura' (bridge humbucker and neck single-coil pickup), and the 'Futura Super-Trem' (three single-coil pickups with [[Vibrato systems for guitar#Fender synchronized tremolo|synchronized vibrato]]). The "Buzz Feiten Tuning System" is mentioned only with regard to the Supernova Classic.


==Discography==
==Discography==
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===As leader===
===As leader===
* ''Larsen-Feiten Band'' (Warner Bros., 1980)
* ''[[Larsen-Feiten Band]]'' (Warner Bros., 1980)
* ''Full Moon'' with Full Moon (Warner Bros., 1982)
* ''Full Moon'' with Full Moon (Warner Bros., 1982)
* ''Whirlies'' (Ulftone Music, 2000)
* ''Whirlies'' (Ulftone Music, 2000)
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'''With [[Rickie Lee Jones]]'''
'''With [[Rickie Lee Jones]]'''
* ''[[Rickie Lee Jones (album)|Rickie Lee Jones]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979)
* ''[[Rickie Lee Jones (album)|Rickie Lee Jones]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979)
* ''[[Pirates (album)|Pirates]]'' (Warner Bros., 1981)
* ''[[Pirates (Rickie Lee Jones album)|Pirates]]'' (Warner Bros., 1981)
* ''[[The Magazine (album)|The Magazine]]'' (Warner Bros., 1984)
* ''[[The Magazine (album)|The Magazine]]'' (Warner Bros., 1984)
* ''[[Flying Cowboys]]'' (Geffen, 1989)
* ''[[Flying Cowboys]]'' (Geffen, 1989)
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'''With [[Adam Mitchell (songwriter)|Adam Mitchell]]'''
'''With [[Adam Mitchell (songwriter)|Adam Mitchell]]'''
* ''Redhead In Trouble'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)
* ''Redhead in Trouble'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)


'''With [[Bill Quateman]]'''
'''With [[Bill Quateman]]'''
* ''Just Like You'' (RCA Victor, 1979)
* ''Just Like You'' (RCA Victor, 1979)
* ''The Almost Eve of Everything'' (Next of Skin 2001)
* ''The Almost Eve of Everything'' (Next of Skin, 2001)
* ''Trust'' (Dreamsville, 2002)
* ''Trust'' (Dreamsville, 2002)


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'''With [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]]'''
'''With [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]]'''
* ''Street Beat'' (Columbia, 1979)
* ''Street Beat'' (Columbia, 1979)
* ''Desire'' (Elektra Musician 1982)
* ''Desire'' (Elektra Musician, 1982)
* ''Smokin' Section'' (Windham Hill, 1999)
* ''Smokin' Section'' (Windham Hill, 1999)


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* [[Jeff Baxter]], ''Guitar Workshop in L.A.'' (Invitation, 1988)
* [[Jeff Baxter]], ''Guitar Workshop in L.A.'' (Invitation, 1988)
* [[Stephen Bishop (singer)|Stephen Bishop]], ''[[Red Cab to Manhattan]]'' (Warner Bros., 1980)
* [[Stephen Bishop (singer)|Stephen Bishop]], ''[[Red Cab to Manhattan]]'' (Warner Bros., 1980)
* [[Butterfield Blues Band]], ''Keep On Moving'' (ATCO, 1969)
* [[Butterfield Blues Band]], ''Keep on Moving'' (Atco, 1969)
* [[Paul Butterfield]], ''Live at Rockpalast 1978'' (MIG, 2019)
* [[Paul Butterfield]], ''Live at Rockpalast 1978'' (MIG, 2019)
* [[Doug Cameron (musician)|Doug Cameron]], ''Journey to You'' (Narada, 1991)
* [[Doug Cameron (musician)|Doug Cameron]], ''Journey to You'' (Narada, 1991)
* [[Luis Cardenas]], ''Animal Instinct'' (Allied Artists 2012)
* [[Luis Cardenas]], ''Animal Instinct'' (Allied Artists, 2012)
* [[Felix Cavaliere]], ''Destiny'' (Bearsville, 1975)
* [[Felix Cavaliere]], ''Destiny'' (Bearsville, 1975)
* Felix Cavaliere, ''Castles in the Air'' (Epic, 1979)
* Felix Cavaliere, ''Castles in the Air'' (Epic, 1979)
* [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], ''[[Chicago 18]]'' (Warner Bros., 1986)
* [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], ''[[Chicago 18]]'' (Warner Bros., 1986)
* [[Christophe (singer)|Christophe]], ''Pas Vu Pas Pris'' (Motors 1980)
* [[Christophe (singer)|Christophe]], ''Pas Vu Pas Pris'' (Motors, 1980)
* [[Don Ciccone]], ''Forever Begins Today'' (Polydor, 1991)
* [[Don Ciccone]], ''Forever Begins Today'' (Polydor, 1991)
* [[Gene Clark]], ''[[No Other]]'' (Asylum, 1974)
* [[Gene Clark]], ''[[No Other]]'' (Asylum, 1974)
* [[Tyler Collins (singer)|Tyler Collins]], ''[[Girls Nite Out (Tyler Collins album)|Girls Nite Out]]'' (RCA/BMG 1989)
* [[Tyler Collins (singer)|Tyler Collins]], ''[[Girls Nite Out (Tyler Collins album)|Girls Nite Out]]'' (RCA, 1989)
* [[Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen|Commander Cody]], ''Flying Dreams'' (Arista, 1978)
* [[Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen|Commander Cody]], ''Flying Dreams'' (Arista, 1978)
* [[Paul Cotton]], ''Changing Horses'' (Sisapa, 1990)
* [[Paul Cotton]], ''Changing Horses'' (Sisapa, 1990)
* [[Randy Crawford]], ''Windsong'' (Warner Bros., 1982)
* [[Randy Crawford]], ''Windsong'' (Warner Bros., 1982)
* [[Phil Cristian]], ''No Prisoner'' (Empire, 1988)
* [[Phil Cristian]], ''No Prisoner'' (Empire, 1988)
* [[Dino (American singer)|Dino]], ''[[24/7 (Dino album)|24/7]]'' (4th & Broadway 1989)
* [[Dino (American singer)|Dino]], ''[[24/7 (Dino album)|24/7]]'' (4th & Broadway, 1989)
* [[Dr. John]], ''City Lights'' (Horizon, 1978)
* [[Dr. John]], ''City Lights'' (Horizon, 1978)
* [[Bob Dylan]], ''New Morning'' (Columbia, 1970)
* [[Bob Dylan]], ''New Morning'' (Columbia, 1970)
* [[Michael Franks (musician)|Michael Franks]], ''[[Blue Pacific (album)|Blue Pacific]]'' (Reprise, 1990)
* [[Michael Franks (musician)|Michael Franks]], ''[[Blue Pacific (album)|Blue Pacific]]'' (Reprise, 1990)
* [[Rosie Gaines]], ''Closer Than Close'' (Motown, 1995)
* [[Rosie Gaines]], ''[[Closer than Close (album)|Closer than Close]]'' (Motown, 1995)
* [[Steve Grossman (saxophonist)|Steve Grossman]], ''Perspective'' (Atlantic, 1979)
* [[Steve Grossman (saxophonist)|Steve Grossman]], ''Perspective'' (Atlantic, 1979)
* [[Hall & Oates]], ''Change of Season'' (Arista, 1990)
* [[Hall & Oates]], ''[[Change of Season]]'' (Arista, 1990)
* [[Lani Hall]], ''[[Double or Nothing (Lani Hall album)|Double or Nothing]]'' (A&M, 1979)
* [[Lani Hall]], ''[[Double or Nothing (Lani Hall album)|Double or Nothing]]'' (A&M, 1979)
* [[Stuart Hamm]], ''Kings of Sleep'' (Food for Thought 1989)
* [[Stuart Hamm]], ''Kings of Sleep'' (Food for Thought, 1989)
* Stuart Hamm, ''The Urge'' (Relativity, 1991)
* Stuart Hamm, ''The Urge'' (Relativity, 1991)
* [[Jimi Hendrix]], ''Blues at Midnight'' (Rock of Ages 2000)
* [[Jimi Hendrix]], ''Blues at Midnight'' (Rock of Ages, 2000)
* [[Stix Hooper]], ''Touch the Feeling'' (MCA, 1982)
* [[Stix Hooper]], ''Touch the Feeling'' (MCA, 1982)
* [[Janis Ian]], ''[[Restless Eyes]]'' (Columbia, 1981)
* [[Janis Ian]], ''[[Restless Eyes]]'' (Columbia, 1981)
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* [[Kenny Loggins]], ''[[Vox Humana (Kenny Loggins album)|Vox Humana]]'' (Columbia, 1985)
* [[Kenny Loggins]], ''[[Vox Humana (Kenny Loggins album)|Vox Humana]]'' (Columbia, 1985)
* [[Melissa Manchester]], ''Emergency'' (Arista, 1983)
* [[Melissa Manchester]], ''Emergency'' (Arista, 1983)
* [[Bobby Martin (musician)|Bobby Martin]], ''Bobby Martin'' (Sunset Dreams 2016)
* [[Bobby Martin (musician)|Bobby Martin]], ''Bobby Martin'' (Sunset Dreams, 2016)
* [[Murray McLauchlan]], ''Murray McLauchlan'' (True North, 1972)
* [[Murray McLauchlan]], ''Murray McLauchlan'' (True North, 1972)
* [[Don McLean]], ''[[Don McLean (album)|Don McLean]]'' (United Artists, 1972)
* [[Don McLean]], ''[[Don McLean (album)|Don McLean]]'' (United Artists, 1972)
Line 137: Line 137:
* [[Bette Midler]], ''[[No Frills (Bette Midler album)|No Frills]]'' (Atlantic, 1983)
* [[Bette Midler]], ''[[No Frills (Bette Midler album)|No Frills]]'' (Atlantic, 1983)
* Bette Midler, ''[[Bette of Roses]]'' (Atlantic, 1995)
* Bette Midler, ''[[Bette of Roses]]'' (Atlantic, 1995)
* [[Luis Miguel]], ''Busca Una Mujer'' (WEA 1988)
* [[Luis Miguel]], ''Busca Una Mujer'' (WEA, 1988)
* [[Jason Miles]], ''Mr. X'' (Lightyear, 1996)
* [[Jason Miles]], ''Mr. X'' (Lightyear, 1996)
* [[Stephanie Mills]], ''[[Merciless (Stephanie Mills album)|Merciless]]'' (Casablanca, 1983)
* [[Stephanie Mills]], ''[[Merciless (Stephanie Mills album)|Merciless]]'' (Casablanca, 1983)
Line 144: Line 144:
* [[Randy Newman]], ''[[Born Again (Randy Newman album)|Born Again]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979)
* [[Randy Newman]], ''[[Born Again (Randy Newman album)|Born Again]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979)
* Randy Newman, ''[[Land of Dreams (Randy Newman album)|Land of Dreams]]'' (Reprise, 1988)
* Randy Newman, ''[[Land of Dreams (Randy Newman album)|Land of Dreams]]'' (Reprise, 1988)
* [[Claus Ogerman]] & [[Michael Brecker]], ''Cityscape'' (Mosaic 1982)
* [[Claus Ogerman]] & [[Michael Brecker]], ''Cityscape'' (Mosaic, 1982)
* [[Amii Ozaki]], ''Arrows in My Eyes'' (TM Factory, 1998)
* [[Amii Ozaki]], ''Arrows in My Eyes'' (TM Factory, 1998)
* [[Dolly Parton]], ''[[Dolly, Dolly, Dolly]]'' (RCA Victor, 1980)
* [[Dolly Parton]], ''[[Dolly, Dolly, Dolly]]'' (RCA Victor, 1980)
* [[Wilson Pickett]], ''American Soul Man'' (Motown, 1987)
* [[Wilson Pickett]], ''American Soul Man'' (Motown, 1987)
* [[Aileen Quinn]], ''[[Bobby's Girl (album)|Bobby's Girl]]'' (Columbia, 1982)
* [[Aileen Quinn]], ''[[Bobby's Girl (album)|Bobby's Girl]]'' (Columbia, 1982)
* [[The Rascals]], ''Peaceful World'' (Columbia, 1971)
* [[The Rascals]], ''[[Peaceful World (album)|Peaceful World]]'' (Columbia, 1971)
* [[The Rascals]], ''[[The Island of Real]]'' (Columbia, 1972)
* [[Brenda Russell]], ''[[Love Life (Brenda Russell album)|Love Life]]'' (A&M, 1981)
* [[Brenda Russell]], ''[[Love Life (Brenda Russell album)|Love Life]]'' (A&M, 1981)
* [[Evie Sands]], ''Suspended Animation'' (RCA Victor, 1979)
* [[Evie Sands]], ''Suspended Animation'' (RCA Victor, 1979)
Line 173: Line 174:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.buzzfeitenofficial.com Buzz Feiten Guitar Research]
* [http://www.buzzfeiten.com/ Buzz Feiten Guitar Research]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 21:17, 11 March 2024

Howard "Buzz" Feiten II (born November 4, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, session musician, and luthier. He is best known as a lead and rhythm guitarist and for having patented a tuning system for guitars and similar instruments. Feiten also manufactures and markets solid-body electric guitars.

Early years[edit]

Feiten grew up in Huntington Station and Centerport, New York, where he was known by schoolmates and friends as "Buzzy". The son of a musical mother, Pauline (a classical pianist), and an airline pilot, Howard Sr., Feiten received training in classical music as a child. His older sister Paula was a flautist and fashion model in the mid-1960s. A younger brother, Jon, was also involved in music and the arts. In youth, he studied several musical instruments, settling on the French horn. As a teenager, he played in all-county (Suffolk) and all-state (New York) youth orchestras on the instrument.

Feiten first played Carnegie Hall in 1966 on French horn in American Youth Performs.[1] In 1966, he auditioned at the Juilliard School on French horn but was not admitted. In high school he fronted for a group called 'The Reasons Why' with Steve Beckmeier (rhythm guitar), Al Stegmeyer (drums), Danny Horton (lead guitar), and Daniel Kretzer (keyboards). The band was successful on Long Island, and two songs, "Tell Her One More Time" and "Same Old Worries", were mentioned in a Billboard 'new singles' article in the summer of 1966.

Career[edit]

Still known as "Buzzy", in late 1968 or early 1969 Feiten was a student at the Mannes College of Music in New York City.

Feiten replaced Elvin Bishop in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band,[2][3] and recorded on the group's fifth album, Keep on Moving.[3] With Butterfield, Feiten toured internationally and played at the Atlantic City Pop Festival and the Woodstock Festival.

In 1970–71, Feiten stepped in as lead guitarist for another well-known Long Island group, The Rascals (formerly 'The Young Rascals') on their albums Peaceful World and Island of Real. His original song 'Jungle Walk', on the latter album, is regarded as a guitar 'tour de force' by fellow musicians, and served as part of the inspiration for David Bowie's and John Lennon's song 'Fame'.[citation needed]

His debut 'project' album Full Moon[3] was released in 1972 by Warner Bros. and included band members Neil Larsen, Gene Dinwiddie, Phillip Wilson and Freddie Beckmeier, (brother of Steve from 'The Reasons Why'), with 'sidemen' Ray Barretto, Randy Brecker, Robin Clark, Dave Holland, Airto Moreira, and Tasha Thomas. A 2002 sequel, Buzz Feiten & The New Full Moon also featured Beckmeier on bass, Jai Winding, Brandon Fields, and Gary Mallaber. Another notable 1998-99 Feiten affiliation was with the Dave Weckl Band on the albums Rhythm of the Soul and Synergy.

He has worked with a very wide array of artists including Gregg Allman, The Brecker Brothers, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Michael Franks, Al Jarreau, Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Dave Koz, Neil Larsen, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, Wilson Pickett, David Sanborn, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder,[4] Etta James, and Don McLean.[5]

Tuning system[edit]

Feiten patented a tuning system for guitars,[6] marketed as the Buzz Feiten Tuning System, which is intended to correct problems of the standard equal temperament. The system can be retrofitted by a repair shop or luthier that has paid a licensing fee and received specific training. The system consists of a compensated string nut (or "shelf nut") and a method for intonating the bridge. The system was licensed to Washburn Guitars (1995–2010) and Suhr Guitars.

The tuning system is intended to create more accurate tonality of notes played on the lowest three or four frets. Some guitarists claimed to hear no difference, perhaps attributed to their particular playing style or primary musical genre. A few stated the opinion that, while a BFTS-enhanced guitar was clearly superior when recording alongside electronic keyboards, it generally rendered their tone "sterile" or "thin." Others believe that despite the company's "three or four" frets claim, the system provided marked improvement in accuracy virtually everywhere on the fretboard.

Guitars[edit]

In 2012, Feiten announced the founding of Buzz Feiten Guitars[7] to manufacture and market solid-body electric guitars. The firm initially offered five models, the Blues Pro, T Pro, Signature Elite, Classic Pro, and Elite Pro.

In 2018, the company was renamed Buzz Feiten Guitar Research, and began offering three solid-body models with the brand name 'SuperNova': the 'Classic' (two humbucker pickups), the 'Futura' (bridge humbucker and neck single-coil pickup), and the 'Futura Super-Trem' (three single-coil pickups with synchronized vibrato). The "Buzz Feiten Tuning System" is mentioned only with regard to the Supernova Classic.

Discography[edit]

Main article: Buzz Feiten discography

As leader[edit]

  • Larsen-Feiten Band (Warner Bros., 1980)
  • Full Moon with Full Moon (Warner Bros., 1982)
  • Whirlies (Ulftone Music, 2000)
  • Buzz Feiten & the New Full Moon (Dreamsville, 2002)

As sideman[edit]

With Aretha Franklin

With Rickie Lee Jones

With Neil Larsen

  • Jungle Fever (Horizon, 1978)
  • High Gear (Horizon, 1979)
  • Through Any Window (MCA, 1987)
  • Smooth Talk (MCA, 1989)

With Jeff Lorber

With Adam Mitchell

  • Redhead in Trouble (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)

With Bill Quateman

  • Just Like You (RCA Victor, 1979)
  • The Almost Eve of Everything (Next of Skin, 2001)
  • Trust (Dreamsville, 2002)

With David Sanborn

  • Taking Off (Warner Bros., 1975)
  • Voyeur (Warner Bros., 1981)
  • As We Speak (Warner Bros., 1982)
  • Backstreet (Warner Bros., 1983)

With Tom Scott

  • Street Beat (Columbia, 1979)
  • Desire (Elektra Musician, 1982)
  • Smokin' Section (Windham Hill, 1999)

With Dave Weckl

With others

References[edit]

  1. ^ "American Airlines sponsored the American Youth Performs program" (PDF). Hankboerner.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  2. ^ Prown, Pete; Newquist, Harvey P. (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard. pp. 41–. ISBN 978-0-7935-4042-6. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Erlewine, Dan (2007). Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain, and Repair Electrics and Acoustics. Backbeat Books. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-0-87930-921-3. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Thompson, Art (July 2, 2014). "Buzz Feiten's Obsession with Making Guitars Play and Sound Better". GuitarPlayer.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. ^ [1] Archived March 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Johnston, Richard; Simmons, Michael John; Ford, Frank (2005). Acoustic Guitar: An Historical Look at the Composition, Construction, and Evolution of One of the World's Most Beloved Instruments. Hal Leonard. pp. 59–. ISBN 978-0-634-07920-7. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Buzz Feiten Guitars – The Ultimate Guitars, For Serious Players". Buzzfeitenguitars.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.

External links[edit]

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