Buck Griffin
Albert C. "Buck" Griffin (born February 23, 1923 in Corsicana , Texas , † February 14, 2009 in Sayre , Oklahoma ) was an American country and rockabilly musician who started his career in the 1950s.
Life
Childhood and youth
Buck Griffin grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri . He received the nickname "Buck" (English for buck or donkey) from his father. At the age of twelve he learned to play the guitar , a few years later he founded his first band that performed at school events. After school, he worked in the Kansas oil fields , performing in honky tonks. At the same time he received his own nightly radio program on the radio station WKY.
Career
After the death of country star Hank Williams , who had a strong influence on Griffin, he met Joe Leonard, the owner of a radio station in Gainesville , Texas, and Lin Records. Griffin signed with him and recorded his first two records, I Don't Make No Nevermind and Meadowlark Boogie , in 1954 at the WFAA radio studio in Dallas . However, these went largely unnoticed by the public. His next records, however, became more successful and Griffin made it possible to perform with stars like Red Foley and Marty Robbins . On the radio, his singles were briefly among the most played singles. Griffin was far more successful as a songwriter. His Let's Elope Baby was successfully recorded by rockabilly stars like Wade Ray and Janis Martin . After an appearance in the Big D Jamboree Griffin was from the MGM Records under contract. There he developed into rockabilly and released today's classics such as Stutterin Papa . He also performed with the later country star Conway Twitty .
In 1960 the contract with MGM Records ran out; after that he recorded some insignificant records for various small labels. He published titles until the 1970s, after which he retired. In the last years of his life, Griffin increasingly struggled with health problems.
Buck Griffin died on February 14, 2009 at the age of 85 in a Sayre, Oklahoma hospital.
Discography
Singles
year | title | Record company | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954 | It Don't Make No Never Mind / Meadowlark Boogie | Lin Records | |||
1954 | Rollin 'Tears / One Day after Payday | Lin Records | |||
1954 | Going Home All Alone / Lookin 'for the Green | Lin Records | |||
1955 | Next to Mine / Lord Give Me Strength | Lin Records | |||
1955 | Bawlin 'and Squallin' / Let's Elope, baby | Lin Records | |||
1955 | Go-Stop-Go / Cochise | Lin Records | |||
1956 | Little Dan / Neither Do I. | Lin Records | |||
1956 | Stutterin 'Papa / Watchin' the 7:10 Roll By | MGM Records | |||
1957 | Bow My Back / Old Bee Tree | MGM Records | |||
1957 | Jessie Lee / You'll Never Come Back | MGM Records | |||
1958 | The Party / Every Night | Metro Records | |||
1962 | Pretty Lou / Girl in 1209 | Hollyday Inn Records | |||
196? | First Man to Stand on the Moon / 26 Steps | Lin Records | |||
196? | Too Many Honky Tonks /? | Rotary Records | |||
196? | I Can't Keep My Wheels on the Ground / Flashing Lights, Wine and Me | Rotary Records | |||
196? | One Day After Payday / No More Fun | Rotary Records | |||
196? | Green River Towns / Greener Pastures | Rotary Records | |||
1964 | Vietnam / Drinkin 'with the Blues | Foundation Records | |||
Unpublished titles | |||||
|
MGM Records (not released) |
Albums
- 1995: Let's Elope Baby ( Bear Family work edition)
Web links
- Entry in the All Music Guide
- Buck Griffin on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
- Entry into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
- biography
- Discography with audio samples
Individual evidence
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Griffin, Buck |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Griffin, Albert C. |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country and rockabilly musician |
DATE OF BIRTH | February 23, 1923 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Corsicana , Texas |
DATE OF DEATH | February 14, 2009 |
Place of death | Sayre, Oklahoma |