Buck Owens
Buck Owens (* 12. August 1929 as Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. in. Sherman , Texas ; † 25. March 2006 in Bakersfield ) was a US -American country musician and singer, songwriter , music manager and pioneer of the Bakersfield Sound .
Life
Childhood and youth
Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens grew up in poor conditions in rural Texas at the time of the Great Depression. The family moved west in the early 1930s in the hope of better living conditions. Already in Arizona , their self-made car collapsed and they were forced to settle in the small town of Mesa . Owens left school when he was 14 and worked as a farm hand. But his main interest was music. As an autodidact, he learned several instruments. He gained his first experience at the local radio station and in the local western club scene. Here he met the country singer Bonnie Campbell , whom he married when he was 17. The first child was born a year later.
Musical career
In 1951 the young family moved to Bakersfield , California . A little later the marriage ended in divorce. Owens quickly found acceptance into the lively music scene. He formed his own band, the Schoolhouse Playboys, and worked as a studio musician for Capitol Records and the local Lu Valley studio. Under the producer Ken Nelson, he worked as a guitarist on recordings of well-known artists such as Wanda Jackson and Faron Young . In 1956 he released his first records on the smaller label Pep Records under the pseudonym Corky Jones, including the rockabilly single Hot Dog / Rhythm and Booze , but they were unsuccessful. Owens then continued to work as a session musician. With his friend, songwriter Harlan Howard , he began to write songs. Together they founded the music publisher Blue Book Music.
Owen's last single on Pep was There Goes My Heart / Sweethearts in Heaven , after which he tried unsuccessfully with the Chesterfield label. In addition to Owens 'engagement as a solo musician, he took over the vocals and guitar part for Bill Woods ' Orange Blossom Boys, a regional band from Bakersfield. Owens can also be heard on some of Woods' recordings. During this time Owens and Woods performed frequently in the Bakersfield Blackboard Club.
During a performance in a Bakersfield club, representatives of the Columbia record company became aware of him. This in turn prompted Capitol, for whom he was still working as a session musician, to offer him a contract. His first singles were again characterized by rockabilly, but failures. Owens gave up and moved to Tacoma , Washington , where he got involved in a radio station. In 1958 he was persuaded by Ken Nelson to do another recording session. His first single, Second Fiddle , reached a middle spot on the country charts . His breakthrough came a year later with the top 10 hit Under Your Spell Again .
Owens returned to Bakersfield. His next hit was Above and Beyond , written by his friend Harlan Howard. The next songs he wrote himself were also successful. In 1961 he released his debut album, Buck Owens , which moved up to number 2. In the same year he first recorded a single with Rose Maddox . With his band The Buckaroos he became a popular live act. The guitarist Don Rich , with whom he had a long-standing friendship, played a decisive role in this . Electric guitars were used to make themselves heard in the noisy dance halls . The Bakersfield Sound started here. In addition to the guitar, Owens also played the mandolin, saxophone, piano and drums.
1963 Buck Owens reached the top of the country charts with Act Naturally . It was the first in a non-stop series of 15 number 1 hits and was also recorded by the Beatles in 1965. His biggest hit was Love's Gonna Live Here , which was on top for 16 weeks. In 1965 he was named Singer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music . He started The Buck Owens Ranch Show , his own television series, and started other companies. In 1966 he bought a radio station. His record successes continued. Bakersfield, meanwhile, had become an important center for country music. The hard honky tonk played here was a welcome alternative to the soft, pop-oriented Nashville sound . New stars like Merle Haggard and Wynn Stewart stepped into the spotlight. His ex-wife Bonnie, with whom he was still on friendly terms, also had respectable success.
From 1969 he hosted the television show Hee Haw together with Roy Clark . The extraordinarily successful comedy show ran for almost twenty years and made Buck Owens known far beyond the country scene. His record successes continued. At the same time he was increasingly entrepreneurial. Among other things, he opened a state-of-the-art recording studio in Bakersfield. As an artist, artist agent and business investor who did not lose control of his songs while marketing his songs, he had such great financial success within ten years that his adopted home, Bakersfield, was jokingly called "Buckersfield". In 1970 the band Creedence Clearwater Revival honored him with the line “Dinosaur Victrola, listening to Buck Owens” in their song Lookin 'out My Back Door .
Gradual withdrawal
In July 1974, his close friend Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident. At first Owens lost all motivation to continue working. His contract with Capitol was not renewed in 1975. He switched to the Warner Music Group , but here too he could no longer build on his old successes. He increasingly withdrew from the music business and focused on his businesses and the still popular television show. In 1987 Dwight Yoakam , a young musician on the Bakersfield scene, persuaded Owens to make a comeback. Their jointly produced single Streets of Bakersfield reached the top of the country charts.
Encouraged by the success, Owens tried a fresh start. In 1988 he signed another contract with his old Capitol label. Two albums and some singles were produced, including a duet with ex- Beatle Ringo Starr . In the early 1990s he survived a cancer operation that slightly impaired his ability to speak and sing. In 1996 he received the greatest honor awarded in country music: he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame . In the same year he opened the Crystal Palace club restaurant in Bakersfield, where he performed regularly until shortly before his death. Buck Owens died in 2006 of complications from cancer that he had suffered from since 1993.
Discography
Albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | Country | |||
1963 | Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins | - |
Country1 (30 weeks) Country |
|
On the bandstand | - |
Country2 (50 weeks) Country |
||
1964 | Together again |
US88 (18 weeks) US |
Country1 (39 weeks) Country |
|
I do not care |
US135 (5 weeks) US |
Country1 (32 weeks) Country |
||
1965 | I've Got a Tiger by the Tail |
US43 (22 weeks) US |
Country1 (33 weeks) Country |
|
Before you go | - |
Country1 (33 weeks) Country |
||
The Instrumental Hits of Buck Owens and His Buckaroos |
- |
Country4 (28 weeks) Country |
||
1966 | Roll out the red carpet |
US106 (10 weeks) US |
Country1 (30 weeks) Country |
|
Dust on Mother's Bible | - |
Country1 (23 weeks) Country |
||
Open up your heart | - |
Country1 (26 weeks) Country |
||
1967 | Your tender loving care |
US177 (7 weeks) US |
Country1 (26 weeks) Country |
|
1968 | It takes people like you | - |
Country1 (20 weeks) Country |
|
Sweet Rosie Jones | - |
Country2 (19 weeks) Country |
||
The Guitar Player | - |
Country27 (6 weeks) Country |
||
I've Got You on My Mind Again |
US199 (2 weeks) US |
Country19 (11 weeks) Country |
||
1969 | Tall Dark Stranger |
US122 (10 weeks) US |
Country2 (26 weeks) Country |
|
Big in Vegas |
US141 (6 weeks) US |
Country9 (18 weeks) Country |
||
1970 | Your Mother's Prayer |
US198 (2 weeks) US |
- | |
We're gonna get together |
US154 (6 weeks) US |
Country10 (22 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
The Kansas City Song |
US196 (2 weeks) US |
Country10 (16 weeks) Country |
||
The Great White Horse | - |
Country22 (15 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
I wouldn't live in New York City |
US190 (2 weeks) US |
Country12 (13 weeks) Country |
||
1971 | Bridge Over Troubled Water | - |
Country11 (14 weeks) Country |
|
Ruby | - |
Country9 (17 weeks) Country |
||
1972 | Too Old to Cut Mustard | - |
Country35 (4 weeks) Country |
with Buddy Alan
|
1973 | In the Palm of Your Hand | - |
Country21 (8 weeks) Country |
|
Ain't It Amazing Gracie | - |
Country17 (11 weeks) Country |
||
The Good 'Ol Days (Are Here Again) | - |
Country29 (7 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
Arms full of empty | - |
Country32 (9 weeks) Country |
||
1974 | It's a Monster's Holiday | - |
Country10 (14 weeks) Country |
|
1975 | 41st Street Lonely Heart's Club | - |
Country21 (5 weeks) Country |
|
1976 | Buck 'Em | - |
Country39 (9 weeks) Country |
|
1988 | hot dog | - |
Country37 (13 weeks) Country |
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More albums
- 1961: Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard
- 1962: You're for Me
- 1965: Christmas with Buck Owens and his Buckaroos
- 1968: Christmas Shopping
- 1971: Merry Christmas from Buck Owens & Susan Raye (with Susan Raye)
- 1977: Our Old Mansion
- 1989: Act Naturally
- 1991: Kickin 'In
- 2018: Country Singer's Prayer
Live albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | Country | |||
1966 | Carnegie Hall Concert |
US114 (10 weeks) US |
Country1 (29 weeks) Country |
|
1967 | In Japan! | - |
Country1 (22 weeks) Country |
|
1969 | Buck Owens "Live" in London |
US113 (5 weeks) US |
Country5 (23 weeks) Country |
|
1972 | Live at John Ascuga's Nugget | - |
Country3 (21 weeks) Country |
|
Live at the White House | - |
Country10 (12 weeks) Country |
More live albums
- 1970: Buck Owens Live in Scandinavia
- 1974: Live in New Zealand
- 1974: Live at the Sydney Opera House
- 2007: Live in Austin, TX
Compilations
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | Country | |||
1964 | The Best of Buck Owens |
US46
gold
(31 weeks)US |
Country2 (41 weeks) Country |
|
1968 | Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 2 | - |
Country5 (26 weeks) Country |
|
1969 | Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 3 | - |
Country12 (19 weeks) Country |
|
1971 | The Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 4 | - |
Country17 (16 weeks) Country |
|
1972 | The Best of Buck and Susan | - |
Country15 (12 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
1974 | The Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 5 | - |
Country35 (6 weeks) Country |
|
1976 | The Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 6 | - |
Country34 (5 weeks) Country |
|
2006 | 21 # 1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection | - |
Country55 (3 weeks) Country |
|
2012 | Coloring book | - |
Country63 (1 week) Country |
|
2015 | Classic # 1 hits | - |
Country49 (1 week) Country |
More compilations
- 1961: Buck Owens
- 1970: Merry Hee Haw Christmas
- 1994: The Very Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 1
- 1994: The Very Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 2
- 2013: Honky Tonk Man: Buck Sings Country Classics
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | Country | |||
1959 | Second Fiddle Buck Owens |
- |
Country24 (2 weeks) Country |
|
Under Your Spell Again Buck Owens |
- |
Country4 (22 weeks) Country |
||
1960 | Above and Beyond Buck Owens |
- |
Country3 (30 weeks) Country |
|
Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache) Buck Owens |
- |
Country2 (24 weeks) Country |
||
I've got a right to know |
- |
Country25 (3 weeks) Country |
B-side of Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)
|
|
1961 | Foolin 'Around Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard |
- |
Country2 (26 weeks) Country |
|
High as the Mountains |
- |
Country27 (1 week) Country |
B-side of Foolin 'Around
|
|
Mentally Cruelty Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard |
- |
Country8 (12 weeks) Country |
with Rose Maddox
|
|
Loose talk |
- |
Country4 (14 weeks) Country |
B-side of Mental Cruelty
with Rose Maddox |
|
Under the Influence of Love You're for Me |
- |
Country2 (24 weeks) Country |
||
1962 | Nobody's Fool But Yours You're for Me |
- |
Country11 (16 weeks) Country |
|
Save the Last Dance for Me Together Again |
- |
Country11 (11 weeks) Country |
||
Kickin 'Our Hearts Around On the Bandstand |
- |
Country8 (8 weeks) Country |
||
I Can't Stop (My Lovin 'You) |
- |
Country17 (5 weeks) Country |
B-side of Kickin 'Our Hearts Around
|
|
You're for Me You're for Me |
- |
Country10 (14 weeks) Country |
||
House down the block |
- |
Country24 (3 weeks) Country |
B-side of You're for Me
|
|
1963 | Act Naturally The Best of Buck Owens |
- |
Country1 (39 weeks) Country |
|
Love's Gonna Live Here The Best of Buck Owens |
- |
Country1 (30 weeks) Country |
||
We're the talk of the town |
- |
Country15 (6 weeks) Country |
with Rose Maddox
|
|
1964 | My Heart Skips a Beat Together Again |
US94 (2 weeks) US |
Country1 (26 weeks) Country |
|
Together again |
- |
Country1 (27 weeks) Country |
B-side of My Heart Skips a Beat
|
|
I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me) I Don't Care |
US92 (3 weeks) US |
Country1 (27 weeks) Country |
||
Don't let her know |
- |
Country33 (9 weeks) Country |
B-side of I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)
|
|
I've Got a Tiger By the Tail I've Got a Tiger By the Tail |
US25 (9 weeks) US |
Country1 (20 weeks) Country |
||
1965 | Before You Go Before You Go |
US83 (2 weeks) US |
Country1 (20 weeks) Country |
|
Only You (Can Break My Heart) Your Tender Loving Care |
- |
Country1 (19 weeks) Country |
||
Gonna have love |
- |
Country10 (21 weeks) Country |
B-side of Only You (Can Break My Heart)
|
|
Buckaroo The Instrumental Hits of Buck Owens and His Buckaroos |
US60 (9 weeks) US |
Country1 (17 weeks) Country |
||
If you want a love |
- |
Country24 (9 weeks) Country |
B-side of Buckaroo
|
|
1966 | Waitin 'in Your Welfare Line Open Up Your Heart |
US57 (7 weeks) US |
Country1 (19 weeks) Country |
|
Think of Me Open Up Your Heart |
US74 (5 weeks) US |
Country1 (21 weeks) Country |
||
Open Up Your Heart Open Up Your Heart |
- |
Country1 (20 weeks) Country |
||
Where Does the Good Times Go It Takes People Like You |
- |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
||
1967 | Sam's Place Your Tender Loving Care |
US92 (2 weeks) US |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
|
Your Tender Loving Care Your Tender Loving Care |
- |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
||
It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me) It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me) |
- |
Country2 (18 weeks) Country |
||
1968 | How Long Will My Baby Be Gone Sweet Rosie Jones |
- |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
|
Sweet Rosie Jones Sweet Rosie Jones |
- |
Country2 (15 weeks) Country |
||
Let the World Keep On a Turnin ' I've Got You on Mind Again |
- |
Country7 (15 weeks) Country |
with Buddy Alan
|
|
I've Got You on Mind Again I've Got You on Mind Again |
- |
Country5 (15 weeks) Country |
||
1969 | Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass Buck Owens "Live" in London |
- |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
|
Johnny B. Goode Buck Owens in London "Live" |
- |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
Tall Dark Stranger Tall Dark Stranger |
- |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
Big in Vegas Big in Vegas |
US100 (1 week) US |
Country5 (13 weeks) Country |
||
1970 | The Kansas City Song The Kansas City Song |
- |
Country2 (15 weeks) Country |
|
I Wouldn't Live in New York City (If They Gave Me the Whole Dang Town) I Wouldn't Live in New York City |
- |
Country9 (13 weeks) Country |
||
We're Gonna Get Together We're Gonna Get Together |
- |
Country13 (11 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
Togetherness We're Gonna Get Together |
- |
Country12 (12 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
The Great White Horse The Great White Horse |
- |
Country8 (13 weeks) Country |
with Susan Raye
|
|
1971 |
Bridge Over Troubled Water Bridge Over Troubled Water |
- |
Country9 (13 weeks) Country |
|
Ruby (Are You Mad) Ruby |
- |
Country3 (17 weeks) Country |
||
Rollin 'in My Sweet Baby's Arms Ruby |
- |
Country2 (14 weeks) Country |
||
Too Old to Cut the Mustard Too Old to Cut Mustard |
- |
Country29 (10 weeks) Country |
with Buddy Alan
|
|
1972 | I'll Still Be Waiting for You Live at John Ascuaga's Nugget |
- |
Country8 (12 weeks) Country |
|
Made in Japan In the Palm of Your Hand |
- |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
You Ain't Gonna Have 'Ol Buck to Kick Around No More In the Palm of Your Hand |
- |
Country13 (14 weeks) Country |
||
In the Palm of Your Hand In the Palm of Your Hand |
- |
Country23 (12 weeks) Country |
||
Looking Back to See The Best of Buck and Susan |
- |
Country13 (14 weeks) Country |
||
1973 | Ain't It Amazing, Gracie Ain't It Amazing, Gracie |
- |
Country14 (11 weeks) Country |
|
Arms Full of Empty Arms Full of Empty |
- |
Country27 (11 weeks) Country |
||
Big Game Hunter The Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 5 |
- |
Country8 (12 weeks) Country |
||
The Good Ol 'Days Are Here Again The Good Ol' Days Are Here Again |
- |
Country35 (8 weeks) Country |
||
1974 | On the Cover of Music City News It's a Monster's Holiday |
- |
Country9 (13 weeks) Country |
|
(It's a) Monster's Holiday It's a Monster's Holiday |
- |
Country6 (13 weeks) Country |
||
Great Expectations It's a Monster's Holiday |
- |
Country8 (15 weeks) Country |
||
1975 | 41st Street Lonely Heart's Club 41st Street Lonely Heart's Club |
- |
Country19 (7 weeks) Country |
|
The Battle of New Orleans The Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 6 |
- |
Country51 (7 weeks) Country |
||
Love Is Strange We're Gonna Get Together |
- |
Country20 (13 weeks) Country |
||
1976 | Hollywood Waltz Buck 'Em |
- |
Country44 (9 weeks) Country |
|
California Okie Buck 'Em |
- |
Country43 (8 weeks) Country |
||
1977 | It's Been a Long, Long Time Buck 'Em |
- |
Country100 (1 week) Country |
|
World Famous Holiday Inn Our Old Mansion |
- |
Country90 (4 weeks) Country |
||
Our Old Mansion Our Old Mansion |
- |
Country91 (3 weeks) Country |
||
1978 | Nights Are Forever Without You |
- |
Country27 (12 weeks) Country |
|
Do You Wanna Make Love |
- |
Country80 (5 weeks) Country |
||
1979 | Play Together Again, Again |
- |
Country11 (13 weeks) Country |
with Emmylou Harris
|
Hangin 'In and Hangin' On |
- |
Country30 (10 weeks) Country |
||
Let Jesse Rob the Train |
- |
Country22 (13 weeks) Country |
||
1980 | Love is a warm cowboy |
- |
Country42 (9 weeks) Country |
|
Moonlight and Magnolias |
- |
Country72 (4 weeks) Country |
||
1981 | Without you |
- |
Country92 (2 weeks) Country |
|
1988 | Hot dog hot dog |
- |
Country46 (9 weeks) Country |
|
1989 | A-11 hot dog |
- |
Country54 (6 weeks) Country |
|
Put a quarter in the jukebox hot dog |
- |
Country60 (7 weeks) Country |
More singles
- 1956: Down on the Corner of Love
- 1956: Right After the Dance
- 1957: Hot Dog (as Corky Jones)
- 1957: I'd Rather Have You (with Pauline Parker)
- 1957: There Goes My Heart
- 1957: Country Girl (Leaving Dirty Tracks)
- 1957: Come Back
- 1958: Sweet Thing
- 1958: I'll Take a Chance on Loving You
- 1960: Heartaches For a Dime
- 1968: Things I Saw Happening at the Fountain
- 1975: Country Singer's Prayer
- 1977: Let the Good Times Roll
- 1990: Tijuana Lady
- 1992: If You Can't Find a Reason to Be Happy
Guest Posts
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | Country | |||
1988 | Streets of Bakersfield Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room |
- |
Country1 (18 weeks) Country |
with Dwight Yoakam
|
literature
- Siegfried Schmidt-Joos , Barry Graves : Rock Lexicon. Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1973, 2nd edition 1975, reprint 1978, ISBN 3-499-16177-X , p. 264.
Web links
swell
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Owens, Buck |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Owens, Alvis Edgar Jr. |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country singer |
DATE OF BIRTH | August 12, 1929 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Sherman , Texas |
DATE OF DEATH | March 25, 2006 |
Place of death | Bakersfield |