Buck Owens
Texas Country music star Buck Owens was born in Sherman, Texas and gained a lot of fame when the TV show Hee Haw came out. He was backed up by his band, The Buckaroos, and they entertained fans around the country for decades.
Buck Owens generally used fiddle and a pedal steel guitar into the 1970s, his sound on records and onstage was always more stripped-down. His signature style was based on simple storylines, great choruses, an electric guitar, and high two-part harmonies featuring Owens and his guitarist Don Rich.
He performed on Hee Haw with friend Roy Clark starting in 1968 and he stayed with the cast until 1986.
Buck and Don were best friends and Rich’s accidental death devastated Buck who abruptly quit performing. It was not until Dwight Yoakum performed with Buck in 1988 that he came back and started doing performances.
Buck Owens died on March 25, 2006 shortly after performing at his Crystal Palace restaurant, club and museum in Bakersfield.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Many were shocked in early 60s when Buck was proclaimed #1 country artist over George Jones….Since Sherman is my county seat, I can pass on this little tid-bit. 4-lane state hiway 82 goes thru Sherman (from Texarkana to near Wichita Falls). The stretch thru Sherman was re-named Buck Owens Frwy. several years ago. He came to do a gig for the dedication. Unique things is this: He bought ALL the tickets
(city auditorium holds appx 1500) which were distributed to local merchants to give away so anyone who wanted to attend would not be left out due to $$$! Real nice guy!