Posted: Nov. 14, 2013
![Buck 'Em! by Randy Poe Buck 'Em! by Randy Poe](https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1374639504l/17990092.jpg)
HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This
book has a lot of information about Buck Owens. Starts from his birth, how his
mom and dad got together, and after a few years they ended up in Texas. Part of
the family moved to California and some to Washington. Then goes into him
getting married having two children and trying to get into the music scene.
Playing in small bands and bowling alleys and dance halls. I guess that is
where people gathered during the 40’s and 50’s for dances.
He finally moved to Washington and got a
job at a radio station and started another band. After about a year they were
on their way to perform and needed another person for their band when someone
brought Don Rich along. This would be a partnership from 57 to 73 when Don Rich
passed away from a motorcycle accident. By 58 he had settled in Bakersfield,
CA. Making records, after not really having great sales after his first two he
told Capitol that he would make his next record in Bakersfield, they agreed.
Now 1963 his first album done the way he
wanted to do it produced the first of twenty-one number one country singles
from 63 to 72. The first being “Act Naturally”. Later this would become known
as the Bakersfield sound. From there he would start his own publishing company,
recording studio, all in Bakersfield not Nashville. He also was buying radio
stations in Arizona, Washington and Bakersfield.
In 1969 he was offered to co-host a new
show “Hee- Haw”, he said the money was to great to pass up for not that much
work. He was still selling records and his concerts were still sold out. He
said “that while other singers were buying bass boats he was buying radio
stations”. His songs were being recorded by the Beatles and Ray Charles, just
to name a few. One of Ray Charles’ famous songs “Cry’n Time,” was written by
Buck Owens.
By the early 70’s his record contract was
up for renewal at Capitol. He and his manger were able to get out of the
contract by the mid 70’s and Capitol gave him all of masters. So, 20 years
later when cd’s came out and he released his music it was his music.
This was a great book for me because I
heard his name when I was growing up and my grandparents would watch “Hee-Haw.”
But then I actually moved to Bakersfield in the mid 80’s. Buck Owens did a lot
for the town saved a local landmark for one, and his Crystal Palace which was
his last dream. I was sad to read how Nashville turned their back on him but
not the musicians’. Also it would have been interesting to know if Don Rich had
not passed away how many more records they would have made. Because he said it
took him years to get over that loss. Much more information in this book. A
great read. I got this book from net- galley.
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