The death of former country music star Buck Owens was announced a few minutes ago.
As far as I know, Buck Owens has no direct connection to Route 66, other than being born in Texas and raised in several other Mother Road states (Arizona, California). But he was such a dominant country artist in the 1960s and early ’70s that you know that thousands, if not millions, of travelers listened to him on their car radios during Route 66’s heyday. Just look at the hits: “Together Again,” “Tiger By the Tail,” “Love’s Gonna Live Here,” “Act Naturally,” “I Don’t Care (As Long As You Love Me),” “Only You (Can Break My Heart)” … there are many others, believe me. Great, great stuff.
All I know is that heaven has gained one heck of a honky-tonker. At least he’ll be reunited with his longtime Buckeroos guitarist and backup vocalist Don Rich, who died in a motorcycle crash in 1974. Owens’ interest in music slid drastically after that, and it took until nearly the 1990s before Dwight Yoakam coaxed him out of his shell.
Here’s Owens’ Web site.
Not to mention, his music makes for great road cruisin’.
We bought a compilation cd at the Tulsa International Festival and enjoyed it out to Tucumcari and back on US 54. It had his songs done by other artists in honor of his birthday. I’m keeping my eye out for a greatest hits package.
Buck Owens influenced Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam with the Bakersfield Sound. Haggard’s family actually were Okies back in the Dust Bowl years and donated some things to the Smithsonian in regards to their trip on the Mother Road.
I recommend the “Very Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 1” and “Very Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 2” by Rhino Records. Both CDs have 16 songs apiece, and Amazon.com is selling both of them for a shade under $17 total, not counting shipping. It’s a bargain.