The Life and Times of Buck Owens

43 minute documentary about Honky Tonk rebel, Bakersfield Sound pioneer, and country music icon, Buck Owens. Owens emerged from Bakersfield, California, nestled in the agriculture-rich San Joaquin Valley, where a stripped down, tough new style of country music emerged, based on the sing-what-you-feel and 'mean what you sing' ethos. Owens and guitarist/vocalist Don Rich, helped pioneer that 'Bakersfield Sound', a twangy, Fender Telecaster-driven, rock-influenced interpretation of hardcore honky tonk, that emerged in the '60s. Owens was the first breakout country star from Bakersfield, scoring a total of 15 consecutive number one hits between 1963 and 1967. Buck Owens and The Buckaroos provided an alternative to the Nashville-produced, string-laden country-pop of the time. Even the Beatles were fans and allegedly received advance copies of every new Buck Owens and the Buckaroos album, shipped directly from Capitol Records Hollywood, to London EMI. In fact, the Beatles were such big fans, they covered the Buckaroos' s 'Act Naturally'. This documentary has interviews with songwriter Harlan Howard, Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, and Rodney Crowell, to name a few.

[@matthewdavidlandberg91588]

Buck & Don we're the quintessential duo of honky tonk

[@jeffclark7888]

Yes.

[@michaelfleming40]

I LOVE how Buck Owens loved the Beatles.

[@TJamesBell]

Not only did the Beatles cover Buck and Buckaroos 'Act Naturally', it's safe to say that John Lennon was trying to write a song in the Buck Owens style when he wrote both 'I'll Cry Instead' off AHDN soundtrack, and 'Dr. Robert' off 'Revolver'. Go back and listen?

[@mikefournier2601]

Him an don were great 👍💪💪 R I P Buck an Don Rich they were ment to be together

[@jewelsandbinoculars1]

Man…. How the heck could Buck write all those amazing sad songs without having to live it out…. Amazing talent

[@gregoryj.m.8985]

Buck did a song in the mid 50s called " it don't show on me " , but Buck lived quite a bit of it ...I got a chance to meet Buck at his Crystal Palace a couple times ...a great show man and music artist , and a great place to eat and dance with Buck Owens playing live...with one of his custom cars literally mounted up behind the bar...good times and a hopping place.

[@TJamesBell]

He knew struggles, as his family migrated from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to eventually settle in Bakersfield and he worked his ass off in the fields growing up, vowing he'd never spend the rest of his life doing that!

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Are u serious? A person doesn't have to live like an idiot to speak of ut...that's an ignorant country music foolishness..drinking n pill popping to be creative?? Gtfs

[@randyjones7818]

Buck and don are legends.of country music for good..thanks for all those great capitol records of the 1960s.

[@TJamesBell]

No doubt.

[@suecurtis8313]

love the lifetime of buck owens sue!

[@lbowen9708]

Glad I got to see him in person 2 times in the 60s

[@figmo397]

As a kid, I didn’t know who Buck Owens was before Hee-Haw, but every time he’d sing, I’d realize that I’d heard his songs and that they’d become classics.

[@Docsjeff]

We covered MIJapan,Together Again,Under Your Spell,& Love's Gona Live Here Sat. night and people absolutely LOVED IT!!!

[@TJamesBell]

Awesome, buddy! Those are great songs.

[@tommeredith7462]

I loved the Hee Haw days, great memories!

[@ladbeethoven9]

Buck Owens was awesome, he put "country" in country music. The real deal.. Loved Buck Owen's music

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

You got it perfect

[@davidmiglin4110]

I nave not watched any video where it appeared Buck and Don were not having fun. love this

[@CC-te5zf]

18 number ones in six years. Amazing. I highly recommend Buck's book.

[@FrankJamesMusic]

The A to Z of Buck and Bakersfield.

[@thomastohiana6479]

❤forever a Buck Owens fan follower.

[@ThePoobears]

great tribute of a great singer RIP Buck Owens

[@williambergman3840]

They were a fantastic band❤️

[@ThePoobears]

@@williambergman3840 yes they were

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Buck Owens' pledge to country music: 1. I shall sing no song that is not a country song. 2. I shall make no record that is not a country record. 3. I refuse to be known as anything but a country singer. 4. I am proud to be associated with country music. 5. Country music and country music fans have made me what I am today. 6. And I shall not forget it.

[@SuperSklarman]

then came "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Who's Gonna Mow your Grass..." When Don Rich died, so did Buck's career.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@SuperSklarman It would take a Kentucky native and fellow Bakersfield music fan, Dwight Yoakam, to rejuvenate Buck's career.

[@jeffclark7888]

1965.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

Tom Brumleys Together again is one of most iconic pedal steel solo by Buck Owen and Buckaroo's and all so remember Don Riches Instrumental Buckaroo is the only #1 instamental on the charts in country music . From Greatest Country Western Band that ever existed.

[@DJK-cq2uy]

@@user-ci6by1ky6e I'd bet on that cowboy!!! 🤠 👢 🤠

[@knowmusicman157]

21 number 1 hits. Don Rich people and Tom Brumley steel. No steel, no California Country

[@jameshepburn4631]

Thank Ralph Mooney for the great pedal steel sound, way more accented, rhythmic, and out front than the more sedate Nashville style steelers like Jimmy Day or Buddy Emmons.

[@evelyncalhoun2121]

Amen Buck Owens

[@Docsjeff]

He kept it simple but with a “Telecaster” “PUNCH”.He is one of my biggest influences and thousands of other country singers.

[@c.j.benoit8662]

Buck Owens might have been a Country Artist to the bone, but his attitude into Country was as Punk Rock as they come.

[@TJamesBell]

Agreed.

[@jeffclark7888]

Agree.

[@flybob63]

People always said he had the best rock and roll band in country music. I agree with that.

[@alangray9117]

Just like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings too.

[@kathikerney3754]

there were so many great pickers and singer's that came out of the pacific northwest that never made it big but were amazing .

[@gypsydavy708]

Loretta Lynn was living in Washington State when she recorded her first song.

[@jeffclark7888]

@@gypsydavy708 true. She was discovered by Buck and given her big break by him from his small radio station in Tacoma, Washington in 1960.

[@artguti1551]

The Ventures were Great Musicians from the Pacific Northwest and CCR was from the Pacific West...

[@aimsd8747]

Would love to have been able to watch The Buck owens ranch show. But glad to have some parts on KZbin.

[@TJamesBell]

Hey, The Ranch Show master tapes were all saved, and and there's a 3 Volume DVD set available. I own them and they're incredible. Video and audio quality are exceptional. The Video Beat website has all 3 Volumes. www.thevideobeat.com/mod-movies/buck-owens-ranch-show-vol1.html

[@leebirdwell8263]

I was 11 years old when the Beatles came along. My older sister and all of her friends were going nutso over them while I was really into Buck Owens and Johnny Cash. I really do miss his kind of music, especially in light of some of the garbage coming out of Nashville. As an entertainer for 50 years, I have done a bunch of Buck's songs.

[@jeffclark7888]

Outstanding!

[@TJamesBell]

Well done, sir! When you say the "garbage coming out of Nashville", I have to think you're referring to this 'new country' that so many people seem to like, that all sounds like it was written by the same guy, produced by the same guy, and every song has the words 'pickup truck' in it, and is as formulaic as formulaic gets? But I don't have an opinion about it. I prefer Buck, Merle, and Johnny and all the older class of country artists, so yes, I agree!

[@jeffclark7888]

@@TJamesBell precisely.

[@Docsjeff]

Me too,& peopie still love em and request them.

[@havenhemmings3574]

I remember seeing Buck and the Buckaroos playing in a grocery store parking lot in late 1964. He worked hard for his money. Also about the same year Johnny Cash and the Statler Brothers played at our High School. Tickets were $3. They didn't exactly drive in limousines back then.

[@zorro149]

I loved this. Thanks for posting!

[@andyokus5735]

I really enjoyed that. I loved Buck Owen's and his funky twangy kick ass music as a kid. Even though I say I'm a jazz musician I can chicken pick with the best of them. Country and Western is every bit as American as Jazz and Blues is. That's why we're the greatest country on earth; Our music!

[@TJamesBell]

Agreed! That and our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Free Press! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@alwayssme]

don rich was great backup for buck

[@daneallan1320]

It's really rare for unrelated singers (lead/harmony) to sound as good as, say, the Everly Brothers, etc. They were great together. Excellent.

[@TJamesBell]

Good point. Don and Phil had the great DNA harmonies. Brian , Carl, and Dennis Wilson, with cousin Mike Love also had those beautiful DNA harmonies. However, non-DNA, fully synced harmonies are more rare. Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison also had that gift. Hadn't really thought about this much.

[@daneallan1320]

@@TJamesBell there is a version of Jacobs ladder by the Stanley brothers on KZbin in b/w. If you use earphones, the bass from Carter Stanley is freaking Erie and almost spooky. I get shivers every time I listen to it. Or IRA and Charlie Louvin (brothers)are great as well. they switch from lead to harmony half way through the word. Also on KZbin. Amazing!

[@TJamesBell]

@@daneallan1320 Good tips.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

Your write Buck and Don singing were majic and legendary

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

Don Rich is so under appreciated? He taught himself to imitate Buck’s accent.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

I grew up playing Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, I learned to play like Don Rich, pedal steel like Tom Brumley. Then there was Willie Cantue on drums and Doyle on bass what a great band there will never be another.

[@TJamesBell]

Well done! There will never be another like that superb band. Even the Beatles were fan, and got advance copies of every Buck Owens and Buckaroos albums, since they were both on Capitol.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

Thank You so much

[@Docsjeff]

I'm still trying to learn Tom's steel licks. I was 4 yrs old in 1965 and my grandmother had 5-6 Buck Owens 45's.I would get some boxes and 2 spoons and sit down in front of their console stereo and play drums to those records until they wore completely out.I've been a frontman my entire life,& still cover his tunes.The great thing about them is people still Love and Request them everywhere we play.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

@@Docsjeff I love what you did at 4 years old I know how you feel I was 6 in 1958 I wanted to play so bad I made my own guitar out of 3 boards 8 nails 4 springs set in front of my mom's hifi playing country music . Then I heard Buck Owen,s and then Tom Brumleys steel what and inspiration thank you for telling me this please let me know about more. Thank You

[@flybob63]

I tried very hard to emulate Don Rich on my Tele. Never got it nailed but I hope a little of his influence comes thru.

[@frankchilds9848]

Buck Owens was totally awesome and natural at the same time. He was a free spirit but no fool. How many many kinds of people have been touched by his music and songs! He had an International following...even the Beatles covered one of his songs ACT NATURALLY...

[@rogeralsop3479]

Marvellous!

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

Alvis Edgar Owens Jr., conocido como Buck Owens (Sherman, Texas, 12 de agosto de 1929 - Bakersfield, California, 25 de marzo de 2006), fue un cantante country estadounidense.

[@danielmoose1273]

Outstanding Video(!!!) ... Thank You(!!!) 🙂.

[@TJamesBell]

Thanks.

[@margaritasanchez4132]

Amo a este señor por su gran talento y por maravilloso ser que proyectaba A veces me pregunto como seres así dejan de existir ❤

[@Baci302]

His huge loss of Don Rich affected Vuck greatly.

[@user-ci6by1ky6e]

Yes Buck was never the same again

[@elivrazdravkovic8544]

O boy , love,love love them ,miss them 🙏

[@jameshepburn4631]

I still remember Buck & The Buckaroos as the grand finale artists at the huge Capitol Records show at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968. Buck stopped after the second song and spoke into the microphone “Mr. Sound Man, please don’t turn down any volumes of the amps or microphones. This is Bakersfield style country music”. The full house went wild and must have inspired Buck because he stayed about twice as long as a regular set taking requests shouted from the fans.

[@TJamesBell]

Good story.

[@johnwright291]

Buck rented a house from my father in algona Washington. Its between Seattle and Tacoma. He was a disk jockey at a local radio station. He also was a regular on a nightly local tv show that featured country artists including Loretta Lynn who also lived in the area. It was broadcast from a honky tonk on Pacific Avenue in tacoma. It was in 1958.

[@TJamesBell]

I'll be damned. Great story.

[@johnwright291]

@@TJamesBell buck met his musical partner who's name I cant remember at the gay nineties restaurant in tacoma. They played together for many years until he was killed in a motorcycle accident on pacific coast highway in so cal. Buck was devastated.

[@johnwright291]

@@TJamesBell I might have all ready sent you this but buck met don rich at the gay nineties restaurant in tacoma. They played together until rich was killed in a motorcycle crash on pacific highway in so cal. Buck was devastated.

[@TJamesBell]

@@johnwright291 Yes, Don Rich. Like if at the height of the Beatles success in the 60's, Paul McCartney died in a horrible car or motorcycle crash. Nearly impossible to carry on, and if you do, only a pale facsimile of what it was. Terribly sad for Buck, and Don't family.

[@ButchHolt]

Really cool note here. Thanks for adding this personal touch in these comments. Have good Holiday season John! 'Butch

[@ginastrella9666]

🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

Hee Haw originally was a summer replacement series for CBS after Tommy Smothers caused CBS to cancel his popular show, which was controversial. It(Hee Haw) became VERY popular, even though it was a blatant copy of NBC's innovative fast-paced comic variety show Laugh-In. It was cancelled in 1971 when US TV networks cancelled ALL their Country-friendly shows - like Westerns, along with Green Acres and the Beverly Hillbillies, which were still popular. A lot of innovative TV shows began in the early 1970s; this trend reflected a BIG change in the people of the US, in their views AND their viewing habits. Shows like All In the Family and MASH would not have happened without "Old-fashioned" shows like Gunsmoke and The Ed Sullivan Show going away. But Country Music fans took Hee Haw to their hearts, and it was produced for syndication for 20 more years. And Buck Owens - without his Buckaroos, unfortunately - was a GREAT part of it's success for the first 10 or 12 years or so. The existence of Hee Haw kept the flame of serious Country Music burning bright even when the Grand Ole Opry moved out of the old Ryman Auditorium, and kept great Country music going.

[@willie6185]

First concert I ever went to was Buck Owens and the Buckaroo’s. Long time ago. I

[@ChristineJonah88]

I didn't know the story of Bill dying and Buck getting depressed. Sad.

[@TJamesBell]

You mean Don Rich, but yeah.

[@gregoryj.m.8985]

Buck tried to talk Don Rich from riding on his Harley Davidson from Bakersfield to San Simeon to go on a deep sea fishing trip ...Don wrecked the Harley Davidson on northbound coast Highway one in Morro Bay...he was almost at his fishing destination.

[@rogerlawson4516]

Johnny B Goode was a country song when Buck Owens and his Buckaroo's sang it.

[@reddeserted13]

The man is a galdern genius

[@TJamesBell]

I'll agree with that.

[@DJK-cq2uy]

No one be fooled..hes not just holding that guitar like so many if them do..watch him play lead once..no joke

[@crichez7963]

The video looks good to me

[@angelawho9083]

@#DalrocksAuntJesses. @#Newport. @#RichylieusJazzY

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

Read his book.

[@gailcaldwell1512]

Enjoyed the story. However, I have to take issue a bit with some of your facts. You mention how Buck had such a hard time “AFTER BONNIE’S DEATH”, But Buck died BEFORE Bonnie did. He died in March of 2006, Bonnie died in April of 2006. So, either you’re just mistaken, (I’m being polite here b/c you ARE mistaken), or you’re trying to say since the marriage died, he wasn’t the same. Which is in fact true. HOWEVER, Buck didn’t live his life on Pity Party Lane. He always got up and made things happen. And when he had the resurgence with his music, (Thank you Dwight Yokham) he really settled down and was the man that most “thought” he was. He’d quit the hard drinking and womanizing that hard troubled his life. But when he did die, his heart was in the best place. And his death broke a lot of hearts. As far as he and the Hag. Hag NEVER said a bad word about Buck. He loved Buck. Bonnie and Buck were only married for 5 yrs, And Bonnie and Merle were married 13 yrs. But they stayed friends until the day they died. She sang with him when she was unable to. And in fact, Bonnie’s Husband of over 25 yrs, Fred McMillian and Merle were great friends. They joked about the situation often. Lots of folks can learn something from that! So PS. You might want to spend a little more time talking to the right folks, or reading some FACT SHEETS (and side bar…that DOES NOT MEAN THE TABLOIDS) But telling the truth of a story is ALWAYS BEST. WHETHER IT’s the juiciest or not!

[@TJamesBell]

Hi Gail. Thanks for your comment. I didn't make the film. I just recorded it off of CMT back in 2000-2001.

[@LillyMelody01]

✨🤍✨

[@bigetcb9994]

I know Dwight seen this

[@SuperSklarman]

For anyone who hates those darn immigrants from Mexico...might be a good idea to watch this. Buck and so many like him used to tend the fields. How many kids today would do this work? None? Wonder why we need immigrants? Watch this video.

[@monto39]

Now how the hell can you tell the story of the early Buck Owens sound and not even MENTION Ralph Mooney's pedal steel? I love Buck Owens' early records, and that twangy ass steel guitar twisting all throughout it is by far what I love the best. I'd prob have liked it w/out him, but I'm glad I'll never have to know. But...I really dug this video anyways. That (1960 ?) footage of Buck on the Faron Young show is incredible

[@TJamesBell]

CMT produced it. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@markpede1865]

this video is an insult to buck and his friends. re-do it and take out all of the skips and blanks

[@TJamesBell]

It's from a VHS tape. That's the best it gets.

[@philipmendisco6656]

​@@TJamesBell agree. This guy ought to be ashamed of himself. But I looked and I looked and I just couldn't find the better quality buck Owen's video that you posted on your channel. Please show us how much better of a job you did

[@TJamesBell]

@@philipmendisco6656 If you'd like, I'll upload it this week. It's about 30% better quality. On the other hand, this one has 77,000 views and 1000 Likes already.

[@philipmendisco6656]

@@TJamesBell wonderful. I can't take this anymore. 30 percent will be a huge improvement and hopefully will discourage others on this platform from posting such low quality rubbish. Thanks from all of us who prefer better quality

[@TJamesBell]

@@philipmendisco6656 "rubbish"?? Slow down there, chief. As I stated, it 's from a VHS tape from 2001! You want HD, go find the Blu-ray, which doesn't exist. This is about the best it gets. Stop complaining. 99% of the comments in here are positive and it has 1000 Likes. Take it down four notches. You also know the beginning of the doc is trying to simulate the flickering of an old 35mm film projector?? That's how that ongoing documentary series' opening credits started.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I turned off because the intro gave me a seizure

[@TJamesBell]

I hope you were joking about the 'seizure'? That Intro was a deliberate special effect added to the film (not by me!) to duplicate an old time movie house screening of a movie from a projector room. It's only the first few seconds. It was an ongoing series on CMT in the late 90's/early 2000's called 'The Life And Times Of...'.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

@@TJamesBell yeah I think it was just indigestion

[@georgebrill6549]

I loved Buck, but the sound on this clip really sucks!

[@williambergman3840]

Agreed100

[@TJamesBell]

It's from an old VHS and that's the only source. CMT never re-aired it. Best it gets, pal!

[@jimreeves5212]

Horrible taping.

[@TJamesBell]

It's from a VHS. As good as it gets.

[@neilforbes416]

Poor transfer from home recorded VHS resulting in several freezes - crap! 👎👎👎👎👎

[@dennisschell5543]

This otherwise wonderful video is ruined by the technical glitch....DUH!!!

[@TJamesBell]

Which would be what?

[@dennisschell5543]

Audio sucks... 😠

[@TJamesBell]

Well, it's from the late 90's and recorded on a VHS tape, and then transferred to digital, so that's the best we got.