Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens, Jr. 1929- 2006- An Appreciation

What would country music be without the icons that made it famous? The Carter family- in which a girl named June was a member of. Johnny Cash- in which that same girl named June would later marry. Johnny Horton (North to Alaska; Sink the Bismarck). And many others, past, present and current.

One legend among those legends: Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. The man we all know as Buck.

The man who gave himself the nickname Buck when he was about 3 or 4 (he named himself after a mule on the family farm in Sherman, Texas, where he was born on August 12, 1929) made numerous hits- Tiger by the Tail; Under Your Spell; and Act Naturally, among others- over a 40-plus year period. A new generation may remember him singing alongside Dwight Yoakam in the song "Streets of Bakersfield" (which Buck himself would record years earlier). Of course, as everyone knows, he created the "Bakersfield Sound", which is basically a chugging 2/4 freight train rhythm.

And of course, the other thing Owens would become synomonous with was a little show that aired from 1969 to 1994 (the first two years on CBS) that had a lot of pickin' and grinnin'...oh, and some prtetty 'KORN'-y jokes. Every Saturday night, my family would gather around the TV set, at seven o'clock on Channel Six in Columbus, Ohio (WTVN-TV- now WSYX-TV- the ABC station) and watch Hee Haw. That show was largely responsible for my being a country music fan, as every week Buck, his co-host Roy Clark, the Buckaroos, and about a score of others in the cast would tell jokes, the guest stars- be it Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, and Ray Charles, among others- would not be spared the jokes (or that god-awful song...where, where, are you tonight? Why did you leave me here all alone?...Try NOT to laugh as you're singing that...).

Many also know Buck owned radio stations- including KUZZ radio in Bakersfield, and controlled his musical empire, in addition to the Crystal Palace Restaurant.

Owens died Saturday night after a performance ( he had performed at his Crystal Palace restaurant/ auditorium earlier) of an apparent heart attack. He was 76.

I have the link to the video report from Bakersfield's NBC station, KGET-TV 17. Just click on the title. It must be noted that Owens was intensely proud of Bakersfield- he even bought the Bakersfield sign that you see as you enter town. And as fans and colleagues continue to mourn, it must be said that Bakersfield is very proud of its' transplant from Sherman, Texas.

Farewell, old friend. I know that you're pickin' and grinnin' in heaven tonight.