ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of the Buckaroos

The Buckaroos were a Grammy-winning band led by Buck Owens from 1963 to 1974, who were heavily involved in the development and presentation of the Bakersfield Sound.

Their peak of success was from 1965-1970. Known for their signature red, white and blue colored guitars and fiddles, the Buckaroos appear at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Don Rich and Buck Owens began a musical collaboration in 1959 that produced some of the best country music of the next decade. Rich was a fiddler when the two hooked up, but soon he was picking up Buck's trademark guitar licks.

Before long he had picked up the ball and run with it, to the extent that Owens had to persuade him to pick up the fiddle again.

The two were not only band-mates and songwriting partners, but close friends. Rich's untimely death from a 1974 motorcycle accident put Owens into a tailspin that effectively halted his music career for another decade.

(L-R) Buck Owens, Don Rich, Willie Cantu, Tom Brumley, Doyle Holly

Wayne Wilson, Merle Haggard, Don Rich, Kenny Pierce, Tom Brumley and Willie Cantu were the original members of the Buckaroos during the 1960's. The 1970's lineup, in part included Don Rich, Jerry Wiggins, Jerry Brightman, Doyle Singer, and Jim Shaw.

Various sidemen throughout the years worked as Buckaroos, including JD Maness,Wayne"Moose" Stone, Jay McDonald, Ken Presley and Merle Haggard Haggard (1962), who suggested the group's name. Jana Jae became the group's first female member and vocalist Victoria Hallman (aka Jesse Rose McQueen).

The Buckaroos recorded eight albums from 1967-1970, all of which were top sellers, including Buckaroo, an instrumental album that crossed over onto the pop charts. Meanwhile, the Buckaroos reportedly had to be arm-twisted into playing at Carnegie Hall, Owens believing there wouldn't be enough country fans inNew York Cityto make it worthwhile.

Buck's instincts were dead wrong. The 1966 show was an unmitigated, sold-out success, and the live release paved the way for more live albums by the band. The Buckaroos were named as Band of The Year by theAcademyofCountry Musicfour consecutive years (1965-1968). The Buckaroos were also selected as Instrumental Group of the Year in the Country Music Awards in 1967 and 1968.

Brightman, Jerry: Brightman joined the Buckaroos in 1972 and played steel guitar on Hee Haw until 1976.

Brumley, Tom: A star in his own right is the son of the late Albert E. Brumley. Tom left the Buckaroos in 1969 to join Ricky Nelson's band. Tom was inducted into both the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Brumley died in 2009.

Cantu, Willie: Cantu was residing in Nashville, teaching drum classes. He was involved in the development of new drumming technology.

Holly, Doyle: Holly was a Buckaroo for 7 1/2 years and left the band to begin a solo career in 1971. In 1970, Doyle received Bass Player of the Year award from the Academy of Country Musicas a member of the Buckaroos. Holly died in 2007.

Jackson, Ronnie: Jackson played banjo and rhythm guitar for the Buckaroos in the early 1970's.

Above (L-R) Willie Cantu, Buck Owens, Don Rich

Maness, Jay Dee: Jay Dee was only with the Buckaroos for a few months. When Hee Haw became part of CBS' fall 1969 lineup, he was out, and Doyle Curtsinger was in.

Rich, Don: Rich, a pinnacle member of the Buckaroo band, was with them from 1960 through 1974. When Don was killed in a motorcycle crash, at the time Don was the only original member still with the Buckaroos and the band was struggling to find their way back into the spotlight.

Don’s death marked the end of the Buckaroos reign as the top country music band. After his death, Buck went through a long period of depression and his career took a major setback. Shaw, Jim: Shaw began playing keyboard for the Buckaroos in 1970.

Singer, Doyle: Doyle was with the Buckaroos at CrystalPalace. He took over at bass in 1969 and Doyle Holly moved to rhythm guitar.

Besides playing bass, Doyle had a great tenor voice and can be heard hitting the high notes with the Buckaroos.

Wilson,Wayne: Wilsonplayed bass during a nine-month period when Doyle Holly was on his own.

Wiggins, Jerry: In October 1971 Wiggins married country music singer and Buck’s duet partner, Susan Raye, who toured with the Buckaroos. He was the drummer from 1967 to 1978.

Don Rich (guitar, 1960 - 1974) ~ Doyle Holly (bass 1964 - 1971) ~  Doyle Singer (bass, 1969) ~ Jay Dee Maness (steel guitar) ~ Jana Jae (vocalist) ~  Jay McDonald Ken Presley ~ Kenny Pierce ~  Jerry Wiggins (drums, 1967 - 1978) ~ Merle Haggard Tom Brumley (steel, 1964 ~ 1969) ~  Wayne "Moose" Stone ~ Jerry Brightman (steel guitar, 1972) ~ Jerry Wiggins (drummer, 67~78) ~  Jim Shaw (keyboard, 1970) Wayne Wilson (bass) ~ Willie Cantu (drums).

Researched and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music. Oct. 14, 2011