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Buck Owens Tribute by Surefire Country

Tribute To The Late Great Buck Owens

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The Buck Owens Tribute

Surefire Country has long admired and been influenced by Buck Owens and his classy approach to country music. Due to the loss of this country legend on March 25, 2006; and the profound effect he had had on our music, we decided to pay tribute to Buck, by recording some of our favorites from his collection.
We have a home grown sound that has delighted audiences for many years. Now it is your turn to enjoy the sounds of Surefire Country. Once known as the Redheads, we toured the country and played with some of country music's biggest legends. In the new millennium we are the sure to fire you up.

Stay tuned as we are always "Under Construction"
Please Check Back Often.The doors always open for a friend.
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Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens Streets Of Bakersfield(Tv show)

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Courtesy of CMT.com
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. was born in Sherman, Texas, on Aug. 12, 1929, and at age 3 or 4 nicknamed himself "Buck" after a mule on the family farm. The family moved west in 1937, settling in Mesa, Ariz., after their trailer hitch broke in Phoenix.
Dropping out of school at 13, he taught himself to play guitar. By 1951, he had moved to Bakersfield, Calif., and eventually found success in its thriving country music scene.
In the clubs of Bakersfield, Owens developed a trademark twisted-note style on his solid body Fender Telecaster. Initially recording as lead guitarist for Tommy Collins in 1953 (on "You Better Not Do That") and then singing for the small Pep and Chesterfield labels, Owens landed on Capitol Records in 1957. When his first single for Capitol fizzled, Owens moved to Puyallup, Wash., (a Tacoma suburb) to pursue a radio career. There he met Don Rich (real name Donald Eugene Ulrich), whose high, nasalized harmony vocals would combine with Owens' singing and chugging 2/4 freight train rhythm to make Owens' recordings distinctive. (Rich remained Owens' charismatic right-hand man until he died in a motorcycle accident in 1974.)
In 1959, Owens hit with a recording of "Second Fiddle" in the Ray Price "shuffle" style. Later that year, the success of "Under Your Spell Again" led Owens to return to Bakersfield and form a band, the Buckaroos. In 1963, his recording of Johnny Russell's "Act Naturally" stayed at No. 1 for four weeks, and "Love's Gonna Live Here" spent 16 weeks atop the charts. Throughout the '60s, his recordings regularly topped the country chart including "My Heart Skips a Beat," "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)," "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail," "Before You Go," "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line," "Think of Me," "Open Up Your Heart" and "Where Does the Good Times Go."
Encouraged by his manager, Jack McFadden, Owens began investing in entertainment properties. In 1964, they formed the OMAC booking agency, which eventually handled such clients as Merle Haggard, Joe and Rose Maphis, Wynn Stewart, Freddie Hart and Rose Maddox. In 1967, Owens launched Blue Book Publishing. (He sold the company to Tree in the 1980s, and his catalog is now a part of the giant Sony/ATV firm.) Moreover, Owens began to acquire and develop radio stations. (In 1999, Clear Channel bought his KNIX-FM in Phoenix for $84 million and his jointly-owned KESZ for $58 million.)
Yet another feature of the Owens empire came through Buck Owens Productions, which produced his syndicated television series, The Buck Owens Ranch Show. Starting in 1966, the show was shot in "batches" in Oklahoma City, much as Hee Haw would later be done in Nashville. In all, 78 half-hour color shows were taped, and the show at its peak aired in around 100 markets. Several of these shows are now available on home video, and excerpts from them were used as country music videos in the late 1980s. Owen's top-notch band, The Buckaroos, won CMA's instrumental group of the year awards in 1967 and '68.
Owens teamed with singer/multi-instrumentalist Roy Clark in 1969 to host Hee Haw, originally a show for CBS-TV. CBS dropped it in 1971, but the show continued as a syndicated effort. Besides introducing acts, telling jokes and appearing in skits, Owens and Clark had a "pickin' and grinnin'" spot in each show, and both sang and recorded in the popular Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. Owens withdrew from his Hee Haw hosting duties in 1986 and was never replaced although the show continued into 1994.
With his recording career sagging, Owens was essentially reduced to being a face of Hee Haw until Dwight Yoakam came along in the mid-1980s. Like Owens, Yoakam was passionate about West Coast country music, and he was loud in his praise of the old master. In fact, Yoakam made so much noise -- including making a personal plea to his idol -- that Owens recorded (and made a music video of) "The Streets of Bakersfield" with him. It went No. 1 in 1988, the last time Owens has viewed the chart from that vantage point.
Also in 1988, Owens re-signed to his old label, Capitol Records. That union resulted in two albums and five charted singles, none of which reached the Top 20. However, his "Act Naturally" duet with Ringo Starr did make it to No. 27 in 1989. It was accompanied by an amusing Old West-inspired music video in which Owens' manager, McFadden, played the sheriff and actor Vic Tayback (Mel on TV's Alice) played the bartender.
In 1996, he was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Earlier that same year, he opened his opulent Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. He died on March 25, 2006.


Excerpts from the biograpy by Rich Kienzle
Courtesy of BuckOwens.com
"The Dream"
This hardscrabble life left a lasting impression on young Buck Owens. The financial insecurity, discomfort, and suffering kindled a fire of determination within him. He had no idea yet how to achieve his goals. But he knew without question what he didn’t want.
“That was where my dream began to take hold, of not havin’ to pick cotton and potatoes, and not havin' to be uncomfortable, too hot or too cold. That in itself had driven me to try to find some better way of life. I remember as a kid being cold a lot, and hungry sometimes. We’d go to bed with just cornbread and milk, and I remember wearing shoes with holes in the bottom. I remember having twine for shoestrings: You take old black shinola polish and try to make ‘em look black, and that only makes ‘em look worse. I remember the hand-me-down clothes.”
“But most distinctly, I remember always saying to myself that when I get big, I’m not going to go to bed hungry, I’m not going to wear hand-me-down clothes. I’m not going to have homemade haircuts done by my mother; she cut our hair until we were about 12 or 13 years old. Just the fright of having to live a life through that…although even then, I was cognizant that half the people I went to school with were just exactly like me.”
The family’s work needs meant that Buck changed schools often. However, at least part of his dream of a better life took shape in school. He hated writing book reports or school papers, but found he could satisfy many of those requirements by singing or performing in small plays. He involved himself in such activities whenever possible. “I think even then,” he says, “I was looking to be somebody.”

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Surefire Country has been entertaining audiences of all ages across the country for over 30 years. From the old to the new, they deliver performances that are spellbinding and memorable. Long ago with a vision; they set out to write a story in music, and with the help of many country legends have become a crowd favorite that will make your next event the one that people will talk about with a smile on their face.

Surefire Country can give you what you want to hear; with songs of yesterday by Buck Owens and Tammy Wynette, to the cutting edge of today's music charts with Gretchen Wilson and Brad Paisley, plus so much more. Take a look at the members of the group and a list of notables that few can add to their credit. One show is all that stands between you and the success of your next event, so why not get a group that has the experience to get the job done right for you.



Surefire Also Performs Songs By

Alabama
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Anne Murray
Barbara Mandrell
Blood Sweat & Tears
Brad Paisley
Credence Clearwater Revival
Charlie Pride
Charlie Rich
Chuck Berry
Clint Black
Connie Smith
Conway Twitty
David Frizzell
Diamond Rio
Dierks Bentley
Dolly Parton
Don Gibson
Don Rich
Don Williams
Doobie Brothers
Doug Stone
Dwight Yoakam
Eagles
Eddie Rabbitt
Elvis
Emmylou Harris
Eric Clapton
Ernest Tubbs
Faith Hill
Faron Young
Floyd Cramer
Freddy Fender
Freddy Hart
Gary Allan
Garth Brooks
Gene Watson
George Jones
George Strait
Gretchen Wilson
Hank Williams Jr
Hank Williams Sr
Jeannie C Riley
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jim Reeves
Joe Diffie
John Anderson
John Conley
Johnny Cash
Johnny Paycheck
Josh Turner
Juice Newton
Karen Carpenter
Keith Whitley
Kentucky Head Hunters
Kitty Wells
Leanne Rimes
Lee ann Womack
Linda Ronstadt
Loretta Lynn
Lorrie Morgan
Lynn Anderson
Marie Osmond
Mark Chestnutt
Martina McBride
Marty Robbins
Marty Stuart
Mel Tillis
Merle Haggard
Oak Ridge Boys
Patsy Cline
Patty Loveless
Porter Wagoner
Randy Travis
Reba McEntire
Rhonda Vincent
Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Van Shelton
Rose Maddox
Roy Clark
Roy Orbison
Sammy Kershaw
Sara Evans
Shania Twain
Tammy Wynette
Tanya Tucker
Terri Gibbs
The Bellamy Brothers
The Judds
Tim Mcgraw
Toby Keith
Tracy Byrd
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vince Gill
Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson
Wynonna
Wynn Stewart




Guitar / Steel / Vocals

When you look up musician in the dictionary this is the name you will find. An accomplished artist that began a storied career on the radio at the tender age of 3, and by age of 7 began playing guitar; an instrument that has made him a legend.

An award winning artist, Ronnie began touring at age 13 with the Sneed Family. At 16, continued on for a show band at the Fabled Cactus Pete's in Alco, Nevada. Among many others Ronnie has played Steel and lead guitar for Amy Clauson and Lonesome Road in recent years. His list of instruments also includes Bass and Rhythm guitar, as well as a great vocal harmony that few have mastered as well.



Bass / Vocals

Right at his side has been his sister Melody; armed with the same great talents as her brother. Melody has been on nearly every tour and has become a fabulous entertainer. Harmony is what Melody does best, but when she takes center stage for songs by Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette or Reba; you'll see how she can capture a crowd. Besides the Bass ... Melody is a rock solid drummer


Vocals / Drums

Trained on drums from the time he could walk, Brandin found his charm and charisma were well suited to entertain audiences on the front line of Surefire Country. With a wide range of musical influences, he has blended them all to create a unique personal styling that has had audiences on their feet.

As a cancer survivor, and the help of friends, family and fans; life has been very generous to Brandin by giving him a gift of dedication and passion for what he loves most... his music.



Piano

A long time piano player for the legendary Bill Carter. He has over 20 albums to his credit for MGM Recording and several other labels. He has recorded and played all over the US and Canada during his storied career.



Vocals

The newest member of the group brings a much needed female voice back to the group. Her addition rounds out the groups ability to once again showcase the 3 part harmony that has been the cornerstone of their legendary sound.

Other players to make contributions to Surefire Country are:

Bass - Don Hugley
Fiddle - Roger Bergerren
Totten Sound Production - Ron Totten


Influences:

Check out the list of legendary stars that have shared the stage with Surefire Country (also known as The Red Heads)

Buck Owens George Jones Ray Price

Johnny Cash Ferlin Husky Buddy Allen

Susan Raye Bobby Bare Red Simpson

Tommy Collins Homer Joy Sonny Langley

Big House





Sounds Like:

Places you may have seen Surefire Country include :

Wishing Star Cancer Benefit - Spokane Expo Center

Montana Club - Anchorage,Alaska

Flame Room - Minneapolis, MN

Missoula, MT

Great Falls, MT

Alco, NV

Lebanon Strawberry Festival - Home of the Worlds' Largest Strawberry Shortcake

Jubitz - Portland, OR

Plus Too Many Others To List.



The Photo Gallery

The youngest of the "Red Heads" Nancy takes a photo with Don Rich during a show in May 1965 in Salem, Oregon

Nancy here sitting with her favorite country star Buck Owens. The story of the night was the little girl in the red twistin' dress whirling through the crowd stealing the show from the
Red Heads as well as Buck & The Buckaroos.




Type of Label: None

My Blog

Thank You Bakersfield

We would like to thank all of the great friends, old and new, plus our great fans for making our first trip to Bakersfield one that we will never forget.Our greatest appreciation to our amazing friend...
Posted by Buck Owens Tribute by Surefire Country on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:07:00 PST

New site feature - Read Bucks Biography

We have began adding new features to the Buck Owens Tribute. The latest is a red box section called "About Buck". This will include changing excerpts from the biography of Buck Owens written by Rich K...
Posted by Buck Owens Tribute by Surefire Country on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:17:00 PST