Buck Owens

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:32:08 -0800

Favorite Photos of 2005
I had the honor of spending the day with an American legend last year. When I heard Buck Owens had passed away I was a little bit shocked. The man really seemed bulletproof. Even though he had been through a few serious health situations, after meeting with him for lunch at his Bakersfield saloon, the Crystal Palace, following him to his ranch afterward, and then seeing him play with his band later that night, I was convinced that this was a guy who made his own rules in this life. And, of course, he did. At lunch he talked about how the country music industry chided him about not living close to Nashville. And how he would deal with attorneys and record executives by not signing contracts that were over one page in length. He recounted a few of his exploits with Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash and how Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley and Dwight Yoakam would come to him for advice. After lunch he hopped into a modest farm truck brought to him by his staff and proceeded to drive at blinding speed down Highway 99, nearly leaving me in the dust. Later that night I watched him perform with impressive energy for a man who had lived the hard and fast life he had. He wove a few stories into the performance between songs -- some that were a little risque, but I was beginning to understand that that was Buck. He definitely made his own rules. Although he had this larger-than-life persona, on his ranch he had gravesites for every dog and cat he had ever owned. That brought him right back down to earth for me. A mere warm-hearted mortal and an American legend.
CHRIS PARLEY/THE FRESNO BEE ]]>

Bee Focused: Chris Parley

Buck Owens