The day Buck Owens died - By N.L. Belardes
A few years ago as part of a celebration for a friend completing a manuscript we all went to the Crystal Palace to watch Buck Owens perform. (My friend is now 92 years young). After all, she had just interviewed Buck about his crazy life of traveling to California and after some tough years of hard work, launching into a career of music and business. Of course we all know the history of Nashville West and the Bakersfield Sound. No need to dig into such rich history. I think here it’s better to know we all have Buck Owens moments to share. This friend of mine, a young girl from the days of speakeasies hidden in a little old body, made great coffee and always offered cookies when I stopped by to talk history and books. She was one of the greatest conversationalists I have ever known (And the fact she always offered cookies was great hospitality. Who else does that anymore?)
Her name is Kathryn Burke. She’s an Oildale native who lived just one street over from Oildale writer, Gerald Haslam. She has an MA in history and was extremely qualified to write such a piece. She even told me a few stories about Haslam growing up in the neighborhood she recently moved from, as well as about country musicians she had met over the years, including Buck Owens. I asked her extensively about her interviews with him and she politely informed me that they were formal and to-the-point interviews at his offices. She tape recorded them and transcribed the hours of interviews before writing her book.
Later I went to Trouts with Kathryn to watch Red Simpson sing his “Bin Laden” song. We ate some good potluck and watched the old timers dance. I was the youngest in attendance. I was grateful to have such a true Bakersfield experience of country music, although I love the old stories of the Blackboard. Now there’s a venue that should still be standing.
That day at the Crystal Palace included my favorite Buck Owens moments. Not the parades, not the big statue unveiling or songs with Dwight Yoakam. Not the big birthday bashes and Cake concert duets I never attended. No, just a simple evening of celebration with friends in the living museum of Nashville West called the Crystal Palace.
March 25, 2006 was a Bakersfield morning of drizzle and humid grey skies. I didn’t go out at first but stayed indoors and read Internet news. Sometimes I glance at the local news, but mostly I peek at national headlines. I’d been up for a while and already surfed the news before going for my second go-around at about 9am.
Friday night I had been interviewed by Dorktown Radio for their episode 22 podcast. Only, show host Mikie had been drinking and accidentally hit the button to record over what had already been saved as a great interview. Bummer, there was a dramatic reading from Mikie and Bells of my novel, Lords: Part One that got lost. In the morning I read an email from Mikie:
I am sooo sorry. I am so f***** pissed that this happened. After your interview, I paused the show so we could get a little break and start the second half of the show. But, the problem is I have been drinking too much and when we restarted the show, it didn't restart. I just recorded nothing. After a few minutes, I finally realized we weren't recording. So I went to hit the button to start recording again, and when I did that, it erased the whole first part of the show. ALL OF THE STUFF WE DID GOT F******* ERASED. I am so pissed. That whole scene we read and the whole cool interview got erased. I forced you to stay around to call in and it got erased.
We'll make up for it, I promise. We'll just do a full interview and I'll just post that. some f*****' thing. I'm so sorry. F****!
-MIKE
(Tune in to hear Mike talk about the failed recording. It's hilarious. There is a lot of cursing for those not able to hear potty talk. The frustration and burps are endless).
I giggled after reading his email and clicked on Yahoo News. Like a lot of folks I was surprised when I saw that a co-host of the old “Hee Haw” had passed away. At first I didn’t think it was Buck Owens. I expected that old cat to live another 20 years. 76 still doesn’t seem very old. I looked at the local newspaper website. Nothing. Not even a breaking news headline. Right away I made the announcement on my website that Buck Owens had died. I linked straight to the yahoo.com story, and then on myspace.com. (It was 9:08am on myspace.com when I posted there).
I’m sure the local paper had known for some time about Buck Owens’ death. But for nlbelardes.com to beat the local news to a breaking news event is a story in itself. Bloggers are their own bosses. So, the underground always has the potential to shake its rattle first. I made a few phone calls. People were in disbelief and questioned my news source. Soon I found the news as ‘breaking news’ on CNN, and on MSN. The global Web of news had spun its web.
After that I spoke with Matt Munoz and we eventually planned to drive to the Crystal Palace on a pilgrimage to the Mecca of Buck Owens to see what was going on. It was a strange morning with a strange rainstorm that sometimes wasn’t cold at all—just dismal. We couldn’t decide whether to keep the windows rolled up or to let some rain in because of the humidity. At the Crystal Palace we discovered a small collection of flowers, a small red sign, and a sudden rainstorm that poured on us as we took a few photos. The photo I took of Matt and of the flowers were the most moving so I later put them online.
We decided to do an interview right there outside of the Crystal Palace. That was the first part of the Special Report on Buck City Episode 30. Our pilgrimage after that was to the cemetery. Matt said he knew where Buck’s mausoleum was, so we headed through the rain to wander across Greenlawn Cemetery to see Buck’s Place, a mausoleum standing as a legendary beacon from the Central Valley floor that I translated as saying that life, no matter how rich, always returns to the soil. We followed up on the podcast with a segment that made Matt Munoz a bit uneasy. We briefly talked about the mausoleum. It was a bit dark, but I’m glad we included it in the podcast. Too many people are afraid or uneasy about death and burial grounds.
Some somber moments followed with Matt, Matildakay and I eating lunch nearby at Molly J’s where we traded stories and eventually left and parked outside of Matt’s place and recorded the last bits of a podcast.
That night I drove past the Crystal Palace again. The palace itself wasn’t as bright and charming as it normally appeared. It seemed ominously empty. The big green glowing letters of Bakersfield arched above like a warning sign that the streets of Bakersfield be silent at least this night. Two news crew vans had parked near the corner.
It was a strange night to be heading out to Vinny’s bar to see what the rock scene would say about Buck Owen’s death. I knew Matt was headed to Fishlips where Monty Byrom was giving a performance. No need to cover that.
One of the great attributes of the local rural rock punk band, The Filthies is their appreciation and love for Bakersfield. Kenny Mount, like Buck Owens is a business owner. He owns part of Mission Family Mortuary and a casket store. Like Buck of yesteryear, Kenny is a rebellious young musician/entrepreneur looking to make a difference in the music world and in his hometown community. His black guitar reads "Bakersfield" in huge white stickers, and he has an energetic and often eccentric personality and sense of showmanship that defines him as a person not afraid to be what he believes in.
Kenny Mount of The Filthies...
As a band, the Filthies have really shown in the last few months an incredible sense of marketing acumen. They have a new site coming out, just released a video for the song, “Embalm You” (scroll down here for video), and are firm community supporters in business and in music ventures. There’s even a video in the works for a song they took very seriously titled “Condorstown”, a community project song that helps music, local hockey, and literature. I believe their prowess comes from a strong desire to be a part of a community, and in wanting to create a presence within the community as a band who cares to make a difference. Like Mento Buru, they aren’t afraid to reach out and market themselves beyond Bakersfield bars after dark. I’ve seen a lot of bands afraid to invest in opportunities to help uplift the community, themselves, and their goals. No marketing, no press kits, no community spirit, and just wanting what they can get for free, including playing for free in a town that should pay them in more than beer tickets. Bands like that are just bar bands who are part of a scene that will eventually gobble them up and replace them with new Bakersfield bar bands.
Buck Owens never lacked Bakersfield community spirit. He may not have gone out and helped every band in town, and he may have often been a shrewd businessman, but he never forgot his hometown and poured a lot of community money into it.
Vinny’s was more crowded than I expected. I got a hug from Vinny’s vixen, Jacque and watched Tehachapi band Empty Handed. The last I had seen those kids they had gotten themselves in some trouble at Kosmos with the police for drinking one too many brews. One of them had been slammed against a police vehicle. Interesting evening to say the least. They played a very short set while I interviewed Gus in a booth at the back of the bar (By the way, I wish Vinny’s at least cooked up some chicken. I was hungry!)
Gus getting ready to play his accordion
My interview with Gus in Buck City Episode 31 was revealing as he mentioned The Filthies had discussed covering a punk version of the "Streets of Bakersfield". What better punk band to do it?
The Filthies were dressed in ties and wore new attitudes... They have their press kits all geared up. They have their website about to launch, and a new CD, and a new video, and their sound was incredible… They played one new tune and a lot of favorites: "You Look Dead To Me", "Emblam You", "Condorstown", "On the Radio", and more…
The Bakersfield music spirit was in the house on a tragic evening. It wasn’t just about drinking and playing loud rock music. Hell, is that what country music is all about? No, believe it or not. The Filthies embrace rural rock punk just like Buck embraced the idea of the Bakersfield Sound. Sure, it’s punk rock with certain genre influences, but it’s also rural rock punk music out of Bakersfield, California, where within the spirit of the music and the people who play it you can see something beautiful, something entirely new that moves on its own, even on the day Buck Owen’s died.
Her name is Kathryn Burke. She’s an Oildale native who lived just one street over from Oildale writer, Gerald Haslam. She has an MA in history and was extremely qualified to write such a piece. She even told me a few stories about Haslam growing up in the neighborhood she recently moved from, as well as about country musicians she had met over the years, including Buck Owens. I asked her extensively about her interviews with him and she politely informed me that they were formal and to-the-point interviews at his offices. She tape recorded them and transcribed the hours of interviews before writing her book.
Later I went to Trouts with Kathryn to watch Red Simpson sing his “Bin Laden” song. We ate some good potluck and watched the old timers dance. I was the youngest in attendance. I was grateful to have such a true Bakersfield experience of country music, although I love the old stories of the Blackboard. Now there’s a venue that should still be standing.
That day at the Crystal Palace included my favorite Buck Owens moments. Not the parades, not the big statue unveiling or songs with Dwight Yoakam. Not the big birthday bashes and Cake concert duets I never attended. No, just a simple evening of celebration with friends in the living museum of Nashville West called the Crystal Palace.
March 25, 2006 was a Bakersfield morning of drizzle and humid grey skies. I didn’t go out at first but stayed indoors and read Internet news. Sometimes I glance at the local news, but mostly I peek at national headlines. I’d been up for a while and already surfed the news before going for my second go-around at about 9am.
Friday night I had been interviewed by Dorktown Radio for their episode 22 podcast. Only, show host Mikie had been drinking and accidentally hit the button to record over what had already been saved as a great interview. Bummer, there was a dramatic reading from Mikie and Bells of my novel, Lords: Part One that got lost. In the morning I read an email from Mikie:
I am sooo sorry. I am so f***** pissed that this happened. After your interview, I paused the show so we could get a little break and start the second half of the show. But, the problem is I have been drinking too much and when we restarted the show, it didn't restart. I just recorded nothing. After a few minutes, I finally realized we weren't recording. So I went to hit the button to start recording again, and when I did that, it erased the whole first part of the show. ALL OF THE STUFF WE DID GOT F******* ERASED. I am so pissed. That whole scene we read and the whole cool interview got erased. I forced you to stay around to call in and it got erased.
We'll make up for it, I promise. We'll just do a full interview and I'll just post that. some f*****' thing. I'm so sorry. F****!
-MIKE
(Tune in to hear Mike talk about the failed recording. It's hilarious. There is a lot of cursing for those not able to hear potty talk. The frustration and burps are endless).
I giggled after reading his email and clicked on Yahoo News. Like a lot of folks I was surprised when I saw that a co-host of the old “Hee Haw” had passed away. At first I didn’t think it was Buck Owens. I expected that old cat to live another 20 years. 76 still doesn’t seem very old. I looked at the local newspaper website. Nothing. Not even a breaking news headline. Right away I made the announcement on my website that Buck Owens had died. I linked straight to the yahoo.com story, and then on myspace.com. (It was 9:08am on myspace.com when I posted there).
I’m sure the local paper had known for some time about Buck Owens’ death. But for nlbelardes.com to beat the local news to a breaking news event is a story in itself. Bloggers are their own bosses. So, the underground always has the potential to shake its rattle first. I made a few phone calls. People were in disbelief and questioned my news source. Soon I found the news as ‘breaking news’ on CNN, and on MSN. The global Web of news had spun its web.
After that I spoke with Matt Munoz and we eventually planned to drive to the Crystal Palace on a pilgrimage to the Mecca of Buck Owens to see what was going on. It was a strange morning with a strange rainstorm that sometimes wasn’t cold at all—just dismal. We couldn’t decide whether to keep the windows rolled up or to let some rain in because of the humidity. At the Crystal Palace we discovered a small collection of flowers, a small red sign, and a sudden rainstorm that poured on us as we took a few photos. The photo I took of Matt and of the flowers were the most moving so I later put them online.
We decided to do an interview right there outside of the Crystal Palace. That was the first part of the Special Report on Buck City Episode 30. Our pilgrimage after that was to the cemetery. Matt said he knew where Buck’s mausoleum was, so we headed through the rain to wander across Greenlawn Cemetery to see Buck’s Place, a mausoleum standing as a legendary beacon from the Central Valley floor that I translated as saying that life, no matter how rich, always returns to the soil. We followed up on the podcast with a segment that made Matt Munoz a bit uneasy. We briefly talked about the mausoleum. It was a bit dark, but I’m glad we included it in the podcast. Too many people are afraid or uneasy about death and burial grounds.
Some somber moments followed with Matt, Matildakay and I eating lunch nearby at Molly J’s where we traded stories and eventually left and parked outside of Matt’s place and recorded the last bits of a podcast.
That night I drove past the Crystal Palace again. The palace itself wasn’t as bright and charming as it normally appeared. It seemed ominously empty. The big green glowing letters of Bakersfield arched above like a warning sign that the streets of Bakersfield be silent at least this night. Two news crew vans had parked near the corner.
It was a strange night to be heading out to Vinny’s bar to see what the rock scene would say about Buck Owen’s death. I knew Matt was headed to Fishlips where Monty Byrom was giving a performance. No need to cover that.
One of the great attributes of the local rural rock punk band, The Filthies is their appreciation and love for Bakersfield. Kenny Mount, like Buck Owens is a business owner. He owns part of Mission Family Mortuary and a casket store. Like Buck of yesteryear, Kenny is a rebellious young musician/entrepreneur looking to make a difference in the music world and in his hometown community. His black guitar reads "Bakersfield" in huge white stickers, and he has an energetic and often eccentric personality and sense of showmanship that defines him as a person not afraid to be what he believes in.
Kenny Mount of The Filthies...
As a band, the Filthies have really shown in the last few months an incredible sense of marketing acumen. They have a new site coming out, just released a video for the song, “Embalm You” (scroll down here for video), and are firm community supporters in business and in music ventures. There’s even a video in the works for a song they took very seriously titled “Condorstown”, a community project song that helps music, local hockey, and literature. I believe their prowess comes from a strong desire to be a part of a community, and in wanting to create a presence within the community as a band who cares to make a difference. Like Mento Buru, they aren’t afraid to reach out and market themselves beyond Bakersfield bars after dark. I’ve seen a lot of bands afraid to invest in opportunities to help uplift the community, themselves, and their goals. No marketing, no press kits, no community spirit, and just wanting what they can get for free, including playing for free in a town that should pay them in more than beer tickets. Bands like that are just bar bands who are part of a scene that will eventually gobble them up and replace them with new Bakersfield bar bands.
Buck Owens never lacked Bakersfield community spirit. He may not have gone out and helped every band in town, and he may have often been a shrewd businessman, but he never forgot his hometown and poured a lot of community money into it.
Vinny’s was more crowded than I expected. I got a hug from Vinny’s vixen, Jacque and watched Tehachapi band Empty Handed. The last I had seen those kids they had gotten themselves in some trouble at Kosmos with the police for drinking one too many brews. One of them had been slammed against a police vehicle. Interesting evening to say the least. They played a very short set while I interviewed Gus in a booth at the back of the bar (By the way, I wish Vinny’s at least cooked up some chicken. I was hungry!)
Gus getting ready to play his accordion
My interview with Gus in Buck City Episode 31 was revealing as he mentioned The Filthies had discussed covering a punk version of the "Streets of Bakersfield". What better punk band to do it?
The Filthies were dressed in ties and wore new attitudes... They have their press kits all geared up. They have their website about to launch, and a new CD, and a new video, and their sound was incredible… They played one new tune and a lot of favorites: "You Look Dead To Me", "Emblam You", "Condorstown", "On the Radio", and more…
The Bakersfield music spirit was in the house on a tragic evening. It wasn’t just about drinking and playing loud rock music. Hell, is that what country music is all about? No, believe it or not. The Filthies embrace rural rock punk just like Buck embraced the idea of the Bakersfield Sound. Sure, it’s punk rock with certain genre influences, but it’s also rural rock punk music out of Bakersfield, California, where within the spirit of the music and the people who play it you can see something beautiful, something entirely new that moves on its own, even on the day Buck Owen’s died.
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Sunday, March 26, 2006.
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We've lost the King of the Bakersfield sound, but Bakersfield music will go on...
Nice memories of Buck Owens and the spirit of Bakersfield music past, present and still to come.
The Filthies were great last night!
Love the pictures! That Bakersfield sign picture turned out great!
Wonder who some of them bar band remark were directed towards?
And the Filthies, them bastards and their ideas of a cover. I had been in talks with Mr. Pigeons for awhile now involving the idea of covering the same tune in a planned split between the IN-Denials and The 28's for this upcoming summer... Son of a Bitch.
Nice pictuers pops.
- Dirty Spanglish
Good photography Nick, like always. Can I have that 8 megapixel camera?
You're pretty much always on top of everything when it comes to art and music in town and pretty much any breaking news.
Yeah, I heard Dobbler planned on covering "Streets of Bakersfield" in a while now. You're fucked Heath, I told you not to mention anything to Kenny.
Take care.
great article! awesome pics...
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