Buck Owens will be missed
Country music legend and Bakersfield’s own Buck Owens passed away today. NL called me this morning with the news and my heart sank. Buck Owens was Bakersfield to me.



I grew up watching Buck Owens on Hee Haw and listening to his music on the radio. He created what is known as the Bakersfield sound in Country music history. But what I admired most about Buck Owens was his love for Bakersfield and this community. He could have taken his fame and moved to Nashville or any other place, but Buck Owens chose to stay in his hometown of Bakersfield, California. It took him much longer to be inducted into the Country music hall of fame because he did not do things the Nashville way. He put Bakersfield on the map and made it known as the Nashville West with his Bakersfield sound.

But more than his Country music fame, I admired Buck Owens because he gave back to this community of Bakersfield that he loved and called his home. He owned a TV station, KUZZ radio station, and the Crystal Palace restaurant and nightclub located on Buck Owens Blvd beneath the old Bakersfield sign that Buck bought, had restored, and placed over the entrance to the Crystal Palace displaying his Bakersfield pride. He owned other businesses too, but it was the Crystal Palace that allowed Buck to create a Country music memorabilia museum documenting his career, (a little piece of history that the people of Bakersfield could visit any time they wanted), and it gave him an outlet to perform. Buck Owens and the Buckaroos performed every Friday and Saturday night at the Crystal Palace for the community of Bakersfield right up till the night before he passed away. His final performance last night at the Crystal Palace was one of many memorable nights. How I wish I had been there. I will remember fondly every time I saw Buck Owens perform at the Crystal Palace and wish that I had gone more often.

I spent the day today with NL and Matt Munoz reminiscing about Buck Owens. Visiting the Crystal Palace and the memorial of flowers from the people of Bakersfield on the lawn in front of the Crystal Palace. We paid our respects at the Buck Owens family mausoleum at Greenlawn Cemetery where Buck’s final resting place will be. It was raining a dreary drizzle that matched our moods as we all mourned the late great Buck Owens, who was Bakersfield to me.

You will be greatly missed Buck Owens. My heart goes out to Buck Owens’ family.

Listen to this special Buck Owens tribute edition of the Buck City Podcast.

Read Matt's reflections of Buck Owens on Bakotopia.  posted by Matildakay at 5:33 PM