Buck Owens dies at 76

[Iolaus]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12009917/

Heaven's band just got a new member.

I know a lot of people might not care much, but then, a lot of people don't know how much of a contribution he made to the American music scene. His songs changed the sound of Country music and influenced artists in other genres; he was even covered by the Beatles.

A lot of my childhood memories are of watching "Hee Haw," which he co-hosted, and, although I lampooned the name (both the show's, and his) quite often growing up, trying be be cool among my R&R friends, when I saw that headline, it struck a nerve; I felt like another part of my childhood had died - even now, thinking about it, I kinda' got a lump in my throat and a tear in the eye. It's suprising, how sentimentality can get to you.

Buck, you will be missed.

[Mattg]

He will be missed.

[davedove]

That really hits me too. I grew up with Hee Haw. What a lot of people outside of music don't know is that he was very influential in what is known as the Bakersfield sound. He is considered one of the most influential men in country music because of this.

Goodbye Buck. We'll miss you.

[Southern Breeze]

That's sad to hear, he'll be missed. His contribution to the music scene was huge.

[GMan]

Hearing of the death of anyone really tears at my heart.

Peace to his family and friends.

Glen

[macsim]

When I was a kid I used to crave one of those red, white and blue Buck Owens guitars. I never got one but I suppose Buck helped get me started playing. He was a true Amercan musical icon.

[StoneCold]

When I was really young, I watched Hee-Haw regularly. As a real youngster, Buck was one half of the goofy host duo. I didn't think much more of it. I was too young to appreciate some of the guests they had and the extreme talent of Buck and Roy Clark. I was way too young to appreciate the Daisy Duke-esque apparel of the female cast. It wasn't until much later that I found out what an influence he was on both the American country music scene and a huge array of musicians. By the time I'd learned that, Buck wasn't around much any more. He was too busy running his business empire and not playing the Nashville politics. Thankfully Dwight Yoakam brought him back to the spotlight, if only for a while.

In the meantime, having become a minor student of country music, it seems to me that Buck was never the same after the untimely passing of Don Rich, his brilliant guitar player.

He will truly be missed