Was Tom Brumley ever on Hee Haw?

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 20 Jan 2015 12:09 pm

Had Tom left the Buckaroo's prior to Hee Haw? I can't remember seeing him on the show.

Don Euton · Post by **Don Euton** » 20 Jan 2015 2:00 pm

I think I have seen him on there but I cannot be 100% sure.

Don Euton

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Jan 2015 3:08 pm

I don't think so. Hee Haw started in the '70s, and Tom left Buck in the late '60s, if memory serves me correctly.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 20 Jan 2015 3:27 pm

Never saw him on Hee Haw.. He was with Rick Nelson during those years, and I think playing with Buck was far from his mind at that time... bob

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 Jan 2015 3:58 pm

I think my bud Brightman did the stuff on Hee Haw. Wonder if he gets any residuals? I'll have to ask him. But I don't think he does.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 20 Jan 2015 4:31 pm

I don't remember seeing Tom on Hee Haw but I know Jerry Brightman, Curly Chalker and Russ Hicks were on. I think Russ was on for 13 years.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 Jan 2015 4:38 pm

Yeah Ben, I don't really know when Jerry left Buck. But he had a little girl, and felt he needed to be home much more than he was. I met him at Forumite Don Dixon's music store when he had just quit Buck. Don is, of course, the inventor of the Echoplex, After I retired from gigging, Jerry took my place in my old band. I later worked for him at Performance Guitars. He now tells me he's retired, except for studio work, but I'd bet he jumps back in. Great guitarist!

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 20 Jan 2015 5:20 pm

I'd be surprised if Tom was ever on Hee Haw. The show started in '69 and Tom's parting from Buck Owens the previous year was not an amicable one by all reports. Tom went right to work with Rick Nelson and I don't believe Rick was ever on Hee Haw either.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 20 Jan 2015 6:23 pm

John,

If you see Jerry, tell him I say hello.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 Jan 2015 6:24 pm

I sure will!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 20 Jan 2015 6:38 pm

I spoke with Todd Brumley, and he doesn't beleive Tom appeared on Hee Haw.

David Rogerson · Post by **David Rogerson** » 21 Jan 2015 2:55 am

I'm sure that JayDee Maness was in Buck's band then & played on a lot of the early Hee haw shows.

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 21 Jan 2015 7:54 am

Quote from the Buckaroos histology..."Buckaroos of the Hee Haw days...

The first few episodes of "Hee Haw" featured Don Rich on guitar, Doyle Holly playing bass, Jerry Wiggins on the drums, and Jay Dee Maness playing steel guitar. "....Stormy

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 21 Jan 2015 8:13 am

What about Jay McDonald?

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 21 Jan 2015 9:04 am

Addendum to Buckaroos History...."
"Like most backing bands, the Buckaroos didn't emerge fully formed. Owens began assembling his supporting group in 1962, just after he began his remarkable string of hit country singles. Early on, Merle Haggard played bass in the band; he's the man who gave the band its name. But over the course of 1963 and 1964, the Buckaroos were built up around guitarist/fiddler Don Rich -- who was part of the band since 1962 -- with musicians cycling through the band rapidly during those early years. In addition to Haggard, these early incarnations of the Buckaroos also featured Kenny Pierce on bass, drummer Ken Presley, and steel guitarist Jay McDonald, among other musicians, but the classic lineup of Rich, bassist Doyle Holly, steel guitarist Tom Brumley, and drummer Willie Cantu consolidated by the end of 1964. This lineup perfected Buck's driving "freight train" sound -- the snappy, electrified honky tonk that became the sound of Bakersfield -- and played on such hits as "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail," "Before You Go," and the instrumental "Buckaroo," whose success helped pave the way for the Buckaroos' own releases"...note that this is not related to the show Hee-Haw per se, but the Buckaroos as a band.

Tom Brumley · Post by **Tom Brumley** » 25 Jan 2015 1:39 pm

Hi guys...I can tell you that Tom was never on Hee Haw. He quit right as they were going to Nashville to record a bunch of the episodes... love to you all...sure do miss him...

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 25 Jan 2015 5:54 pm

We miss him as well rolene.. He was a great inspiration to us... bob

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Jan 2015 6:31 pm

Dale Rottacker wrote:What about Jay McDonald?

Details are sketchy on Jay's career. He was gone from Buck's band by 1963, and I'd always heard that he gave up playing music shortly afterwards.

Hopefully, someone else can give more info.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 25 Jan 2015 9:41 pm

Rolene,

I get chills every time I listen to your Tom in the studio with Steve W. recording IN TIME. He gave us something so beautiful. Appreciate your family sharing that video with us.

Dan R

Tom Brumley · Post by **Tom Brumley** » 29 Jan 2015 12:15 pm

Thank you Dan...I get chills too...just beautiful...love you

The Steel Guitar Forum

Was Tom Brumley ever on Hee Haw?

Was Tom Brumley ever on Hee Haw?

Tom not on Hee Haw