Buddy Miller on his own...

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 14 Apr 2009 6:05 am

I posted this in the Chesney thread, a place to be avoided at all costs. I am a HUGE Buddy Miller fan and like all musicians named Buddy, he is a terrific picker. So I am reposting part of this below. If you never heard of Buddy and his Wandre guitars, angel singing and hugely talented wife Julie, you need to get up to speed on the biggest secret in Country music.

One of Buddy's rare appearances on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUrLQxQ-7ZM

Buddy and his wife Julie on ACL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM3UqEXFcic

(Both are committed Christians and both write terrific songs like this one by Julie for the Lord)

Backing Emmylou:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRLMQ9hb ... L&index=39

And a terrific honkytonk tune by the same:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ovhvzd ... xt_from=PL

Buddy is a KILLER guitar player, as hot as anyone who has ever picked up a Tele. He sings lead and backup like an angel. Now get back to me about Chesney.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Apr 2009 6:45 am

Buddy is at the top of my list, and hopefully his recovery and convalescence is going well after a heart attack and subsequent surgery to correct blockage several weeks ago!

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 14 Apr 2009 6:47 am

Yikes!!!!!!! I didn't know about that. Can you please tell me anymore?

Okay, from the Internet:

Sunday, February 22, 2009 – Ace guitarist, songwriter and producer Buddy Miller, touring with Emmylou Harris, may have suffered a heart attack Thursday night in Baltimore and underwent triple bypass surgery.
Miller, 56, was part of the "3 Girls And Their Buddy" tour with Harris, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin. Miller had played in concert on Thursday night.

Miller was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he had surgery, according to The Tennessean. The web site said, "The surgery was successful, and Miller will likely be recovering in Baltimore for several weeks."

A statement from his label said "Following his show in Baltimore last Thursday evening, Buddy Miller was not feeling well. After consulting doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital, tests revealed some heart blockage. It was determined that surgery was needed right away...Buddy and his family would like to thank all for their well wishes and prayers."

Miller is a recording artist in his own right with a CD with wife Julie coming out March 3 on New West Records. He also was guitarist for the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss tour.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 14 Apr 2009 7:23 am

Buddy's at the top of my list too. My rockabilly band opened for (I think it was) Monte Warden back in the early-mid 90s, and it turned out that Buddy was playing guitar for him. We had a nice long talk between sets and after the gig - a real nice, down to earth guy who shared my love for wacky guitars and old Magnatone amps. I think his guitar playing is underrated, but probably only because he does so many things well. Here he is playing bass with Emmylou, Ryan Adams, Greg Leisz, and Bernie Leadon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMFTlB6E0Mg

I know there is some frustration that guys like Buddy aren't big stars, while people like KC are raking it in. But look at who he does play with - it's a who's who of great Americana music. If the country music market was such that Emmylou Harris could get some radio airplay, I think there'd be plenty of room for him and Julie, and a bunch of other great people also. But alas - you won't hear any of them there. All it means is that I get my music from a different source, and there's plenty of great stuff.

Besides all this - you wanna know what - I'd rather do what he's doing than be some country-pop idol like KC, ST, or whatever. Seriously.

I also hope Buddy is recovering well from his surgery, and lives long and prospers.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Apr 2009 7:29 am

During the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant tour, Buddy even played pedal steel on one tune, which might be my all-time favorite Gene Clark song: Through The Morning, Through The Night.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 14 Apr 2009 10:51 am

Anybody that plays Wandre (and a Magnatone Mark V) guitars is aces in my book. And he play's 'em good!

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 14 Apr 2009 11:55 am

If you haven't heard their new cd "Written in Chalk" check it out. I got it a couple weeks ago and haven't stopped listening to it.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Apr 2009 12:08 pm

I just got it the other day but I'm only about 4 tracks into it, but so far it sounds great.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 14 Apr 2009 12:15 pm

Buddy's the real deal. In the early 70's he used to live in Austin, as did his soon-to-be-wife, Julie. Born a Jew, he was one of the first Messianic Christians I met. He's a sincere and dedicated man.

And Buddy was a steel player, too. I wanted his Emmons when he was selling it but couldn't afford it... 500 bucks was the price

... and Rick Price got it. Finally I did latch on to it in 1998, only to trade it to Jim Loessberg several years later. It's the guitar JL plays on the Ray Price show nowadays, and will probably join him in his grave!

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 18 Apr 2009 6:03 pm

I respect him as a performer and writer.