Buck Owens-Don Rich

Doyle Weigold · Post by **Doyle Weigold** » 19 Jun 2006 1:32 am

Coming home from pickin' (Fri. nite-Sat. morning) I had WSM on. I think Eddie Stubs was the DJ. He played a Buck Owens song. He said this is one of the few songs that Don Rich sang tenor on. He said Buck usally sang his own tenor. Was wondering if anybody else was listening and I misunderstood. I was under the impression that while Don Rich was alive, Don Rich sang tenor on all of Buck's songs. Doyle

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 19 Jun 2006 2:50 am

I've noticed from listening to my Buck Owens recordings that it's Buck singing with himself. I think you will find this is true with many country artists. I'm sure it would have been a different story if you had gone to a Buck show when Don was still alive.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 19 Jun 2006 2:50 am

Doyle...according to the liner notes on most of the old Buck Owens albums,Buck sang his own harmony on most of the songs...I couldn't believe it either!Kinda like this club owner I played for years ago-he thought that Roy Nichols played on every Merle Haggard record...even if it was obviously James Burton,Reggie Young,or whoever...there was no way to convince him that it wasn't Roy!

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Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 19 Jun 2006 3:56 am

Well I am prob way out here....but I always thought Buck was a Tenor singer and Don did the High Harmony...I am sure that it was how it was when he was here in Aus in the 70's...I remember my wife saying that Don should have recieved same money as Buck as he was working just as Hard
On that tour...My friend Jerry Brightman was on steel.....He's a member of the forum...so ask him

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 19 Jun 2006 7:09 am

I don't know the answer for sure, but if it WAS Buck overdubbing his own voice on the recordings, he'd have had problems doing it live(

)

Don was the obvious choice in a 'live' situation. I must admit that I, too, have always assumed that Rich was singing on the records, but as close as they were musically, it still would have been easier for Buck to match his own phrasing in the studio.

RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 19 June 2006 at 08:10 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 19 Jun 2006 9:29 am

...if it WAS Buck overdubbing his own voice on the recordings, he'd have had problems doing it live.

Not with today's modern electronic "harmonizers" Roger. Ya just hook-up one of these darlins' between your mike & your p.a. & away you go...instant "choir".

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.</pre>

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 19 Jun 2006 11:08 am

I don't think there's any question who's singing harmony here.

C#
www.calsharp.com [This message was edited by Cal Sharp on 19 June 2006 at 06:52 PM.]

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 19 Jun 2006 11:15 am

But then you never know. I've seen "Hee Haw" shows where Don was playing fiddle and when he tucked it under his arm to sing harmony you could still hear it.

Doyle Weigold · Post by **Doyle Weigold** » 19 Jun 2006 4:15 pm

I appreciate all the info. guys. Billy, I worked a park in N.E. Ind. late 50's early 60's the same day Buck Owen's was there. Don Rich definetly was singing the high harmony. Steve, guess I can't argue with liner notes. Tony, when I said Don Rich was singing tenor, I was talking about the high harmony. Back then I always thought of harmony as lead and tenor. Smiley, guess I've told all but my age, and I guess you can tell, this was way before the set-up you are talking about. Thank's again, Doyle

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 19 Jun 2006 5:15 pm

I have a list of who played and sang on all the Buck Capital recordings. On the studio cuts from '58 till '65 about 90% of the harmony parts are Buck. From '65 till '74 about 50% is Don.
Most of all the big hits have Buck singin' with himself. Some studio versions of songs don't have any harmony parts(Act Naturally, Together Again,..), but did have Don singing harmony when they did them live.

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 19 Jun 2006 6:44 pm

One of my favorites, "He Don't Deserve You Anymore" did have Don singing harmony. Along with "Cinderella", those were the only two cuts on the Roll Out the Red Carpet album that Don sang harmony.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 20 Jun 2006 4:08 am

I must say I am surprised that Buck did many of his own harmonies. I wonder why if you had a man like Don Rich why you would not have used him on everything that you needed a high part on. I love to see footage from the "Ranch Show" they recorded in Oklahoma City. Just seeing Don Rich singing and smiling just sends chills down my spine. Buck was good but he was better with Don Rich.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 20 Jun 2006 5:27 am

Does it MATTER? Buck taught Don lead guitar, too, but Don took it to a great place. Buck and Don, live, were THERE! They made great music together, didn't they?

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 20 Jun 2006 5:44 am

If I remember correctly, Bobbe commented how Buck put all his musicians in the "limelight"; good for business etc. On the CD, "Buck Owens in London", (I forget the exact wording, the CD is out in our car.) he introduces the band. I believe he introduces Jay Dee Maness twice on this CD. I'll bet that this recognition of the individual gets a better performance, after all just think of how much in this business is motivated by, being in an "up mood".