TCB
By Christopher Gray, Fri., March 31, 2006
Act Naturally: Buck Owens and Jim Lauderdale (l) (Photo By Martha Grenon)
TIGER BY THE TAIL
Busy month for the reaper, who called home "Bakersfield sound" pioneer, businessman, and Hee Haw co-host Buck Owens last Thursday at age 76. The author of "Act Naturally" and "Together Again" is shown here exiting his tour bus (guitarist and songwriter Jim Lauderdale is at left) shortly before his surprise appearance at the Continental Club's annual Owens birthday tribute in 1995, which moved the country icon, as well as performers the Derailers, and several others in the club, to tears. "Buck was never one to hang around for long periods of time," reflects Continental owner Steve Wertheimer. "But he was so moved by his music being performed by all these great musicians that he hung out for close to five hours that night." In subsequent years, organizer Casper Rawls would call Owens from the stage, and the entire audience would sing "Happy Birthday" over the phone.
Joining Owens on the celestial roll call were Swell Maps founder and author Nikki Sudden, 49, who expired shortly after playing the "Farewell New York Bash" last Sunday; Austinite Jack Jacobs, border-music enthusiast and founder of progressive-country outfit Balcones Fault, who passed away March 9 at age 58; and Country Music Hall of Fame member Cindy Walker ("Dream Lady," Music, February 20, 2004), whose songs were recorded by Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Bing Crosby, Ernest Tubb, and Ray Charles. Walker, 83, died last Thursday at Parkview Regional Hospital in Mexia, Texas, near her hometown of Mart. "I loved her dearly," Willie Nelson, whose You Don't Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker came out earlier this month, said in a statement.
