Mike Buck
Encyclopedia
Mike Buck is an Austin, Texas
based drummer who became influential by playing in a variety of bands in the roots music
scene.
and the Five Careless Lovers, Ray Sharpe, rockabilly artist Johnny Carroll
, and Bubbles Cash among others.
While in his twenties he moved to Austin, where he caught the attention of Clifford Antone
, making his name as the drummer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds
in the late 1970s. He performed on the band's first two albums, Girls Go Wild
and What's the Word
. In 1981, he left The Fabulous Thunderbirds and formed The LeRoi Brothers
with guitarists Steve Doerr and Don Leady. Their first album, Check This Action features guest bassist Keith Ferguson
from the Thunderbirds. The LeRoi Brothers continue to play in and around Austin.
Buck has also gone on to perform with numerous other bands while still being a part of The LeRoi Brothers. The Big Guitars From Texas album paired Buck and Ferguson along with Jesse Taylor, Denny Freeman
, Frankie Camaro and Evan Johns. The album went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
in 1986. He has also performed with artists such as Doug Sahm
, Roky Erickson
, Roy Head
, blues man Leslie Johnson (Lazy Lester
), Screamin' Jay Hawkins
, Toni Price
, the Naughty Ones, Ted Roddy & the Tall Tops and others.
In 2001, Buck and Austin guitarist Eve Monsees formed a new band called Eve & The Exiles with Speedy Sparks and Grady Pinkerton. That same year Buck also appeared on Sci-Fi Diner, the debut disc from blues-rock guitarist J.J. Vicars. A self titled CD was released in 2004. The band lineup changed in 2007, with bassist Pat Collins (LeRoi Brothers), guitarist Homer Henderson and Donna Pearl (Naughty Ones) joining. This new line-up allowed Buck to return to his Ft. Worth teenage garage-rock roots, and release Blow Your Mind, their second album released in 2008.
Buck purchased Antone's Record Shop in Austin, in May 2009. He is co-owner, along with band-mate Eve Monsees, and the former store manager.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
based drummer who became influential by playing in a variety of bands in the roots music
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
scene.
Career
Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, Buck began playing drums at the age of 12. By his mid teens he was playing in various Ft. Worth blues joints such as Mabel's Eat Shop in Como and the Chicken In The Basket on the eastside, dive bars in the stockyard area of Ft. Worth's northside, strip clubs, and the notorious Cellar club. Some of the bands he worked with during these years include Robert EaleyRobert Ealey
Robert Ealey was an African American electric blues singer, who performed Texas blues. Among other releases, he recorded a couple of albums for Black Top Records in the 1990s, having earlier formed a duo with U.P. Wilson...
and the Five Careless Lovers, Ray Sharpe, rockabilly artist Johnny Carroll
Johnny Carroll
Johnny Carroll was an American rockabilly musician.-Biography:Born John Lewis Carrell , Carroll began recording for Decca Records in the middle of the 1950s. He released several singles, but none of them saw significant success, though they are now critically acclaimed...
, and Bubbles Cash among others.
While in his twenties he moved to Austin, where he caught the attention of Clifford Antone
Clifford Antone
Clifford Antone was the founder of a well-known Austin blues club, record label, and a mentor to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan and numerous other musicians....
, making his name as the drummer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
in the late 1970s. He performed on the band's first two albums, Girls Go Wild
Girls Go Wild
Girls Go Wild is the debut studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released in 1979. The album initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a successful white blues recording...
and What's the Word
What's the Word
What's the Word is the second studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released in 1980. The album, like its predecessor initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a successful white blues recording...
. In 1981, he left The Fabulous Thunderbirds and formed The LeRoi Brothers
The LeRoi Brothers
The LeRoi Brothers are an American rock band from Austin, Texas.The group was founded in 1981 by Mike Buck , Don Leady, Steve Doerr, and Alex Napier...
with guitarists Steve Doerr and Don Leady. Their first album, Check This Action features guest bassist Keith Ferguson
Keith Ferguson
Keith James Ferguson is an American voice actor, well known as the voice of Blooregard Q. Kazoo on the Cartoon Network animated series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends...
from the Thunderbirds. The LeRoi Brothers continue to play in and around Austin.
Buck has also gone on to perform with numerous other bands while still being a part of The LeRoi Brothers. The Big Guitars From Texas album paired Buck and Ferguson along with Jesse Taylor, Denny Freeman
Denny Freeman
Denny Freeman is an American Texas and electric blues guitarist. Although he is primarily known as a guitar player, Freeman has also played piano and electric organ, both in concert and on various recordings...
, Frankie Camaro and Evan Johns. The album went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
in 1986. He has also performed with artists such as Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
, Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
, Roy Head
Roy Head
Roy Head is an American singer, best known for his hit "Treat Her Right."-Career:Head achieved fame as a member of a musical group out from San Marcos, Texas known as The Traits. The group's sponsor landed their first recording contract in 1958 with TNT Music in San Antonio, Texas while they were...
, blues man Leslie Johnson (Lazy Lester
Lazy Lester
Lazy Lester is an American blues harmonica player, whose career spans the 1950s to the 2000s....
), Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Jalacy Hawkins , best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an American musician, singer, and actor...
, Toni Price
Toni Price
Toni Price is a country-blues singer from Austin, Texas.-Life and career:Price was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her adoptive parents, the Prices, named her Luiese Esther after her grandmothers. Her first exposure to blues was through second-generation blueswoman Bonnie Raitt...
, the Naughty Ones, Ted Roddy & the Tall Tops and others.
In 2001, Buck and Austin guitarist Eve Monsees formed a new band called Eve & The Exiles with Speedy Sparks and Grady Pinkerton. That same year Buck also appeared on Sci-Fi Diner, the debut disc from blues-rock guitarist J.J. Vicars. A self titled CD was released in 2004. The band lineup changed in 2007, with bassist Pat Collins (LeRoi Brothers), guitarist Homer Henderson and Donna Pearl (Naughty Ones) joining. This new line-up allowed Buck to return to his Ft. Worth teenage garage-rock roots, and release Blow Your Mind, their second album released in 2008.
Buck purchased Antone's Record Shop in Austin, in May 2009. He is co-owner, along with band-mate Eve Monsees, and the former store manager.
Discography
External links
- Biography
- Sci-Fi Diner w/Mike Buck
- MotoMusic.com Frankie Camaro: Big Guitars from Texas
- Blow Your Mind EVE and The Exiles album review.