Buck Owens.

Alvis E. Owens Jr. Alvis Edgar Owens Jr.

Born 12 Aug 1929 Sherman, United States

Died 25 Mar 2006 Bakersfield, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 97 yr If Living

11 min read

Reading time

2,113

Words

Oct 13, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

With 21 No. 1 hits over 25 years, Buck Owens defined the Bakersfield Sound alongside Don Rich. He co-hosted Hee Haw from 1969 to 1986 and duetted with Dwight Yoakam on Streets of Bakersfield in 1988, his first chart-topper in 16 years. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, Owens’ legacy rests on these achievements.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Buck Owens — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Alvis Edgar Owens Jr.

Native Name Alvis E. Owens Jr.

Nicknames The Baron of Bakersfield

Aliases Buck Owens and His Buckaroos, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

Spouses: Jennifer Smith Jana Grief Phyllis Buford Bonnie Owens
Children: Buddy Alan

At a glance.

STATS

Buck Owens by the numbers — life, work, and family.

76 Years lived

2 Awards

4 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Buck Owens?

BIOGRAPHY

Buck Owens — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Growing up in Mesa, Arizona after his family moved during the Dust Bowl in 1937, Buck Owens learned mandolin, guitar, and horns while picking cotton. At age 16 he got his first radio program, and by 17 he was working with Mac’s Skillet Lickers, whose lead singer Bonnie Campbell became his first wife. The move to Bakersfield, California in the early 1950s set the stage for his career.

Career

After recording rockabilly as Corky Jones, Owens signed with Capitol Records in 1957. His first hit came in 1959 with Second Fiddle No. 24, followed by Under Your Spell Again No. 4. He reached No. 1 for the first time in June 1963 with Act Naturally, then eclipsed that with Love’s Gonna Live Here, which spent 16 weeks at the top. Eighteen more No. 1 hits followed over the next nine years, many featuring lead guitarist Don Rich and the Buckaroos. Owens also became a television fixture as co-host of Hee Haw from 1969 to 1986. After Rich’s death in 1974, his career waned until a duet with Dwight Yoakam on Streets of Bakersfield hit No. 1 in 1988, sparking a comeback.

Personal life

Owens married four times: Bonnie Owens 1948–1953, Phyllis Buford 1956–1971, Jana Grief 1977–1979, and Jennifer Smith 1979–2001. He had one son, Buddy Alan, with Bonnie. After his divorce from Phyllis, he had a long-term relationship with Lisa Todd, a Hee Haw Honey, but they never married. The accidental death of his best friend Don Rich in 1974 devastated him, affecting his music for years. Owens also battled throat cancer in 1993, losing part of his tongue, and died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on March 25, 2006.

Legacy

Buck Owens is credited with pioneering the Bakersfield Sound, a honky-tonk style with electric instrumentation and rock influences that influenced Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, and Brad Paisley. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and ranked No. 12 on CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003. In Sherman, Texas, a stretch of U.S. Highway 82 is named the Buck Owens Freeway. His Crystal Palace nightclub in Bakersfield remains a landmark. Owens is most remembered for his 21 No. 1 hits, his partnership with Don Rich, and his long-running co-hosting role on Hee Haw.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Buck Owens — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

California Hall of Fame
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Did you know?

FACTS · 35

Little-known facts about Buck Owens — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Recorded his own version of Streets of Bakersfield in 1972; it became a No. 1 duet with Dwight Yoakam in 1988.
Got his nickname Buck from a favorite horse at age three.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996; Dwight Yoakam gave his induction speech.
Mentioned in the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit Lookin’ Out My Back Door.
Has three sons: Buddy, Michael, and Johnny.
His band was called the Buckaroos.
Ex-wife Bonnie Owens died shortly after Buck from complications of Alzheimer’s; they remained friends after divorce.
Had 21 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s country singles chart over 25 years; the biggest, Love’s Gonna Live Here 1963, spent 16 weeks at No. 1, interrupted only once by Ernest Ashworth’s Talk Back Tremblin’ Lips.
Had throat cancer in 1993, losing part of his tongue.
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996.
Father of Buddy Alan.
Opened the Crystal Palace restaurant and performance hall in Bakersfield, California.
Left Hee Haw in 1986 because he felt the show ruined his credibility as a musician; spent years rebuilding his reputation.
Members of the Buckaroos included Don Rich guitar, Doyle Holly bass, Tom Brumley steel guitar, and Willie Cantu drums; they released several albums.
According to son Buddy Alan, the accidental 1974 death of Don Rich devastated Owens for years and impacted his creative efforts until his late-1980s comeback.
Had a long-term relationship with Lisa Todd but never married.
In the biography About Buck, Rich Kienzle writes: Buck was a donkey on the Owens farm; when Alvis Jr. was three or four, he announced his name was also Buck, and it stuck.
Collaborated with Cledus T. Judd on The First Redneck On The Internet 1998, appearing in the music video.
Used the pseudonym Corky Jones to record rockabilly without harming his country career, releasing Hot Dog on the Pep label.
Had a relationship with Hee Haw Honey Lisa Todd in the 1970s and appeared with her as Buck Owens and his gal Lisa on Tattletales.
Owens’ family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1937 during the Dust Bowl; he disliked formal school but often satisfied class requirements by singing or performing.
After Don Rich’s death, Owens’ trademark became a red, white and blue acoustic guitar and a 1974 Pontiac convertible Nudiemobile a similar car won from Elvis Presley is enshrined at the Crystal Palace.
The stretch of US Highway 82 in Sherman, Texas is named the Buck Owens Freeway.
His band’s Bakersfield sound was emulated by Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, and Brad Paisley; Owens inspired indie songwriter Terry Fraley.
Recovered from oral cancer in the early 1990s but had pneumonia and a minor stroke in 2004; curbed his weekly performances.
Posthumous autobiography Buck ‘Em! was released in 2013 with foreword by Brad Paisley and preface by Dwight Yoakam.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996; ranked No. 12 in CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003; the Buckaroos ranked No. 2 in CMT’s 20 Greatest Bands in 2005. Also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Don Rich was killed on July 17, 1974 when he lost control of his motorcycle on Highway 1 in Morro Bay; Owens said, I think my music life ended when he died.
Owens is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Born at 5:00 a.m. CDT.
Eileen Sisk’s 2010 biography Buck Owens: The Biography offers a critical account of his private life.
Owens bought several radio stations, including KNIX and KNIX-FM in Phoenix and KUZZ-FM in Bakersfield; in the 1990s he was co-owner of Real Country network and sold stations for millions.
Dwight Yoakam, heavily influenced by Owens, duetted with him on Streets of Bakersfield in 1988, Owens’ first No. 1 in 16 years.
Co-hosted Hee Haw from 1969 to 1986 syndicated after 1971.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 37

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Buck Owens.

When was Buck Owens born?

Buck Owens was born on August 12, 1929. He was born in Sherman, Texas, USA, and his birth name was Alvis Edgar Owens Jr.
Where was Buck Owens born?

Buck Owens was born in Sherman, Texas, USA. He later moved with his family to Mesa, Arizona, in 1937 during the Dust Bowl.
When did Buck Owens die?

Buck Owens died on March 25, 2006. He was 76 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Buck Owens when he died?

Buck Owens was 76 years old when he died on March 25, 2006. He was born on August 12, 1929.
Where did Buck Owens die?

Buck Owens died at his ranch just north of Bakersfield, California, USA. He passed away in his sleep.
How did Buck Owens die?

Buck Owens died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack. He had suffered a minor stroke in 2004 and pneumonia before his death.
What was Buck Owens's real name?

Buck Owens’s real name was Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. He acquired the nickname Buck from a favorite horse at age three.
What was Buck Owens's native name?

Buck Owens’s native name was Alvis E. Owens Jr. This was his formal name in English, his native language.
What did Buck Owens do for a living?

Buck Owens was a country singer, songwriter, and musician. He also worked as an actor, composer, and music crew member, notably co-hosting the TV show Hee Haw.
What nationality was Buck Owens?

Buck Owens was American. He was a citizen of the United States and was born in Texas.
Who was Buck Owens married to?

Buck Owens was married four times: to Bonnie Owens Jan 1948–1953, Phyllis Buford 1956–1971, Jana Grief 1977–1979, and Jennifer Smith 1979–2001. He also had a long-term relationship with Lisa Todd.
Did Buck Owens have children?

Yes, Buck Owens had one son named Buddy Alan. He also had two other sons, Michael and Johnny, from a different relationship?
What awards did Buck Owens win?

Buck Owens received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996.
How tall was Buck Owens?

Buck Owens was 6 feet 0 inches tall, which is about 1.83 meters. His height was often noted in his Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
What was Buck Owens known for?

Buck Owens is best known for his 21 No. 1 country hits, co-hosting Hee Haw from 1969 to 1986, and pioneering the Bakersfield Sound along with Don Rich.
How many No. 1 hits did Buck Owens have?

Buck Owens had 21 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s country singles chart over a 25-year span. His biggest was Love’s Gonna Live Here, which spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 1963.
What was Buck Owens's biggest hit?

Buck Owens’s biggest hit was Love’s Gonna Live Here 1963, which stayed at No. 1 for 16 weeks. Other major hits include Act Naturally and Streets of Bakersfield.
Who was Don Rich?

Don Rich was Buck Owens’s lead guitarist, right-hand man, and close friend. He led the Buckaroos and was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1974, devastating Owens.
What was the Bakersfield Sound?

The Bakersfield Sound is a honky-tonk style of country music infused with electric instrumentation and rock influences. Buck Owens, along with Merle Haggard and Wynn Stewart, popularized it.
When did Buck Owens start co-hosting Hee Haw?

Buck Owens started co-hosting Hee Haw in 1969. The show aired on CBS until 1971 and then in syndication. Owens left in 1986.
When did Buck Owens leave Hee Haw?

Buck Owens left Hee Haw in 1986 because he felt the show damaged his credibility as a musician. He spent the next few years rebuilding his career.
What happened to Buck Owens's career after Don Rich died?

After Don Rich’s death in 1974, Buck Owens struggled emotionally and his chart success declined. He recorded for Warner Bros. but had few hits until a duet with Dwight Yoakam in 1988.
Who did Buck Owens duet with in 1988?

Buck Owens duetted with Dwight Yoakam on Streets of Bakersfield in 1988. The song hit No. 1, marking Owens’s first chart-topper in 16 years.
What is the Crystal Palace?

The Crystal Palace is a restaurant and performance hall in Bakersfield, California, owned by Buck Owens. He performed there regularly until his health declined.
Was Buck Owens inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame?

Yes, Buck Owens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. Dwight Yoakam gave the induction speech.
What was Buck Owens's nickname?

Buck Owens was known as The Baron of Bakersfield. He got the nickname Buck from a favorite horse as a child.
Why did Buck Owens use the alias Corky Jones?

Buck Owens used the pseudonym Corky Jones to record rockabilly music without hurting his budding country career. He released the song Hot Dog under that name.
How many times was Buck Owens married?

Buck Owens was married four times: to Bonnie Owens, Phyllis Buford, Jana Grief, and Jennifer Smith. He had a long-term relationship with Lisa Todd after his divorces.
Did Buck Owens have any sons?

Yes, Buck Owens had three sons: Buddy Alan with Bonnie Owens, Michael, and Johnny. Buddy Alan is the most well-known.
What was Buck Owens's birth time?

Buck Owens was born at 5:00 a.m. CDT on August 12, 1929, in Sherman, Texas.
What health issues did Buck Owens face?

Buck Owens had throat cancer in 1993 and lost part of his tongue. He also suffered a minor stroke in 2004 and had pneumonia. He died of an apparent heart attack in 2006.
What is the Buck Owens Freeway?

The Buck Owens Freeway is a stretch of US Highway 82 in Sherman, Texas, named in his honor. It reflects his roots in his birthplace.
Who influenced Buck Owens's music?

Buck Owens was influenced by honky-tonk and rockabilly. He then influenced artists like Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, and Brad Paisley.
What was the Buckaroos?

The Buckaroos were Buck Owens’s backing band. Key members included Don Rich guitar, Doyle Holly bass, Tom Brumley steel guitar, and Willie Cantu drums.
Did Buck Owens write his autobiography?

Yes, Buck Owens’s autobiography Buck ‘Em! was published posthumously in 2013. It was written with Randy Poe and has a foreword by Brad Paisley.
What was Buck Owens's relationship with Lisa Todd?

Buck Owens had a long-term relationship with Lisa Todd, a Hee Haw Honey, but they never married. They appeared as a couple on the game show Tattletales.
Where is Buck Owens's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Buck Owens’s star is located at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It is for Recording.

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Published on October 13, 2026

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