Buck Owens

Buck Owens, along with Merle Haggard, was the leader of the Bakersfield sound, a twangy, electrified, rock-influenced interpretation of hardcore honky tonk that emerged in the '60s. Owens was the first bona fide country star to emerge from Bakersfield, scoring a total of 15 consecutive number one hits between 1963 and 1967. In the process, he provided an edgy alternative to the string-laden Nashville country-pop that was prevalent at the time. Later in his career, his musical impact was forgotten by some due to his starring role on the country comedy program Hee Haw. Neverthel...