Make A Difference Minute: True to the Buck Owens Sound with Johnny Owens

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Johnny Owens, son of country music legend Buck Owens, as he reflects on his father’s life, music, and the legacy he left behind.

For Johnny, one word captures much of what mattered to his father: true.

Buck Owens helped define the Bakersfield Sound, bringing a distinctive California edge to country music while remaining committed to what he believed country music should be. Johnny says his father appreciated many different kinds of music, but staying true to country remained at the heart of his work.

That influence stretched far beyond Bakersfield. Buck’s recording of “Act Naturally” became a country classic, and The Beatles later recorded the song with Ringo Starr singing lead, introducing it to another enormous audience.

Decades later, Johnny still sees his father’s influence in the music people are discovering, streaming, and making today. Songs like “Made in Japan” continue to connect with listeners and inspire artists who came long after Buck first recorded them.

For Johnny, that’s an important part of his father’s legacy. Buck Owens knew his sound, believed in it, & stayed true to it.

This MADM is brought to you by Singing River Dentistry, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

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