When I think Bakersfield Sound, I think Buck Owens. And when I think about Buck Owen’s and his music, I can’t remove the impact Don Rich had to the sound of Bakersfield and the Buckaroos.
Don Rich was one of the first country-electric guitar pickers. The Telecaster, really the first widely available solid-body guitar, was first available in the early 1950’s, and originated in California for the Western Swing musicians of the time, allowing country music to add a new sound to the steel-guitar driven sounds of western swing. Don Rich helped pioneer the clean, echoed and twangy sounds that became noted for the Bakersfield Sound.
No question that Don Rich had chops, too. He was one of the originator’s on how to pick a telecaster and influenced many other musicians.
Additionally, Don Rich was an excellent vocalist. His bright tenor voice alongside Buck Owen’s is essential to the Buckaroos sound.
Don Rich passed away from a motorcycle accident at far too young an age. Many believe that his death signaled the end of the Buckaroos and Buck Owens to change his direction away from recording and move towards business and television.
Don Rich is a highly regarded master of the telecaster and his music will always hold a special part in American music history.
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