Mary Osborne
July 17, 1921-March 4, 1992
Born in Minot, North Dakota
Queen of the Jazz Guitar
Mary began playing music at the age of three. Her instruments included piano, ukulele, violin, banjo and a few years later the guitar. She was featured on her own radio show until the age of 15, after which she formed an all-girl trio. She later learned to play the double bass and began singing while playing with pianist Winifred McDonnell. The genre of music at that time was mostly bluegrass or country. Mary went on to perform and record with the 52nd Street All-Stars, comprised of Jazz luminaries Joe Venuti, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk, Mercer Ellington, and Beryl Booker. She also played with the Elliot Lawrence Quartet on CBS radio before going on to learn Spanish Classical Guitar from Alberto Valdez-Blaine. After moving to Bakersfield, she founded and operated Osborne Guitar Company with her husband and noted big band leader, Ralph Scaffidi. Mary taught music at California State University Bakersfield while still traveling and doing performances in some of the world’s great Jazz festivals culminating in 1991, including a weeklong engagement at one of New York’s premier Jazz venues, The Village Vanguard.
Merle Haggard
April 6, 1937-April 6, 2016
Born in Oildale, California
National Country Music Legend
The Haggard family had a history and love of playing music. The loss of Merle’s father at 9 years old, along with childhood struggles and his repeated lack of common sense landed him a jail cell in San Quentin. He knew his destiny was not to be in a prison and after being introduced to the music of Johnny Cash his life changed direction. Known as the poet to the common man, Merle Haggard and his band ‘The Strangers’ created and performed some of the most influential songs of country music history, the ‘Bakersfield Sound’ had begun.
Merle went on to spend the rest of his life singing and playing country music garnering accolades that have inspired the country music industry worldwide. He has played and recorded with many of the greatest music artists of all time. Merle recorded an album with Willie Nelson that earned a nomination for collaboration of the year in 2016. A songwriter, singer, musician, and actor, Merle entered the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977 and was a 1994 Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Other noteworthy awards include, six CMA Awards, 19 ACM Awards, four Grammy’s-including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 48 BMI Country Awards, A BMI Icon Award, nine BMI Pop Awards, a BMI R&B Award, 16 BMI “Million –Air” Awards and 38 number one hits on the Country Charts. Merle Haggard died on his birthday at age 7
Lawrence Tibbett
November 16, 1896-July 15, 1960
Born in Bakersfield, CA
Famous Metropolitan American Opera Singer & Actor
Lawrence Tibbett was born in Bakersfield California, later moving to Los Angeles. Lawrence performed in silent movies at the Grauman “Million Dollar” Theatre in Los Angeles. He graced the cover of Time Magazine and sang more than 600 times in the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He recorded exclusively for the Victor Talking Machine Company/RCA Victor throughout his career. Lawrence was an American opera singer, recording artist, actor, and radio personality. He was a baritone with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and did performances in musical theatre with the National Recognition Ford in Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff. He was nominated for the Academy Awards ‘Best Actor for the Film’, ‘The Rogue Song’, a 1930 Metro Goldwyn-Mayer production with Laurel & Hardy. Lawrence performed in multiple musical films at MGM, he appeared in ‘New Moon’ and ‘The Cuban Love Song’. The Metropolitan for 20th Century Fox was notable for its extensive segments of Tibbett performing operatic arias in a stage setting. In 1936 along with violinist Jascha Heifetz, he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, the most important labor union for solo performing artists. Lawrence has also been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Buck Owens
August 12, 1929-March 25, 2006
Born in Sherman, Texas
National Country Music Legend
His birth name was Alvis Edgar Owens. At the age of three he proved his independence when he announced to his parents that he would be called Buck from that day forward. Buck Owens went on to become one of the most iconic musicians, singer, songwriter, radio and TV host of country music. In 1966 with music business in mind, Buck purchased the KUZZ radio station in Bakersfield California from Thunderbird Broadcasting Corporation,’ he then acquired KNIX-AM, KNIX-FM in Arizona and took over TV Station KDOB from his sister Dorothy in 1990. His recognitions include Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame inductee (1996) and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. With 21 number one hits on Billboard Charts, he was also named as number 12 in CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. He pioneered the signature Bakersfield Sound with singer/guitarist Don Rich and his band The Buckaroos. He hosted ‘The Ranch’ television show and was well known all over the world as co-host with Roy Clark of the hit television show ‘Hee-Haw’. He performed and recorded with many of the greatest music legends including Ringo Starr. He was married to Bonnie Owens (female country singer) and sons Buddy Alan and Michael Owens appeared in many of the Hee Haw and Ranch television shows. In 1996 he founded Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, a museum and dinner theatre where he performed with his band The Buckaroos and Buckarette Kim McAbee until his death in 2006.
Korn
1993- Present
Bandleader Jonathan Davis
Born in Bakersfield, California
National Iconic Heavy Rock Band
Bandleader Jonathan Davis grew up learning music in a recording studio and music store owned by his father, noted musician Rick Davis. Jonathan formed the heavy Rock band Korn in 1993. The bagpipes Jonathan plays onstage were learned from his instructor at Highland High School in Bakersfield. With mainstream success on their second album in 1998, their rise to fame was rapid. As of 2012, 35 million records sold worldwide, 12 of the band’s official releases made the top 10 of Billboard 200, with eight making the top five. They were Certified Platinum by the RIAA, two Double Platinum, one certified triple, one certified five times platinum, two certified gold. Korn has had 41 released singles, two Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Awards. Band members include lead vocalist, Jonathan Davis, (lead vocalist, bagpipes and drums); James “Munky” Shaffer (guitars and backing vocals); Brian “Head” Welch (guitars and backing vocals); Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu (bass); Ray Luzier (drums and percussion); and Zack Baird (keyboardist). The band produced an online TV show, ‘Korn TV’, which was the first time any band had utilized the internet in such a way. Korn is considered pioneers of Heavy Rock Music with historical success.
Larry Daniels
July 22, 1941
Born in Tulare, California
National Radio Personality Legend
Larry ‘Shotgun’ Daniels started in radio as a teenager in Tulare, CA. His first employment was doing odd jobs at KGEN radio in trade for his training. At the time it was a pop station, but within the year it became a country format and that is where he met Buck Owens. He soon joined ‘Cousin’ Herb Henson at KUZZ radio, which was later bought by Buck Owens. Daniels performed with Owens and was used as a substitute musician with his band, the Buckshot’s. He became the Program Director for two of Owens’ radio stations in Phoenix, KTUF-AM and KNIX-FM, both top rated stations. Larry won Billboard Radio Awards as Major Market Program Director of the year six times, from 1992 to 1999. Radio and Records recognized him as Program Director of the Year in 1998. Larry won the Gavin Reports’ Program Director of the Year in 1986, 1990 and 1997. He started his own consulting firm and served on the Country Radio Seminar Agenda Committee. Larry served two terms as President of the Country Radio Broadcasters Association and received CRB President’s Award in 2005. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in Nashville Tennessee in 2007.
Tommy Collins
September 28, 1930-March 14, 2000
Born in Bethany, Oklahoma
National Country Western Singer and Songwriter
His birth name was Leonard Sipes. As it was common to change names for entertainment, Leonard chose to go by Tommy Collins. Tommy moved to Bakersfield with his friend (singer) Wanda Jackson, Wanda eventually moved back to Oklahoma as Collins stayed out west. In the 1950’s he had a string of radio hits. He was signed with Capital Records in June of 1953 with an unknown musician named Buck Owens playing guitar on his recorded tracks. In 1954 the song, “You Better Not Do That” was a huge hit for Tommy, spending seven weeks at number two on the charts, and following that were three more top ten hits and two others in the top 15. Tommy wrote the Merle Haggard hits, ‘Carolyn,’ ‘The Roots of My Raising’ and a string of other minor hits that Merle went on to record. Tommy had a songwriting contract with Mel Tillis at Sawgrass Music and Mel recorded the song ‘New Patches’, that record went on to become a top ten hit. George Strait also recorded a few of Tommy’s songs, notably, ‘If You Ain’t Lovin’ You Ain’t Livin’ which reached the Billboard number one and was previously recorded by Faron Young in 1954. In 1993 Tommy signed a contract with Ricky Skaggs Music and continued to write professionally and remain active in the songwriting industry through the mid 90’s.
Susan Raye
October 8, 1944
Born in Eugene, Oregon
National Country Western Singer.
Susan started her career singing with a high school rock band, and later auditioned for a local radio station becoming a disc jockey before eventually taking the reigns as host of the TV program, ‘Hoedown’. In 1968 she moved to Bakersfield after meeting Buck Owens’ manager, Jack McFadden. She recorded, ‘Put a Little Love in your Heart’ which made the top 30 in 1970. Susan’s voice and classic beauty earned her featured performances with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos on the hit TV show Hee-Haw. Susan was a recording artist with Capitol Nashville Records, United Artist Records and Westexas Records. She had ten top 10 hits, three of them consecutively and 19 top 40 country hits. The song, ‘L.A. International Airport’ was an international crossover pop hit in 1971. She was well known for the duet songs and albums that she recorded with Buck Owens. Susan Raye became the first woman to become a major recording artist without recording in Nashville and was nominated for five Academy of Country Music Awards, and three times as ‘Top Female Vocalist’. Susan Raye married Jerry Wiggins, the drummer with the Buckaroos. Susan retired from the music business in the late 1990’s but still performs occasionally at special events. After the passing of her husband she re-located to the Santa Barbara area after living in Bakersfield for 51 years.
Doug Davis
November 1, 1948
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Composer and Performer, CSUB Professor of Composition and
Director of The Bakersfield Jazz Ensemble.
Doug made his move to Bakersfield in 1982. He is best known for leading the Bakersfield Jazz Festival with his late wife Adele, for over 26 years. He has performed in concert with Grammy-winning artists Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew and Pete Christlieb. His music compositions have been recorded by such Jazz greats as Chick Corea, Larry Coryell, Eddie Gomez, Dannie Richmond, and Bennie Wallace. Davis has penned over 100 Jazz compositions and 70 compositions for symphony orchestra, band, chorus, solo piano, chamber ensembles, song cycles, and electronic music. CSUB’s Jazz program was one of 12 schools nationally to receive a featured review on Jazz education by Jazziz magazine. Money raised by the Jazz Festival are used for scholarships to Cal State University of Bakersfield music students. In 2003 Davis established the ‘Legends of Jazz’ and ‘Guest Composers ‘concert series for the campus of Cal State University of Bakersfield. His accomplishments include a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Harvard’s Paine Traveling Fellowship, a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship, a David Van Vactor Composition Award, and two Contemporary Recording Society Awards. He has been selected as both CSUB’s Outstanding Professor and Alumni Professor of the year and has earned two Beautiful Bakersfield Awards and five California Arts Council Awards.
Red Simpson
March 6, 1934-January 8, 2016
Born in Higley, Arizona
National Country Singer, Songwriter, Musician
He was born Joe Cecil Simpson and was raised in Bakersfield California. “Red” given the nickname by a preacher, wrote his first song at the age of 14. An original Bakersfield Sound Musician who played piano, fiddle and guitar, and was best known for his truck driving songs. As a songwriter, Red had many successful songs to his credit, including a top ten hit with Buck Owens, ‘Gonna Have Love’, Tommy Collins, ‘Roll, Truck Roll ‘was also a top 40 hit. His first number one hit song was ‘Sam’s Place’ also recorded by Buck Owens. Eventually Red decided to start performing again and he scored a top five hit with ‘I’m a Truck’ a song written by postman Bob Staunton. He recorded more hits with Capitol Records before signing with Warner Brothers where he continued his career. Merle Haggard recorded Red’s song, ‘Lucky Old Colorado’. One duet with Red includes guitar legend Junior Brown and Red’s songs can be heard playing in the background for Disneyland’s Theme Park ‘Cars’ attraction. Simpson was honored at the 2016 Ameripolitan Awards with “Founder of the Sound” award. His last album ‘Soda Pops and Saturdays’ was released posthumously in 2016.
Billy Mize
April 29, 1929-October 29, 2017
Born in Arkansas City, Kansas
Country Music Steel Guitarist, Bandleader, Singer, Songwriter and TV Show Host.
William Robert Mize “Billy” was raised in the San Joaquin Valley of California. He moved to Bakersfield where he worked at KPMC Radio Station as a disc jockey. In 1953 he and ‘Cousin’ Herb Henson started the TV show called the “Cousin Herb’s Trading Post” on KERO-TV, where he was known as ‘Billy the Kid’ and performed for the next thirteen years. In 1955 he relocated to Los Angeles to host the Hank Penny Show, Cal Worthington Show, Country Music Time and the legendary Town Hall Party. He recorded for Decca in 1957, followed by Challenge and Liberty labels. Mize hit the country charts in 1966 with ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ for Columbia. He starred in his own syndicated “Billy Mize Show from Bakersfield.” Billy Mize’s hits include, ‘Who’ll Buy the Wine’, ‘My Baby Walks All Over Me’, ‘Don’t Let the Blues Make You Bad’ and ‘Terrible Tangled Web’ which was recorded by movie star Dean Martin. His awards included The Academy of Country Music’s ‘TV Personality of the Year’ three years in a row.
Bonnie Owens
October 1, 1929-April 24, 2006
Born in Blanchard, Oklahoma
National Country Western Singer
Bonnie Campbell met Buck Owens at the age of fifteen when they performed in a band together in Mesa Arizona. They married in 1948 and Bonnie moved to Bakersfield in 1951 before Buck. Although they later divorced, the move to Bakersfield jump-started both of their careers. Her first recording was ‘A Dear John Letter’ a duet with Fuzzy Owens on Mar-Vel Records around 1950. Side B song was ‘Wonderful World’. She recorded for Tally Records early on, in 1960 she recorded ‘Why Don’t Daddy Live Her Anymore’ which made its way on the country charts along with ‘Don’t Take Advantage of Me’. Capitol Records released her first album, ’Don’t Take Advantage of Me’ in 1965. Bonnie recorded, ‘Just Between the Two of Us’ with then-husband, Merle Haggard, which became the title song to their 1966 duet album on Capitol Records. Her recognition included ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ in 1965 by the Academy of Country Music. She dedicated the rest of her professional performances as back up vocalist in Merle Haggard’s band “The Strangers”. She had eight album releases and six single releases during her career.
Luther Davis Jr.
October 16, 1946-October 28, 2015
R & B and Blues singer and guitarist
Born in Plummerville, Arkansas
Luther Davis Jr. recorded his original songs and played music around Bakersfield for years with his band, “Lord Luther and the Inner Eye” during the 1970’s. He recorded his first songs, ‘You’ and ‘Keep on Dancing’ after winning a local talent contest in 1977. Five years later he cut two more singles ’To Be Free’ and ‘You Can Be A Star,’ both of which would have a major impact on his career much later in his life.
When working as a sanitation worker for the city of Arvin, Davis received a call from Eothen “Egon” Alapatt from the Los Angeles-based Now-Again Records informing him that he had created a new style of music in the United Kingdom known as ‘Modern Soul’. Davis became more than a star. He was canonized with the utmost respect that a music god would receive in the right place. When he played, ‘You Can Be A Star’ people would lose their minds and react with cheers as though it were an anthem.
This amazing song would be included in the soundtrack to the 2008 video game ‘Saints Row 2’. Davis also released a book /compilation CD titled, ‘Soul Cal’ on lost Northern California Soul from 1971-1982.
Ken Nelson
January 19, 1911-January 6, 2008
Born in Caledonia, Minnesota
Capitol Records Producer
Ken Nelson started his music career as a singer and played in various bands during his teens. As an adult he was in charge of the A&R division of Capitol Records in Los Angeles, CA and was head of the country music division for many years. He produced many of the country music newcomers most notable and successful music, hits by artist including Merle Travis, Gene Vincent, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Hank Thompson and the many number one country hits known as the Bakersfield Sound by Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.
Ken produced the first live album ever to be done by a country singer, Hank Thompson’s ‘Live at the Golden Nugget’ in 1961. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame 2001. Ken Nelson brought the Bakersfield Sound in the forefront of country music through radio and records helping to bring this extraordinary sound, ‘The Bakersfield Sound’, that has reached it global success today.
Don Rich
August 15, 1941-July 17, 1974
Born in Olympia, Washington
Country Music Musician & Singer with Buck Owens & The Buckaroos
Don learned how to play the fiddle at the early age of three, followed shortly by learning to play guitar. At the age of 16 he formed an early rock and roll band called the ‘Blue Comets’ with friends, and ultimately opened for Elvis Presley. Buck Owens, who was living in Tacoma while working at radio KAYE attended one of Don’s shows and immediately went to speak with him after the show. Rich was soon playing fiddle with Owens. They were featured on the weekly BAR-K Jamboree on KTNT-TV 13. Soon after the hit ‘Under Your Spell Again’ went onto the country charts Owens came back to Bakersfield to do more recording. Rich, who was only 17 at that time, stayed in Washington to go to college but dropped out after one year and joined Owens in Bakersfield becoming a ‘Buckaroo’. The two vocals were magic, as was their friendship and the hits came rolling in. ‘Excuse Me (I Think I’ve Got a Heartache)’peaked at number two, ‘Foolin’ Around’ spent eight weeks in the number two slot and in 1962 with the change in sound with drum, guitar and electric bass for a song titled, ‘You’re For Me’ the Bakersfield Sound was born. Don Rich became the bandleader for the ‘Buckaroos’. Fender Musical Instruments took notice and provided the famed Telecaster guitars to the band. Together with Buck Owens, they achieved eight more top fifteen hits on the country charts, as well as careers on the hit TV show “Hee-Haw.” Owens and Rich continued their professional careers on the road, in the studios, on television and as friends until Rich’s untimely death in 1974 in a motorcycle accident.
Cousin Herb Henson
May 17, 1925-November 26,1963
Born in East St. Louis, IL
Radio and TV Host, Comedian, Pianist
Herb Henson came to California in the 1940’s. He was best known as host of the television show ‘The Trading Post’ during the 1950’s, on Bakersfield’s KERO-TV channel 10. Bill Woods convinced Herb to come to Bakersfield where he started performing in the local honkytonks, but it was the television show he hosted that helped create the now legendary Bakersfield Sound. The TV show co-starred Bill Woods, Billy Mize and members of the Clover Club house band that included Buck Owens and Bonnie Owens. The show also featured artist like Al Brumley, Roy Nichols, Dallas Frazier, Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Merle Travis, Lefty Frizzell and even a ten-year old Barbara Mandrell who made her debut on that stage. Herb had a handful of recordings to his credit, and even recorded with Capital Records, one of which was, ‘Ya’ll Come’ which became his anthem. Henson became radio station manager at KIKK in 1960 and changed the call letters to the now-famous KUZZ. He died at the early age of 38 from a massive heart attack.
Jean Shepard
November 21, 1933-September 25, 2016
Born in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
National Country Music Singer
Her birth name was Ollie Imogene Shepard. She was raised in Visalia California and as a teenager she played bass in the Melody Ranch Girls, an all-female band formed in 1948. Hank Thompson discovered her and helped her get signed by Capitol Records in 1952. She released her first single that same year. Shepard’s first chart experience in 1953 was a duet with Ferlin Husky entitled, ‘A Dear John Letter,’ which was a number #1 smash on the country charts and #4 on the Billboard Pop Chart. A follow up with ‘Forgive Me, John ‘was another crossover hit reaching the top ten on the country charts. Amazingly she was only 20 years old at the time. Jean was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 the same year she joined ABC-TV nationally telecast ‘Ozark Jubilee’. Future songs made her Cash Box’s Top Female Artist in 1959 and in 1960 Jean married Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins, three years later he died in the plane crash that killed Patsy Cline. Jean Shepard released 73 single records and had 24 studio albums. She continued to record on United Artist Records and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Jean Shepard became the first female to be a member of the Grand Old Opry for a total of 60 consecutive years.