GOODBYE, BUCK

I've never been much of a country music fan, but those of you who have for any length of time will probably remember the '70s series Hee Haw, which had a run on CBS before going into syndication.

Buck Owens, who with guitarist Roy Clark co-hosted the variety show which mixed country music with hayseed humour, died early this morning at the age of 76.

Many will remember Owens' hit songs during the 1960s such as "Act Natrually", one of the very few country tunes that was a hit for a pop/rock band...no less than the Beatles (1965). Others will remember the singer and his group the Buckaroos decked out in rhinestone-dotted suits when they performed. Still others will remember the red-white-and blue guitar he played, country's answer to bluesman B.B. King's "Lucille".

Owens also worked away from the Nashville establishment, choosing to remain based in Bakersfield, California and helping to establish a twangy, honky-tonk genre that became known as the "Bakersfield Sound". And unlike many artists then and now, he invested his money well. His company owned a television and several radio stations, along with a production company and other business interests. Broadcasting was more of a first love, and at the height of it's success Buck Owens Broadcasting owned several radio stations throughout the Southwest.

He is survived by three sons.