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Audiogon, meet Buddy Miller.

 

Some of you may be familiar with the name, others not. Buddy is very active in what is referred to as the Americana genre. That just means all things American: Blues, Gospel, Rhythm & Blues, Jump Blues, Folk, Hillbilly, Country & Western, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Rock ’n’ Roll (the "real" stuff, from the 1950’s), Tin Pan Alley, Power Pop, Singer/Songwriter, even Jazz (though to a lesser degree). Perhaps most importantly, it’s practitioners make their music with art given priority over it’s commercial potential. Very little of it ever makes it onto radio or TV, and spreads mostly by word-of-mouth, including here on Audiogon.

Buddy is a solo artist with a bunch of albums to his credit, as well as partner with his singer/songwriter wife Julie Miller (who, like Buddy, Sam Phillips, and Sam’s ex-husband T Bone Burnett, came to Secular Music from the world of Contemporary Christian Music. Don’t let that scare you off! 😉 ). Buddy and Julie also have a number of albums made together, most of the songs written by Julie.

Buddy has also serves as Emmylou Harris’ guitarist, harmony singer, bandleader, and sometimes producer. He has also produced a number of other superior artists, including Robert Plant, Richard Thompson, Solomon Burke, The War & Treaty (Michael & Tanya Trotter), Ralph Stanley, Loretta Lynn, Allison Moorer, Shawn Colvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Greg Trooper, and The Wood Brothers. He does a lot of his recording in his home studio, which takes up the entire bottom floor of his Victorian house in Nashville.

 

Here’s a video interview of Buddy done in his studio:

 

https://youtu.be/9_IBN4hLSS4?si=pNAP9VdB27t2b6ri

 

And here’s another interview regarding his guitar and amp gear:

 

https://youtu.be/5EooxUCzV20?si=bcqtqQFy6kwcpV7L

 

 

 

128x128bdp24
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
9,868 posts
 

Fantastic info, all. And I am SO envious of those who have seen Buddy and/or Julie live!

I have managed to see another artist working on Buddy’s level live: Rodney Crowell, accompanied by Steuart Smith on electric guitar and harmony vocals and the master musician Jerry Scheff (Elvis, T Bone, L.A. studios) on electric bass, just the three of them sitting on stools on the stage at The Roxy Theater on Sunset Blvd. in 2001. The place was full of other artists, including Dave Alvin, who was sitting at the table next to mine, watching the three of them like a hawk.

And a few weeks ago I once again saw Iris DeMent at the Aladdin Theater, a beautiful medium-sized and great-sounding Art Deco room in Portland Oregon. She was as always just wonderful, this time accompanied by two young women on electric guitar (a beautiful red Gretsch 5120) and electric upright bass. One of my very favorite songwriters and singers. I'd love for her to make an album with Buddy producing!

I’m so grateful and happy to still be alive at a time when so much good music is being made. No, it’s not on radio or TV, but so what? Neither were the hippie or punk bands.

moonwatcher
481 posts
 

Yes, discovered him and his wife a long time ago. Great artist and guitarist. Actually, discovered his wife first (Invisible Girl), then him. What a resume he has! He's been at an Americana festival called Merlefest in NC a few times. Sounded great live. 

joshindc's avatar
joshindc
31 posts
 

One of my favorites! Saw him way back in SF at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, closing the show with Emmylou Harris. Just the two of them, incredible voices, incredible sounds out of his strange arsenal of guitars and mandolins, going through a Vox amp... divine! 

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