Don Rich

Don Rich ( born August 15, 1941 Donald Eugene Ulrich in Olympia, Washington; † August 17, 1974 in Morro Bay, California ) was an American country musician and guitarist. He has performed with Buck Owens and played a major role in developing the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s. He played alongside numerous recordings with Buck Owens as a singer also known country instrumental Buckaroo as a lead guitarist.

Biography

Don Rich was born in Washington state and took violin lessons at an early age. At the age of 18 he met Buck Owens, who was according to Puyallup, Washington, drawn and at that time had a recording contract with Capitol Records, also moderated Owens, a local television show and was a partner of a small radio station. After Rich and Owens for a year together music had made, Owens Puyallup left and returned to Bakersfield, where shortly afterwards a letter from Rich reached him, in which he informed him that he had from the College enough and ready for a career as a musician was.

On the side of Owens

Owens took Rich and Rich moved to California, newly married with his girlfriend Marlene, to Bakersfield. The first plate with Don Rich on guitar was the single Excuse Me ( I Think I've Got a Heartache ). Since Owens and Rich still had no band, the duo played with each club band in the area. Quick took over Don Rich instead of violin playing the role of the lead guitarist of Buck Owens and developed his own style on the Fender Telecaster, led by Owens, who had already practiced on his own " sharp " sound. Rich Owens accompanied henceforth not only as a guitarist, but also as a harmony singer, which greatly contributed to the recognition of their music.

Don Rich was more than just a colleague for Buck Owens, he advised him in musical matters. He recommended him by Johnny Russell and Vonie Morrison written song; Act Naturally in 1963, Owens' first number 1 hit.

As Owens shortly after the band The Buckaroos ( Bass: Doyle Holly, Drums: Willie Cantu, Steel Guitar: Tom Brumley ) founded, was "Dangerous" Don Rich, as he was nicknamed, as a guitarist whose band leader. In order to develop his musical abilities to not only rich country recordings sounded, but was influenced by jazz guitarists.

Mid -1960s, Buck Owens hosted his own show on television, The Buck Owens Ranch. This always opened with the instrumental Buckaroo Don Rich. In 1969 the show Hee Haw, the moderated Owens and Roy Clark. The Buckaroos were always there as house band.

Rich played alongside the Fender Telecaster that made him famous, in rare cases, the Gibson Les Paul.

Death

On July 16, 1974 Rich accident at the age of 32 years deadly with his motorcycle in Morro Bay, California. The death of his close friend Buck Owens threw off the track, his contract with Capitol Records in 1975 and ran his career had peaked. Only later succeeded Owens back to work successfully.

Effect

Don Rich's solos on the guitar and his sharp Telecaster sound are famous to this day. Despite his early death, Rich has been shaped by its cooperation with the Buck Owens Bakersfield sound critical.