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KEVIN M. BUCK… Go Get Bucked! |
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STREET BEAT FEATUREby Ernie Thomas
Just how talented is this 27-year-old fret man? I’m glad you asked! In the last year alone –– Buck has performed in New York City with Roger Daltrey of the Who; was featured during July on VH1; and was the winner of the “Guitar Idol” contest sponsored last year by The LOOP radio station (WLUP/97.9FM). “Playing with Daltrey was great,” said Buck, who found encouragement from the experience. “I had fun, but it also made me think becoming a full time musician was possible.” Along with his six-string talent, Buck has learned to multi-task well. The business savvy young man acts as his own manager, promoter, booking agent and studio engineer. He has even formed his own record label, Osiris Records. He recognizes that there are two sides of the music business –– “music” and “business” –– and has embraced them both. “I have to be a business man AND an artist – two opposites,” he said. “I can do it, but I just have to keep pushing. I have to make the right choices.” One of the choices made last year, was entering Linder Avenue Studios to record, Initiation, a very tasty 14-song instrumental collection of original music. The CD was released last October and features Buck playing guitar, mandolin and keyboards. Joining him on those Linder sessions were -- bassist Eric Pine and drummer Tommy Salzburg -– members of Buck’s self-named trio. Salzburg is a veteran of the Metal Blade recording act, Tattoo. Pine is a school chum Buck played with in an original heavy metal high school band called, Euphoric Darkness, which became popular enough to perform at the prestigious Chicago concert theatres –– The Vic, The Riviera and The Gateway. Buck describes his music as “hard rock and heavy metal with a lot of ‘New Age’ influences.” The songs on Intuition were “inspired by melodies heard in dreams and meditations,” he explained. Along with his original music career, Buck continues to impress Midwest music fans delivering licks made famous by Randy Rhoades, Zakk Wylde, Jake E. Lee and Tony Iommi. He is lead guitarist of Ozzy Osbourne tribute, Blizzard Of Ozz, a successful touring group Buck formed in 1996. “I wouldn’t be in any other tribute act,” he crows. “The music [Ozzy has made over the years] offers enough diversity to make my job fun and still allows for my own self-expression.” Buck’s various bands have opened shows for -- Disturbed, Joe Lynn Turner, Dave Uhrich, Trouble, Leslie West (of Mountain) and Jack Blades (of Night Ranger). Playing guitar since age eleven, Buck’s playing seethes with a variety of influences. He credits much of it to his instructors -- Harry Hmura and Jack Cecchini -- a jazz/blues session player and a student of celebrated classical guitarist, Andres Segovia. Buck has also embraced reggae music. He has playing live with the likes of Buster Morley, Belizean Breeze, along with Karl Watson & The New Dynamics. He has even performed on occasion with his Belizean dancer mother, The Island Queen – Marilyn Buck. The rocker credits his mom for bringing music into his life at a young age. “As a little kid, I could envision myself playing the guitar,” he recalled. At age five, he remembers playing “rock star” in the garage, pretending to be on stage. “It was pretty clear even then.” Buck plans to do a lot more writing, recording and playing in the future. For more info: www.KevinMBuck.com See Kevin M. Buck performing on June 5 at Midwest BEAT’s “Birthday Bash” at 2nd Dimensions with his own band and with his Ozzy/Sabs Tribute – Blizzard of Ozz |
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The
sleepy little hamlet of Berwyn is home to Kevin M. Buck, arguably one of
the Midwest’s most talented guitarists.