An Intimate Interview with Buddy Jewell

Writer Mary Maggart sat down and talked with Country Music Star, Buddy Jewell during his busy CMAfest schedule and discussed his music and his life.

Mary: I remember one of the first albums I bought. What was the first album that you ever purchased?
Buddy: I think the very first one, honestly I ever bought was Gordon Lightfoot. I'm not sure of the name of the album but it had "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald." I know there was a song called "Approaching Lavender and Cotton Candy" and "If you could read my mind". That's what kind of attracted me to Gordon Lightfoot, and that was actually about the same time I started playing guitar, I was about 14 and I loved his style. Actually was an 8-track tape. Yeah, I'm that old!

Mary: With your strong faith in God would you ever consider doing a gospel album?
Buddy: You know I've been asked that question a lot... I think it is something, hopefully in my future. It's nothing like a pressing issue... when the time is right then it will happen, I'll do one.
I read an interview about Johnny Cash and he was asked the same thing. They asked him why he didn't do a gospel album and he said, well I'm a country recording artist that just so happens to be a christian or vise versa, I'm a christian who just so happens to be a country recording artist. There are people who God has called to be in that genre, gospel music... I just don't think that is my calling, I don't think that is where God wants me to be... yeah, if I live long enough I think I would like to do a gospel album.

Mary: Has your musical talent been passed on to your kids. And if so, would you encourage your children to try the music business as they get older?
Buddy: My oldest Buddy, is actually pretty musical. He tinkers around the drums and the guitar and when he was a little younger, keyboards. Josh and Lacy both like to sing a lot. So yeah, maybe that has been passed on... at least the love for music has been passed on down to them. And if they feel led to get into the music business, then I'll try to be as supportive to them as I can. It's so tough, I think I'd rather see them get into something where they don't get their hearts broken quite as often like some people get in in this business. If it's a passion they have like mine then there's nothing you can do about it you've just got to follow it.

Mary: If you could record one song what would it be?
Buddy: The next one that stays at #1 for six weeks, laughing... I can't really pick a favorite song, I have a lot I love. "Please Come to Boston", "Turn the Page", "Green Green Grass of Home", "El Paso" by Marty Robbins. Gosh, there is so many great ones out there I can't narrow it down to just one.

Mary: What kind of guitar do you play?
Buddy: I play "Taylor Acoustic" guitars EXCLUSIVELY! And they are the best guitars that you can get your hands on and I will stand by them. It's on my links page on my website at www.buddyjewell.com

Mary: How do you determine your set list at a concert?
Buddy: First of all I try to identify my audience. It's a lot like when I would play the bars, you would go in, and if it was a younger crowd and you would play a little louder and more of a rockin' set. Or if you were playing like a "ladies auxiliary club" you tone it down and play a lot of love songs. I try to figure it out, if I'm playing a fair, I know there are going to be a lot of families there, I try to fashion my show to where it will appeal to families... if I'm playing in bar we play more of a southern rock-n-roll and turn it up.

Mary: What is your most requested song?
Buddy: It's between "Help Pour Out the Rain" and "Sweet Southern Comfort". Those 2 are just really huge songs for me, both of them were Top Five songs, and that's what people come to hear so far. Hopefully there are more hits down the road, I don't know if I'll have any bigger than those.

Click Here to View Buddy Jewell at the Belcourt.