Songwriter, musician and Southern native who captured the essence of the Americana South.
I’m not sure how many of our Americana UK readers are aware of Bucky Lindsey, who was a great songwriter, a funky bass player and the possessor of a fine baritone who only released one solo album, 2002’s “Back Bay Blues”. I only heard of his death through a very personal and heartfelt obituary by Mike Mills on the Last Music Company website, which, to the best of my knowledge, was the only social media response to Bucky Lindsey’s death on the 26th of June. Even if you don’t recognise the name, you will have probably heard his songs, which have been covered by artists as diverse as George Jones, Etta James, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Ruth Brown, together with co-writes with Dan Penn including the title track of Solomon Burke’s 2002 acclaimed “Don’t Give Up On Me”.
Born Harvey Hoy Lindsey in 1943 in Biloxi, Mississippi, Bucky Lindsey went to school in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and subsequently went on the road as a bass player with the likes of guitarist and southern rock inspiration Lonnie Mack and played western swing with Ray Price before moving to Nashville in 1973 to establish himself as a songwriter. While he had a successful career as a songwriter, he only ever released one album under his name, 2002’s “Back Bay Blues”, which not only showcased his songwriting talents but also his funky bass playing and his baritone vocals that were perfect for his mix of blues, soul, and country-tinged R&B. While the album allowed the world to hear Bucky Lindsey the artist, it was also a homage to the American South blending the influences of both black and white traditions seamlessly. The producer was Dan Penn, who also added his impeccable vocals, and the backing musicians included the likes of keyboardist Carson Whitsett, who replaced Booker T in the MGs in the ‘70s, drummer Jim Brock, who has played with everyone from James McMurtry to John Mellencamp, and Billy Swan cohort Buzz Cason on vocals plus assorted horn players.
Bucky Lindsey was a man of the South made from the dirt of that part of America, and his music perfectly encapsulated the sound and feel of where he felt most at home. His songwriting was at one with that of Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts, Spooner Oldham, and Carson Whitsett, and his vocals were as southern as those of Tony Joe White. He spent the latter part of his life in Pensacola in Florida’s panhandle, which is only five hours from Muscle Shoals, and you can’t help thinking that musicians and songwriters like Harvard Hoy “Bucky” Lindsey are probably the last generation to be fully moulded by the environment they grew up as in this age of the internet and social media it is impossible to stop some homogenisation of culture and the music of particular environments. You can still pick up a copy of “Back Bay Blues” from usual streaming sites and the more discerning physical music vendors, so if you like the music of Tony Joe White, J. J. Cale, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Muscle Shoals, and the like and haven’t picked up a copy, then do yourself a favour and get it. You won’t be disappointed.
