Buddy McNeil
Encyclopedia
William "Buddy" McNeil (born April 27, 1931) is an American rockabilly
musician and songwriter who participated in the foundation of rockabilly music.
where he spent the first 3 years of his life. His family moved to Tiptonville Tennessee in 1934 to work as sharecroppers. His father, Robert McNeil, bought him his first instrument with the profits of the selling of his old one to the soon-to-become-famous Carl Perkins
.
McNeil's mother died in 1939 and his father joined the US Army in 1942 for Second World War where he lost one arm during training and was demobilized.
At the age of 13, McNeil left Tennessee with his father to go live with his uncle on a farm in Arkansas. He then started writing songs and would go on to perform what could be considered rockabilly music in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee.
McNeil met Sam Philips at Sun Records
in 1952, a few months after the opening of the studio, and recorded his first and only album, the eponymous Buddy McNeil. A few weeks later, McNeil fought with Philips for an unknown reason and decided to leave his career as a musician. According to a recent version of the story told by McNeil, Philips thought he was a good musician and songwriter but was not a proper singer.
In 1952, McNeil decided to go back to his uncle's farm, where he stayed until 1957 when he received his draft notice. After being demobilized, McNeil became a carpenter for a few years before he left for Peterborough, Ontario
, Canada. He was married, but he and his wife had no children.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
musician and songwriter who participated in the foundation of rockabilly music.
Biography
McNeil was born on April 27, 1931, in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
where he spent the first 3 years of his life. His family moved to Tiptonville Tennessee in 1934 to work as sharecroppers. His father, Robert McNeil, bought him his first instrument with the profits of the selling of his old one to the soon-to-become-famous Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
.
McNeil's mother died in 1939 and his father joined the US Army in 1942 for Second World War where he lost one arm during training and was demobilized.
At the age of 13, McNeil left Tennessee with his father to go live with his uncle on a farm in Arkansas. He then started writing songs and would go on to perform what could be considered rockabilly music in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee.
McNeil met Sam Philips at Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
in 1952, a few months after the opening of the studio, and recorded his first and only album, the eponymous Buddy McNeil. A few weeks later, McNeil fought with Philips for an unknown reason and decided to leave his career as a musician. According to a recent version of the story told by McNeil, Philips thought he was a good musician and songwriter but was not a proper singer.
In 1952, McNeil decided to go back to his uncle's farm, where he stayed until 1957 when he received his draft notice. After being demobilized, McNeil became a carpenter for a few years before he left for Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, Canada. He was married, but he and his wife had no children.