Buck Owens

Buck Owens would hate this book. The country musician who was a noted control freak would fume at the behind-the-scenes details. The guy with the wholesome reputation (thanks to his Hee Haw days) would loathe the stories of his touring infidelity. The successful businessman would hate the anecdotes about how cheap he was. And the egomaniac would cringe at Sisk's (Honky-Tonks: Guide to Country Dancin' and Romancin') habit of debunking Owens's self-mythology. While Sisk reveals amazing details like the time Owens convinced a sheriff to deputize two of his crew so they could carry guns, and lurid episodes like sharing women with his bandmates, many of these stories are brief and to the point. Much of the book is given to the biographical background of his backing band, the Buckaroos, or Owens's assistants/girlfriends. This is great for hard-core fans, but it's easy to wonder whether Owens's vengeful reputation convinced Sisk to play it a little safe.