Donny Buzzard

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 31 Aug 2002 6:42 pm

Has anyone heard the where bouts of Donny lately? The last time I saw or heard of him, he was in the Denver,Co. or Cheyenne,Wy. area. I also heard he was in Ft. Collins working for George Kent. Donny is a great steel player, and also his wife Linda plays great steel.

Ken Frazier · Post by **Ken Frazier** » 31 Aug 2002 7:48 pm

Hi Tony,
Sorry to inform you but Donny Buzzard Died in the late 70's. I don't know all of the details. Bill Nauman in Las Vegas would know.
Ken Frazier

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 1 Sep 2002 7:49 pm

Hey Tony, Red Kilby here I have some close friends here in Pueblo, that were at the ISGA with me this year and they used to play with Donny and I will ask them as soon as the get home, they should be here on Tuesday.
I will have the whole scoop<<<<<<<<. www.redkilby.com

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 2 Sep 2002 8:53 am

I would also like to learn more about Donny & the steel he used to play; Domland. I'd heard his name from one of my teachers, & he used to go on about what an incredible player Donny was. This was back in the '60's when they ran those b&w Anacin commercials, & my teacher would describe Donny's playing as FAST, FAST, FAST.
Anyway, I'd enjoy reading more about Donny.

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 2 Sep 2002 9:12 am

Well as soon as Donnie Duncan, who was part of the Country Ramblers band gets back in town from the ISGA I will fill you all in.

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 2 Sep 2002 9:22 am

Rex, Back in the 60's when I was playing at the Mayflower Club in Cheyenne, after playing
all night at the club, we'd go have jom sessions with Donny of course he done most of the playing, after a while of playing, he'd get so deep I had trouble keeping up with him. I was always more into the hard country, but Donny could play any jazz tune ever recorded. If you roll Buddy,Chaulker and Hal together, it will give you and idea how Donny played.

Mitch Daniels · Post by **Mitch Daniels** » 2 Sep 2002 10:39 am

Donny died of Lymphoma in Phoenix, December 1988.
He and Linda were divorced in the late sixties I believe.
Yes, he was an extrodinary musician.
Sadly, so few experienced the depth of his talent.

Tony, I wonder if we've met...I played the Frontier Days a few times with Donny

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 2 Sep 2002 12:33 pm

Thanx to all. I appreciate the info & I'm looking forward to what Red has to say.
Yeah Tony, I guess besides being ridiculously fast, I was told he could do a serious take on "Moonlight In Vermont".
Anyway, although there have been previous posts about Domland, (but no pics, I checked) I'm going to move over to "pedal steel", try again & see if someone just might have a scan of a Domland they may be willing to share with us. I've heard those guitars were gorgeous.
Thanx again!

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 3 Sep 2002 9:30 am

Hi everyone, Donnie and Wanda just got home and are filling me in as I type.
They said that yes Buzard died in 1988 in Arizona from Bone cancer and he was with a beautiful Indian Princess and had found piece and contentment in his life and had moved out on the Reservation , and had become totally disalulisoned about the music business and did not care anymore, and had not picked up his steel in along time.
They confirm that yes Donny was a fantastic steel player, and was so far ahead of his time that people did not understand his advanced talent in the 1960's.
Donnie Duncan worked with Donny Buzard at the Zanzabar in Denver, and Donnie and Wanda Duncan worked with him in Idaho Springs, Co. at the Piano Bar in the 60's.
Then the last Sat. nite he worked with them , Buzard came by the Duncan's place and Wanda fixed him and his buddy a sandwich and coffee and that was the last they saw of him, he had headed to Las Vegas to pursue his music out there..
Then after playing in Vegas for awile he headed to the Phoenix area and met this Indian princess and just gave up on the Music.
Also if there are any more in depth questions contact Buzz Evans out in Las Vegas, he was another personal friend of Buzard's.
I hope this clarify's some of the questions of what happened to Donny Buzard. www.redkilby.com

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 3 Sep 2002 9:40 am

MANY thanks, Red. I really appreciate the info.