Gary Buck

Background:

Gary Buck's career began in Sault Ste Marie, when he sang on CKCY radio, with Ray Kovisto's band, The Country Caravan. After a brief stint in semi-pro baseball, he made his first recording in 1959. In 1963, Happy to be Unhappy was an international hit in the US, followed by a second hit with The Wheel Song. He recorded for the Canatal, Capitol and Broadland record labels.

In 1967, Buck moved to Kitchener, Ontario where he starred on CKCO-TVs 'The Gary Buck Show', also making several appearances in the late 1960s and early 1970s at the Grand Ol’ Opry. In 1970, he began serving as General Manager for Capitol Records' publishing affiliate Beechwood Music, establishing his own company Broadland Music in 1971. The label’s early roster included Don Cochrane, Dallas Harms, Orval Prophet and Ian Tyson, among many others.

Gary Buck produced albums for some of Nashville’s top stars including Gene Watson and Johnny Duncan, as well as producing numerous albums and hits for Canadian country stars.

Gary Buck founded the Canadian Country Music Hall of fame with inaugural inductees in 1989. The Hall of Fame would later merge with the CCMA’s Hall of Honour. Buck was also founder/curator of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, displaying memorabilia and historical artefacts on Canadian country music and its pioneers.