With a new collection titled Times Like These, Buddy Jewell steps into the ranks of the truly world-class country singers.
His nearly platinum-selling debut CD and hits like "Help Pour Out the Rain" and "Sweet Southern Comfort" introduced millions to his warm, expressive voice. But the performances on Times Like These are something else. These are the vocals of a man at the top of his game -- muscular, emotional and awesome in their impact. Turn off any recording-studio trickery devices: This guy is for real.
"I chose songs that I thought would stretch me a little bit," says Jewell. "On this album, I tried to grow as a vocalist. One of the reasons I chose Garth Fundis to produce is that he has worked with some of my favorite vocalists - Keith Whitley, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood. I figured if anybody could showcase my vocal range, he could."
The proof is in the listening. Buddy Jewell strikes a bluesy groove in his hit single "If She Were Any Other Woman." His harmony vocalist is another world-class singer, Vince Gill. Jewell soars like an eagle in full flight on "Me Lovin' You" and turns softly wistful on "Dyess, Arkansas." He's world-weary and blue on "Run Away Home," full of attitude on "Glad I'm Gone" and aching and heartbroken on "Back to You."
Pay heed to that powerful growl as he rounds the corner into the last chorus of the rocking "So Gone." Take note of the philosophical bent he lends to the lyrics of "You Ain't Doin' it Right" and "Times Like These." Listen to the way he softly leads you into the words of "Addicted to the Rain," then stand back as he roars the thrilling chorus of "I'd Run."
There aren't many singers who can tackle melodies as wide ranging as these. And there are even fewer who are so sensitive to lyrics. Many vocalists simply sing the notes. Buddy Jewell sounds like he has lived every word.
"A lot of these songs are sort of autobiographical, whether I wrote them or not," he comments. "My kids inspired me to write 'Addicted to the Rain' and 'Times Like These.' 'Dyess, Arkansas' is my Dad's story. I've been in relationships like the one in 'Glad I'm Gone.' And I've definitely lived 'I'd Run' and 'You Ain't Doin' it Right.'"
Buddy Jewell's voice is the voice of experience. It has a friendly, "lived in" quality because, as the old saying goes, he has "been around." Born to a working-class family in Arkansas, Jewell has been singing for his supper since the age of 21, from Texas to Tennessee. He has also driven a beer truck, been a nightclub bouncer, washed cars, bagged groceries, worked as a door-to-door salesman and labored on a loading dock. He is a husband and a father.
In April 2005, Buddy will be honored by the National Fatherhood Initiative as a recipient of their annual Fatherhood Awards - an award given to individuals who exemplify the ideals of involved, responsible and committed fatherhood.
He was mainly raised in Osceola, Arkansas. That's not far from Dyess, where his father grew up with Johnny Cash. Conway Twitty hailed from nearby Helena, and Glen Campbell is a native of Delight. Both of his parents were musical, and there were stacks of classic country records around the house. An uncle taught Jewell to play guitar. Enthralled with the instrument at age 15, the boy taught himself to perform Cash's "I Still Miss Someone," a number that remains in his stage repertoire to this day.
Buddy Jewell was a natural athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. He was team captain and the quarterback of his high school team and played college football as well. But while in college, he began to perform in clubs and talent contests, igniting his passion for country singing. He left college in his junior year and married. Youth and his musical ambition soon broke up the marriage.