 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 been a
nightclub bouncer, worked as a door-to-door salesman, driven a beer truck, and
labored on a loading dock. He is a husband, a father and a “man’s man”.
The year that followed his win on Nashville Star was truly a dream fulfilled for
Buddy. He earned major award nominations from the ACM for Best New Artist, the
CMA for the Horizon Award, a CMT Flameworthy Breakout Video nod and a Grammy
nomination for his participation on the country gospel compilation album,
Amazing Grace III.. He also won critical acclaim from ABC Radio Network’s for
their 2003 Listener’s Choice Award for New Artist of the Year and Music Row
magazine’s Critic’s Pick Award. But, perhaps his proudest moment was in April
2005, when Buddy was honored by the National Fatherhood Initiative as a
recipient of their annual Fatherhood Award. Recipients of this award are
individuals who exemplify the ideals of involved, responsible and committed
fatherhood.
Buddy was mainly raised in Osceola, Arkansas, a small agricultural/industrial
community in Northeast Arkansas. . That’s not far from Dyess, where his mother
and 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. His Uncle Clyde
taught Jewell to play guitar around age 15.
Buddy Jewell was a natural athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football.
He was team captain and quarterback of his high school team and played college
football at Arkansas State University as well. But while in college, he began to
perform in clubs and talent contests, igniting his passion for writing and
singing country music.
Jewell’s first son, Buddy III, came along in 1989 while living in Dallas. In
1990, he landed a job singing at Six Flags Over Texas. But that show wanted him
to cut his hair, so he quickly took a role in the park’s cowboy/gunfight
production instead. At night, he continued to sing in clubs. In 1991 he entered
a talent contest sponsored by the superstar group Alabama, which led to him
opening for the band in concert. The following year he competed on TV’s Star
Search, winning Male Vocalist on several episodes. He was making progress, but
finally realized that if he was going to get anywhere musically, the family
would have to move to Nashville.
In between all those working-stiff jobs, Jewell began to make contacts on Music
Row. His larger-than-life voice eventually made him one of Nashville’s most
popular “demo” singers. That’s an anonymous vocalist who is hired to record a
demonstration of a song that is then played for a star’s consideration. George
Strait’s “Write This Down,” Lee Ann Womack’s “A Little Past Little Rock,” Clay
Walker’s “You’re Beginning to Get to Me” and Gary Allan’s “The One” were all
first sung as Buddy Jewell demos. He has recorded more than 4,000 such tapes. In
1997, alone, Jewell sang 663 song demos. But he yearned for something more. He
wanted a shot at the big time.
Songwriters and music publishers loved him. The record companies did not. Buddy
became increasingly frustrated as he was turned down for a recording contract by
one label after another on Music Row. One offer evaporated when the interested
label shut down. Another one vanished when the label was sold. He kept on
patiently singing demos with dignity, slowly letting his recording-contract
dream die. Daughter Lacey came along in 1993. Second son Joshua was born in
2000.
“I went from somebody who was home all the time to somebody that was doing 120
shows or more a year. When I leave on the bus, the kids sometimes get pretty
teary-eyed about it. But all in all, I think we’ve adjusted pretty well.”
During the school year, sometimes the family travels with him if he’s just going
out for a weekend. In the summer months, the kids enjoy going to the various
fairs where Jewell is booked, romping on the midways, riding rides and eating
corn dogs and cotton candy Ever the fan, Jewell is thrilled that he’s met such
idols as George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, in the past couple
years.
“When I was nominated for the Horizon Award at the CMA’s, I got to share a
dressing room with Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams Jr. At the BMI banquet,
Loretta Lynn kissed me!”
“I see this as an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. And maybe
that is really what my purpose as an artist is. If they want me, I’ll do my best
to be there to hopefully make a difference, especially if kids are involved”.
“I’m the same guy I’ve always been. Same house. Same car. But the car is paid
off now, and hopefully in another year the house will be, too. We’re doing
little things, fixing it up one room at a time. Only one thing has changed: I’m
having the time of my life.”
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