Becky Buller Explained

Becky Buller
Birth Date:January 31, 1979
Birth Place:St. James, Minnesota, US
Genre:Bluegrass, roots, Americana, folk
Occupation:Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter
Instrument:Fiddle, clawhammer banjo, guitar, vocals
Years Active:2000–present
Label:Dark Shadow Recording
Associated Acts:Valerie Smith, Alison Brown, Molly Tuttle, Missy Raines, Sierra Hull

Becky Buller[1] (born January 31, 1979) is an American bluegrass and roots singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist most known for her songwriting and fiddling.

Early life

Becky Buller was born January 31, 1979, in St. James, Minnesota. Buller grew up playing bluegrass music with her parents in a Southern Minnesota band called Prairie Grass. She began writing songs in middle school.

She studied classical violin with Patti Tryhus at the Mankato (Suzuki) School Of Music in Mankato, Minnesota, and Charles Gray at St. Olaf College. She served as concert master of the Mankato Area Youth Symphony in 1997. Buller was a percussionist throughout grade school, played bass in the jazz band, and sang in both concert and jazz choirs.

She studied bluegrass music and public relations at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, graduating in 2001 with a communications degree.

Career

Buller co-wrote “Freedom,” the lead-off track of The Infamous Stringdusters' Laws of Gravity (2018 Best Bluegrass Grammy), “The Shaker” on The Travelin’ McCoury’s self-titled release (2019 Best Bluegrass Grammy), and “Good-bye Girl” on Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway’s Crooked Tree album (2023 Best Bluegrass Grammy).

Buller is the recipient of 10 IBMA awards, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist. She is the first woman to receive the Fiddler nod; she is also the first person to win in both vocal and instrumental categories. Her other awards include the 2020 Collaborative Recording for “The Barber’s Fiddle” and the 2020 Song for co-writing and fiddling on Special Consensus’ “Chicago Barn Dance.”

She has made guest appearances on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and tours with the Becky Buller Band. Distance And Time, her third album for the Dark Shadow Recording label, was a nominee for the 2021 IBMA Album award. Her first Christmas collection, The Perfect Gift, released during the 2022 holiday season. 

In April 2023, Buller was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.

She moonlights with the First Ladies Of Bluegrass, an all-female super group composed of the first women to win in their respective instrumental categories at the IBMA awards: Alison Brown (banjo), Missy Raines (bass), Sierra Hull (mandolin), Becky (fiddle), and Molly Tuttle (guitar).

Buller serves on the board of the IBMA Foundation, which awards $50,000 annually in scholarships and grants to spread the word about bluegrass music and support those who create it. Buller also serves on the board of the East Tennessee State University Alumni Association.

Band

The Becky Buller Band[2]

First Ladies of Bluegrass
Buller is also a member of the First Ladies of Bluegrass, a supergroup featuring the first women to win the IBMA Award in each respective instrumental category.[3] Buller won the Fiddle Player of the Year award in 2016.[4]

Personal life

Buller lives in Manchester, Tennessee, with her husband and daughter.

Discography

Title[5] DetailsPeak chart positions
US Grass
Rest My Weary Feet
  • Release date: 2000
  • Label: SRS Records
  • Format: CD
Little Bird
  • Release date: July 27, 2004
  • Label: Bell Buckle
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
Here's a Little Song (with Valerie Smith)
  • Release date: September 9, 2008
  • Label: Bell Buckle
  • Formats: CD
Tween Earth and Sky
  • Release date: November 11, 2014
  • Label: CD Baby
  • Formats: CD, music download
Crêpe Paper Heart
Distance and Time
The Perfect Gift
Jubilee

Songwriting credits

Credits taken from Buller's official website.[6]

ArtistYearSongCo-writers
Alan Bibey and Grasstowne2018"New Life"
The Bankesters2012"Our Song (I'm in Love with You)"
"The Captain"
2013"Rise Up"Rick Lang
Blue Moon Rising2010"Ain't No Way"Jeff Hyde
The Churchmen2013"In the Twinklin' of an Eye"
"Mercy Road"Jerry Salley
2015"Harbor in the Sky"Steven Mougin
"For Thine"Kevin Elias
Dan Boner2020"Raven Tresses"
Darin and Brooke Alrdidge2013"Love, Speak to Me"Jeff Hyde, Jimmy Fortune
"Laurie Stevens"Bethany Dick-Olds
"Higher Than My Heart"Sarah Majors
Dave Adkins2014"Tennessee Twister"Nancy Cardwell
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver2001"Be Living"
Infamous Stringdusters2017"Freedom"Jeremy Garrett
Joe Mullins2012"Moses"
Kenny Smith & Amanda Smith2004"Without a Trace"Alan Bartram
"Why Don't You Just Say Good-Bye"
2005"Why Do You Do What You Do"
Kristi Stanley2018"Raven Tresses"
Lisa Aschmann2012"(There Is No Such Thing As An) Ordinary Day"Lisa Aschmann
"(Handy Dandy) Pocket Solar Calculator"
Mark Newton2001"Charlie Lawson's Still"Tommy Austin
2003"Cabin in the Trees"
Nu-Blu2012"Martha & Mary"Nancy Cardwell
Rhonda Vincent2003"Fishers of Men"
Ricky Skaggs2013"Music to My Ears"Lisa Aschmann, Mark Simos
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out2004"Rest My Weary Feet"
2009"My Angeline"
2019"Barefoot Girl"Louisa Branscomb
The Special Consensus2009"Gone to Carolina"Justin Carbone
2012"Scratch Gravel Road"
2018"She Took The Tennessee River"Jon Weisberger
2020"Chicago Barn Dance"Alison Brown, Missy Raines
Stephen Mougin2020"Railroad Man"Stephen Mougin
Valerie Smith2005"In Those Mines"
"Heaven Is Waiting"
2007"The Rain"
2011"Blame It on the Bluegrass"Elizabeth Shrum
"A Good Day, Lord"Jeff Hyde
Volume Five2018"North Dakota"Craig Market
The Whites2018"Dont Tune Him Out, Tune Him In"Rick Lang
Molly Tuttle2022"Goodbye Girl"Molly Tuttle
The Travelin' McCourys2018"The Shaker"Alan Bartram

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
1996Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle ChampionshipsJunior DivisionWon
2001MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting ContestBluegrass Song"How I Love You"Won
2006International Bluegrass Music AwardsRecorded Event of the Year"Back to the Well"[7]
2015Recorded Event of the Year "Southern Flavor"
Songwriter of the YearBecky Buller
Emerging Artist of the Year
2016Fiddle Player of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
2018Recorded Event of the Year "Swept Away"
Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year"Speakin' To That Mountain"Won
2020Song of the Year"Chicago Barn Dance"
Collaborative Recording of the YearThe Barber's Fiddle

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HEAD ON DOWN THE LINE . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . March 17, 2023.
  2. Web site: 15 February 2016 . Band . 11 June 2023 . Beckybuller.com.
  3. Web site: First Ladies Of Bluegrass Make History At IBMA. September 29, 2018. GRAMMY.com.
  4. Web site: Becky Buller up for 2019 IBMA 'Fiddle Player Of The Year' Award. August 1, 2019. Digitaljournal.com.
  5. Web site: 2017-09-23 . Albums Becky Buller . 2023-06-12 . en.
  6. Web site: Songwriting. Beckybuller.com. 14 July 2014 . 4 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Becky Buller - Distance And Time on AirPlay Direct. airplaydirect.com.