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.

Becky Buller
Buller at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee on April 30, 2022
Background information
BornJanuary 31, 1979
St. James, Minnesota, US
GenresBluegrass, roots, Americana, folk
Occupation(s)Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Fiddle, clawhammer banjo, guitar, vocals
Years active2000–present
LabelsDark Shadow Recording
Websitebeckybuller.com

Early life

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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

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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).[citation needed]

 
Buller performing at MerleFest in 2016. Photo by Forrest L. Smith, III (aka Filberthockey).

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.[citation needed]

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

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The Becky Buller Band[2]

  • Becky Buller - vocals, fiddle
  • Jacob Groopman - guitar
  • Daniel Hardin - bass
  • Wesley Lee - mandolin
  • Ned Luberecki - banjo

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

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Buller lives in Manchester, Tennessee, with her husband and daughter.[citation needed]

Discography

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Title[5] Details Peak 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

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

Artist Year Song Co-writers
Alan Bibey and Grasstowne 2018 "New Life"
The Bankesters 2012 "Our Song (I'm in Love with You)"
"The Captain"
2013 "Rise Up" Rick Lang
Blue Moon Rising 2010 "Ain't No Way" Jeff Hyde
The Churchmen 2013 "In the Twinklin' of an Eye"
"Mercy Road" Jerry Salley
2015 "Harbor in the Sky" Steven Mougin
"For Thine" Kevin Elias
Dan Boner 2020 "Raven Tresses"
Darin and Brooke Alrdidge 2013 "Love, Speak to Me" Jeff Hyde, Jimmy Fortune
"Laurie Stevens" Bethany Dick-Olds
"Higher Than My Heart" Sarah Majors
Dave Adkins 2014 "Tennessee Twister" Nancy Cardwell
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver 2001 "Be Living"
Infamous Stringdusters 2017 "Freedom" Jeremy Garrett
Joe Mullins 2012 "Moses"
Kenny Smith & Amanda Smith 2004 "Without a Trace" Alan Bartram
"Why Don't You Just Say Good-Bye"
2005 "Why Do You Do What You Do"
Kristi Stanley 2018 "Raven Tresses"
Lisa Aschmann 2012 "(There Is No Such Thing As An) Ordinary Day" Lisa Aschmann
"(Handy Dandy) Pocket Solar Calculator"
Mark Newton 2001 "Charlie Lawson's Still" Tommy Austin
2003 "Cabin in the Trees"
Nu-Blu 2012 "Martha & Mary" Nancy Cardwell
Rhonda Vincent 2003 "Fishers of Men"
Ricky Skaggs 2013 "Music to My Ears" Lisa Aschmann, Mark Simos
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out 2004 "Rest My Weary Feet"
2009 "My Angeline"
2019 "Barefoot Girl" Louisa Branscomb
The Special Consensus 2009 "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 Mougin 2020 "Railroad Man" Stephen Mougin
Valerie Smith 2005 "In Those Mines"
"Heaven Is Waiting"
2007 "The Rain"
2011 "Blame It on the Bluegrass" Elizabeth Shrum
"A Good Day, Lord" Jeff Hyde
Volume Five 2018 "North Dakota" Craig Market
The Whites 2018 "Dont Tune Him Out, Tune Him In" Rick Lang
Molly Tuttle 2022 "Goodbye Girl" Molly Tuttle
The Travelin' McCourys 2018 "The Shaker" Alan Bartram

Awards and nominations

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

References

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