Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Buckner.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began playing guitar as a freshman in high school after hearing the unplugged version of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.” Before I understood what “being a guitarist” meant, that performance brought with it a current of inspiration and direction to my creative life. Since that day, I have been obsessed with becoming a better player. This passion for expression and continued growth hasn’t waned over the last fifteen years. I currently write, record, and perform as lead acoustic guitarist for the country duo Caleb & Leann (https://www.calebandleann.com/).
As of September 2022, we are in the process of wrapping up our debut EP with production icon Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band, Randy Travis, Darius Rucker). Before this, I recorded three, full-length albums with the band Steel Bridge and worked briefly as guitarist for the duo Wisewater featuring Forrest O’Connor and Kate Lee O’Connor. In 2017, I released a solo mandolin EP “Coffee and a Good Book,” but shifted my focus back to acoustic guitar in late 2021. My wife Brenna and I have been married since 2016, and we currently live in Cookeville, TN with our Shih Tzu, Chester.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In my opinion, musical life is never easy, but, again, just my opinion, no creative journey is (maybe it shouldn’t be).
Inspiration can be fleeting, breaks by nature rely on chance, and comparisons to others in your field can riddle any artist with doubt.
However, seeing a crowd uplifted by your work, receiving encouragement from fans, noticing resonance between your work and younger players, and feeling the spark of improvement in your technique, is more than making up for the challenges being a musician brings.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In addition to a busy performance schedule, I do a great deal of writing. In 2022 alone, I penned more than 495,000 words, most of these coming via newsletters, blogs, and video scripts. The written word means so much to me, and any chance I get to commune with it is one I don’t take for granted.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
Being great, not successful is most important to me. To quote the film Elizabethtown, “Success, not greatness is the only god the entire world serves.” I don’t care about being successful. An egomaniac can create a Fortune 500 business and be a “success.” Being great is different.
Greatness comes (in my opinion) through a continued pursuit of your craft, a willingness to place ego aside, and a fundamental desire to make others happier with your work. Whether it comes by playing arenas or through laughter over a cup of coffee, greatness matters to me above all else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andrewbucknermusic.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atbuckner21/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.buckner.39/
Image Credits
Ryan Stanley
