Bucky Baxter facts for kids

William "Bucky" Baxter (born 1955, died May 25, 2020) was a talented American guitarist. He was famous for playing with two big names in music: Steve Earle and his band, The Dukes, and also with Bob Dylan. Bucky Baxter played in Bob Dylan's band during his "Never Ending Tour" in the 1990s. He also released his own album called Most Likely, No Problem in 1999.

Early Life and Musical Start

Bucky Baxter was born in Melbourne, Florida, in 1955. In the 1970s, he began learning to play the pedal steel guitar. This is a special type of guitar played while sitting down, using pedals and knee levers to change the sound.

In the 1980s, Bucky met the musician Steve Earle. Bucky played on Steve Earle's very first album, Guitar Town, which came out in 1986.

A Career in Music

Playing with Steve Earle

Bucky Baxter was one of the first members of The Dukes. This was Steve Earle's backing band, which means they played music behind Steve Earle. Bucky played guitar and sang on several of Steve Earle's albums. These included Exit 0 (1987), Copperhead Road (1988), and The Hard Way (1990).

Joining Bob Dylan's Band

In the early 1990s, Bucky was on a concert tour with Steve Earle. There, he met the famous musician Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan was so impressed that he asked Bucky to teach him how to play the steel guitar.

From 1992 to 1999, Bucky played the pedal steel guitar for Bob Dylan's band. They were on the "Never Ending Tour," which was a long series of concerts. Bucky also played on Bob Dylan's album Time Out of Mind in 1997. This album even won a Grammy Award!

Solo Work and Other Projects

After his time with Bob Dylan, Bucky Baxter released his only solo album. It was called Most Likely, No Problem and came out in 1999.

Bucky was also one of three people who started a company called Moontoast. This company created special online advertising tools.

Bucky Baxter played on many other albums for different artists. Some of these artists included Ryan Adams, R.E.M., Beastie Boys, and Joe Henry. Whether he was in a recording studio or playing live, Bucky could play many instruments. He was skilled at the steel guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, and dobro.

Later Years and Passing

Bucky Baxter passed away on May 25, 2020. He was 65 years old. He died in Sanibel, Florida. His son, Rayland Baxter, shared the news.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Bucky Baxter played on: