William "Bucky" Baxter (1955May 25, 2020) was an American guitarist. He is best known as a member of Steve Earle and The Dukes and as a member of Bob Dylan's backing band in the mid-90s during the Never Ending Tour. He released his only solo album, Most Likely, No Problem, in 1999.
Early life Baxter was born in Melbourne, Florida, in 1955. He started learning how to play pedal steel guitar in the 1970s. In the following decade, he met Steve Earle and played on the latter's debut album, Guitar Town in 1986.
Career Baxter was a founding member of The Dukes, Earle's backing band. He subsequently featured in three other albums by Earle – Exit 0 (1987), Copperhead Road (1988) and The Hard Way (1990) – providing vocals and guitar. It was on one of Earle's concert tours in the early 1990s that he first encountered Bob Dylan, who asked Baxter to give him lessons in how to play steel guitar. He played pedal steel guitar for Dylan's band on his Never Ending Tour from 1992 to 1999 and played pedal steel on Dylan's 1997 Grammy Award winning album, Time Out of Mind. After his time in Dylan's band came to an end, Baxter released a solo album, Most Likely, No Problem, in 1999. He was one of three co-founders of Moontoast, a social rich media advertising platform."Venture Nashville, 2009"
Baxter also appeared on various albums by artists including Ryan Adams, R.E.M., Beastie Boys and Joe Henry. In studio, or while performing live, Baxter played steel guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, dobro.
Death Baxter died on May 25, 2020, in Sanibel Island, Florida, at the age of 65, according to his son, Rayland. No cause was given.
Discography Source: Year Artist Title Instruments 1986 Steve Earle Guitar Town Pedal steel guitar 1987 Exit 0 Steel guitar, vocals 1988 Copperhead Road Pedal steel, lap steel, dobro R.E.M. Green Pedal steel guitar 1990 Steve Earle The Hard Way Mullins pedal steel guitar 1991 Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator Steel guitar, electric and acoustic guitars, six-string bass 1995 Bob Dylan Unplugged Dobro, pedal steel guitar, mandolin 1996 Joe Henry Trampoline 1997 Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind Acoustic guitar, pedal steel 1999 Bucky Baxter Most Likely, No Problem Country Mike Country Mike's Greatest Hits Pedal steel guitar, fiddle 2001 Ryan Adams The Suicide Handbook Acoustic guitar Gold Steel guitar 2002 Demolition Pedal steel guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals Los Lobos Good Morning Aztlán Pedal steel guitar2003 Cerys Matthews Cockahoop Producer, electric guitar, fiddle, vibraphone 2005 Ben Folds Songs for Silverman Pedal steel guitar, 12-string guitar Willy Clay Band Rebecca Drive Pedal steel
References
Gray, Michael. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, 2006, p. 41
External links