Buddy is a free monthly music magazine serving the North Texas and Northeast Texas regions. It was first published in Dallas, Texas, in July, 1973 as a free monthly. Stoney Burns (pseudonym of Brent Lasalle Stein; 1942–2011) and Rob Edleson (né Lewis Robin Edleson; born 1946) were the founders. The magazine's name is a tribute to Buddy Holly (1936–1959), who Burns said "changed my life". Buddy is described as a rock music magazine but, from its beginning, has included news and feature articles about performing artists and events of other genres, namely Texas progressive country, blues, jazz, folk, punk, and garage band music.
History Stoney Burns, before co-founding Buddy, published and edited Dallas Notes from 1967 to 1970, an underground bi-weekly newspaper. Christopher Gray of the Austin Chronicle, in 2000, likened Buddy as "the North Texas equivalent of Crawdaddy. Gray later wrote that writers for Buddy magazine who covered the blues scene in the Dallas-Fort Worth area helped resurrect the career of Zuzu Bollin and introduced mainstream music fans to notable regional blues artists, including jazz guitarist Roger Boykin (né Roger Mitchell Boykin; born 1940) and blues singer R.L. Griffin (aka "Fat Daddy;" né Raymond Lewis Griffin; born 1939) and the late pianist Boston Smith, brother of Buster Smith. At its peak, Buddy published editions in Dallas, Houston, and Austin/San Antonio and had a staff of almost two dozen.
Early notable issues included "The Bob Dylan Story", "Plus Kinky Friedman All Star Issue" (as featured on the cover), January 1974. Buddy chronicled many performing artists before the emergence of their first albums, including, in 1975, Ray Wylie Hubbard, who was already popular as a Texas progressive country artist. That same year (1975), KAFM radio host Chuck Dunaway reported that Buddy, with a circulation of 40,000, was helping spread the positive aspects of progressive country. In 1977, 1978, Buddy was affiliated with KZEW-FM (a Dallas radio station known from 1973 to 1989 as "The Zoo"). By 1979, KTXQ took over Buddy, which had a circulation of 100,000. In 1982, Buddy was the official magazine of the Texxas Jam, a rock festival held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Beginning around 1982, Buddy was issued in tabloid size and format.
Selected personnel Writers
Chuck Flores (né Charles Anthony Flores; born 1955) has been a photojournalist and music journalist since 1975. He is also a musician. Flores has been assistant editor with Buddy since 1989. Ian Saint (pseudonym of Ian Geoffrey Sater; born 1987). Andrew Daly. Elaine MacAfee Bender. Tom Geddie (né Tommy Maurice Geddie; born 1946). Colleen (Bradford) Gilson. Shawn D. Henderson. George Bond. Rick Koster (Richard Koster; born 1955) wrote his first article, professionally, for Buddy in 1978. It was about Sammy Hagar. In 1998, St. Martin's Press published his book, Texas Music. As of 1997, Koster has been writing for The Day in New London, Connecticut. Tim Schuller (1949–2012) Kirby Warnock (né Kirby Franklin Warnock; born 1952); editor from 1976 to 1982. Jan Sikes (né Janice Kay Smith; born 1951). Jackie Don Loe (born 1965). Rob Garner (né Robert Steven Garner; born 1968), current publisher of Buddy, as of 2023 (see section below → ). Mary Jane Farmer (né Mary Jane Ewing; born 1940), reporter for Buddy from February 2013 to present. Kim Martin (née Kimberly Ann Richter; born 1950) – currently a Dallas freelance writer known as Kim Pierce – notably a food critic, healthy eating activist, and Texas cuisine writer; and, ironically (regarding healthy eating), author of the chicken-fried steak entry for the 2007 book, the Lisa Rollins (PhD) (née Lisa Lynette Rollins; 1965–2014) contributed to a feature, "Spotlight on Performers." Kathleen Hudson, PhD (née Kathleen Ann Pillow; born 1945) won an award in 1989 from the Texas Press Women's Communication for her story, "You're Gonna Make It After All: Sonny Curtis" (Sonny Curtis). An academic in higher education and freelance writer, Hudson was the founding executive director in 1987 of the Texas Heritage Music Foundation in Kerrville, and served in that position until 2001. Joe Nick Patoski (né Nicholas Joseph Patoski; born 1951), who, on November 16, 1980, in Austin, married Kris Cummings, keyboardist with Joe Carrasco. Kris was a 1981 inductee of Buddy Magazine's Texas Tornado List (see below).
Selected writers who started with Buddy in 1973
Stoney Burns Rob Edleson (né Lewis Robin Edleson; born 1946) Steve Brooks (né Charles Stephen Brooks; born 1949) (graphic artist) Ronald McKeown (né Ronald Houston McKeown; 1946–2024) (editor) Jesus D. Carrillo (né Jesus Domingo Carrillo; born 1952), photojournalist
Selected videography When Dallas Rocked (2013): 64 minute documentary – interviews, photos, and commentary from the people who were there and lived through the heyday of the Dallas rock n roll music scene – during the 1970s and 1980s. Produced by Kirby Warnock, former Buddy magazine editor. Warnock narrates.
Texas Tornado List The Texas Tornado List, billed as "The greatest players in Texas. Perhaps in the world", is an annual hall of fame roster, since 1978, listing the top musicians in Texas. The name, Texas Tornados, is also the name of a band founded by 1986 Texas Tornado inductee, Doug Sahm.
1978:Rocky Athas (fr) (né Rocky Dino Athas; born 1954) • Billy Gibbons • Bugs Henderson • Eric Johnson • John Nitzinger • Jimmie Vaughan1979:Rocky Hill, Stevie Ray Vaughan1980:Sumter Bruton (né Thomas Sumter Bruton; born 1944) (guitar), Alan Haynes, Mark Pollock (né Mark Thomas Pollock; 1951–2015) (guitar), Slim Richey, Ronnie "Mouse" Weiss (né Ronald Lon Weiss; born 1942) (vocals/guitar)1981:Freddie Cisneros (né Alfred Cisneros; born 1947) (guitar), Pat Coil (né Patrick Cullen Coil; born 1954) (keyboards), Kris Cummings (née Kristine Anne Cummings; born 1951) (keyboards), Anson Funderburgh, Ezra Charles (Charles Helpinstill), Dusty Hill, Alex Napier (aka "Mr. Blue"; né Miles Alexander Napier; 1951–2011) (bass), Willie Nelson, David Stanley (né Samuel David Stanley; born 1946) (bass), Steve Williams, Wally Wilson1982:Jim Alderman • Frank Beard • Billy Block • Louis Brousar • Jack Calmes • Michael "Junior" Clark • Fred Crain • Joe Don Davidson • Kim Davis • Stevie Davis • Michael DeBaise • Randall Dollahan • Red Garland (jazz pianist) • Bobbie Gentry • Mickey Gilley • Barbara Graham • Buzzy Gruen • Bud Guin • Keith Karnaky • Pee Wee Lynn • Herman Matthews • Whistlin' Alex Moore • Tommy Morrell • Bobbie Nelson • Dahrell Norris • Jim Raycraft • Connie Schlig • Jimmy Don Smith • Whitey Thomas • Ron Thompson • Jimmy Wallace (né James Michael Wallace; born 1954) (guitar) • Linda Waring • Larry White1983:Lou "Lazer" Bovis • Doyle Bramhall • Steven Bruton (né Turner Stephen Bruton; 1948–2009) (guitar) • Mike Buck • Johnny Carroll • Dennis Cavalier • Jim Colgrove • Toby Davis • Randy DeHart • Lynn Groom • Paul Guerrero (né Paulins Guerrero, Jr.; born 1931) (drums) • Joel Guzman • Frank Hames • Brian Heinsohn • David Hill • Rick Jackson • Flaco Jimenez • Louis Johnson • Steve Jordan • Chris Layton • Rusty Lewis • Barbara Lynn • Bill Maddox (de) (né William Leslie Maddox; 1953–1910) (drums) • Ken "Big Nardo" Murray (drums) • George Rains • Leon Rausch • Jeff Sellers • Charlie Sexton • Walter Shannon • Craig Simecheck • Lewis W. Stephens • Jas Stephens • Uncle John Turner1984:Rob Alexander • Terry Anglin (Jack Anglin's son) • Lee S. Appleman • Louis "Johnny Fixx" Baldovin • Marcia Ball • Karl Berkebile • John Bryant • Albert Collins • Johnny "Rosebud" Dowdy • Omar Dykes • Keith Ferguson • Craig Green • Bonnie Hearne • Craig LeMay • Bert Ligon • Rene Martinez • Paul Matson • Leon McAuliffe • Brian Mendelsohn • Ray Mendias • Smokey Montgomery • Tommy Nuckols • James Pennybaker • Brian Piper • Chuck Rainey • Terry Ranson • Billy Sanders • Jim Shelly • Al Stricklin • Robin Syler • Tim Wheeler1985:Michael Bartula • Ray Benson • Little Joe Blue • Ponty Bone • Roger Boykin • Sarah Brown • Bobby Chitwood • Dave Clark • Michael Clay • Van Cliburn • Danny Cochran • Pee Wee Crayton • Steve Davison • Ronnie Dawson • W.R. "Tony" Dukes • Cornell Dupree • Denny Freeman • Fred Hoey • Mike Kennedy • Smokin' Joe Kubek • Steve Langdon • Charlie Lowe • Jim Milan • Gabriel Saucedo • Rollo Smith • Andy Stone • Eric Stuer • Johnny "Guitar" Watson • Mike Webster • U.P. Wilson1986:Mel Brown • Johnny "Clyde" Copeland • Randy Drake • Ernie Durawa • Mike Gallaher • Ty Grimes (drums) • Jim "Horton Heat" Heath • Dave Hughlett • Ronald Shannon Jackson • Santiago Jimenez, Jr. (accordion) • Kenney Dale Johnson • Wade Johnson (né Wade Paul Johnson; born 1950) (drums) • Jackie King • Steady Freddy Krc (né Alfred Edward Krc; born 1954) • Jerry LeCroix • Augie Meyers • Stan Moore • Gary P. Nunn • Joe Ruggiero • Patrice Rushen • Doug Sahm • Joe Sample • Eric Tagg • Richard Theisen • Red Young1987:Terry Blankenship • Roger Boykin • W.C. Clark • Bobby Dennis • Paul English • Randy Fouts • Mike Gage • Joel Harlan • Brad Houser • Jeff Howe • Johnny Marshall • Mouse Mayes • Delbert McClinton • Sam Myers • Darrell Nulisch • Newell Oler • Paul Orta • Gary Pelfrey • Gary Primich • Mickey Raphael • Rick "Casper" Rawls • William Richardson • Ted Roddy • Robert Clayton Sanders • Rhandy Simmons • Texas Slim Sullivan • Miss Inez Teddlie (1911–2002) • Craig Wallace • Kim Wilson1988:Tim Alexander • Jack Barton • Jimmy Carl Black • Charles Brown • Herbie Cowans • Carl Finch • Frosty • B'Nois King • Don Leady • Joe McBride • Kim Platko • Mike Schwedler • Bill Swicegood • Al Trick • Fredde "Pharoh" Walden1989:Kevin Afflack • Marc Benno • Robin Hood Brians • Mike "Spunky" Brunone • Alex Camp • Joe Coronado • Lavada Durst • Harold Evans • Gene Glover • Claude Johnson • Derek O'Brien (blues guitar) • Bill Payne • Paul Pearcy • Jim Suhler1990:Maurice Anderson • Mike Arnold • Ronnie Bramhall • Jeannette Brantley • Phil Campbell • Randy Cates • Ron Dilulio • Bill Ham • Michael Hamilton • Earl Harvin • John Inmon • Michael Medina • Ruff Rufner • Wayne Six • J. Paul Slavens • Ron Snider • Matt Tapp • Buddy Whittington • Dan Wojciechowski1991:Darryl "Dime" Abbott • Josh Alan • James Anderson • Gregg Bissonette (drummer) • Matt Chamberlain (drummer) • Mark Geary • Gerry Gibson • Tim Grugle • Dan Haerle • Steve Hill • Chris Hunter • Mitch Marine (drums) • Rex "Moon" Mauney • Andy Michlin • Ian Moore • Tommy Shannon • Steve Sonday • Andy Timmons • Kenny Withrow1992:Dave Abbruzzese • Jim Cocke • Ted Cruz • Mike Daane • Mike Dunn • Mike Fiala • Jay Gillian • Ricky Lynn Gregg • Mike Kindred • Guthrie Kinnard • Chad Lovel • Martin McCall • Kelly McNulty • Jason Moeller • Buddy Mohmed • Mike Morgan • Ray Pollard • Jimmy R. Rusidoff • Mike Scaccia • Derek Speigner (drums) • Jimbo Wallace • Kinley "Barney" Wolfe • Jason Wolford • Alan Wooley • Tommy Young