Becky Buller (born January 31, 1979) is an American bluegrass and roots singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist most known for her songwriting and fiddling.
Early life
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 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).
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.
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 The Becky Buller Band 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. Buller won the Fiddle Player of the Year award in 2016. Alison Brown - banjo, vocals Becky Buller - fiddle, vocals Sierra Hull - mandolin, vocals Missy Raines - bass, vocals Molly Tuttle - guitar, vocals
Personal life Buller lives in Manchester, Tennessee, with her husband and daughter.
Discography Title Details Peak chart positions US GrassRest 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 Release date: February 1, 2018 Label: Dark Shadow Recording Formats: CD, music download, streaming Distance and Time Release date: October 30, 2020 Label: Dark Shadow Recording Formats: CD, music download, streaming The Perfect Gift Release Date: December 1, 2022 Label: Dark Shadow Recording Formats: CD, music download, streamingJubileeRelease Date: May 17, 2024 Label: Dark Shadow Recording Formats: CD, music download, streaming, vinyl
Songwriting credits Credits taken from Buller's official website. ArtistYearSongCo-writersAlan Bibey and Grasstowne2018"New Life"The Bankesters2012"Our Song (I'm in Love with You)""The Captain"2013"Rise Up"Rick LangBlue Moon Rising2010"Ain't No Way"Jeff HydeThe Churchmen2013"In the Twinklin' of an Eye""Mercy Road"Jerry Salley2015"Harbor in the Sky"Steven Mougin"For Thine"Kevin EliasDan Boner2020"Raven Tresses"Darin and Brooke Alrdidge2013"Love, Speak to Me"Jeff Hyde, Jimmy Fortune"Laurie Stevens"Bethany Dick-Olds"Higher Than My Heart"Sarah MajorsDave Adkins2014"Tennessee Twister"Nancy CardwellDoyle Lawson and Quicksilver2001"Be Living"Infamous Stringdusters2017"Freedom"Jeremy GarrettJoe Mullins2012"Moses"Kenny Smith & Amanda Smith2004"Without a Trace"Alan Bartram"Why Don't You Just Say Good-Bye"2005"Why Do You Do What You Do"Kristi Stanley2018"Raven Tresses"Lisa Aschmann2012"(There Is No Such Thing As An) Ordinary Day"Lisa Aschmann"(Handy Dandy) Pocket Solar Calculator"Mark Newton2001"Charlie Lawson's Still"Tommy Austin2003"Cabin in the Trees"Nu-Blu2012"Martha & Mary"Nancy CardwellRhonda Vincent2003"Fishers of Men"Ricky Skaggs2013"Music to My Ears"Lisa Aschmann, Mark SimosRussell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out2004"Rest My Weary Feet"2009"My Angeline"2019"Barefoot Girl"Louisa BranscombThe Special Consensus2009"Gone to Carolina"Justin Carbone2012"Scratch Gravel Road"2018"She Took The Tennessee River"Jon Weisberger2020"Chicago Barn Dance"Alison Brown, Missy RainesStephen Mougin2020"Railroad Man"Stephen MouginValerie Smith2005"In Those Mines""Heaven Is Waiting"2007"The Rain"2011"Blame It on the Bluegrass"Elizabeth Shrum"A Good Day, Lord"Jeff HydeVolume Five2018"North Dakota"Craig MarketThe Whites2018"Dont Tune Him Out, Tune Him In"Rick LangMolly Tuttle2022"Goodbye Girl"Molly TuttleThe Travelin' McCourys2018"The Shaker"Alan Bartram
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref1996Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle ChampionshipsJunior DivisionWon2001MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting ContestBluegrass Song"How I Love You"Won 2006 International Bluegrass Music Awards Recorded Event of the Year "Back to the Well" 2015 Recorded Event of the Year "Southern Flavor" Songwriter of the Year Becky Buller Emerging Artist of the Year 2016 Fiddle Player of the Year Female Vocalist of the Year 2018 Recorded Event of the Year "Swept Away" Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year "Speakin' to That Mountain" 2020 Song of the Year "Chicago Barn Dance" Collaborative Recording of the Year The Barber's Fiddle
References