Bucky Covington and Sawyer Brown: the company you keep...

(Edited to add: head over to Team Covington now for a link to an amazing, huge Photobucket gallery full of Wilkes-Barre concert photos--wow. Thanks, Kathy! )

I'd like to thank a friend for inspiring this post--she dropped an interesting link from April into the Chatbox earlier this week, and while Bucky's only mentioned very briefly in this South Bend Tribune pre-show interview with Sawyer Brown keyboardist Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, the whole article deserves a second look. (So click that link, already!) From the story:

Flashing back to their humble beginnings, it's interesting to note that the members of Sawyer Brown were champions on "Star Search" back in 1984. Although certainly a boost, it was far from a ticket to success and they had to work hard from there.

"We were so naive about the whole television thing to begin with, I don't think we had grasped what it mean to be performing in front of (millions of people)," Hubbard says.

He adds that those "American Idol" kids are under a million times more pressure. And yes, he's been watching this year.

He thinks that two of the singers voted off -- namely, Mandisa and Bucky Covington -- were very talented.

Speaking of Covington, what's with this rumor circulating on the Internet that Sawyer Brown called him with some kind of offer?

"Who knows? Bucky might visit Nashville," Hubbard says vaguely, with a chuckle.

Well, we know a little more now about what was behind that chuckle; Sawyer Brown founder Mark Miller's producing Bucky's upcoming CD, and Mark's brother Frank Miller, along with Ron Harris, will be Bucky's management team via their Nashville-based O-Seven Artist Management firm. But those of us who are out of the music-business loop (but well-nestled in the "Bucky Covington supporters" loop, thank you very much) may still have a few questions. Who are these folks, and what might they have in mind for our favorite new country-rock singer?

The answers, as it turns out, are pretty interesting--and pretty good.

Mark Miller and Sawyer Brown have a lot in common with Bucky. Like Bucky, they first came to sudden national recognition though a very popular televised talent search, after years of hard work in more humble venues; like Bucky, they've got a whole lot of exuberant rock in their country stylings (or is that a whole lot of country in their rock?) What they've also got--and what we'd dearly like Bucky to have, someday--is a two-decades-and-change history of solid success, on the road, on the radio, with their fans and with their peers. How does an act go from the perception of "talent show novelty" to country-rock institution? The obvious answers involve hard work, determination, great timing and talent; the not-so-obvious answers are the ones that excellent mentors are good at sharing with new and promising performers.

Mark Miller is indeed an excellent mentor, as well as a very busy entrepreneur--his current projects include working with Christian Contemporary artists Casting Crowns and Josh Bates on his own Beach Street Records label. And while O-Seven appears to be a brand new firm, Frank Miller and Ron Harris are listed as A&R/management for both of the above acts--they've got a number of years of experience.

What we're thinking is this--Bucky is in very, very good hands at the moment. (It's forgivable to think that he's in much better hands than he would have been in if he'd gone farther on Idol, and 19 had its way with his musical future.) After his well-earned vacation, we're hoping for some fresh news--preferably on a new and snazzy official website--and eventually, a well-honed, excellent debut CD we can dance to until our boots wear out. (And a summer tour, of course!) In the meantime, if Bucky and the Sawyer Brown guys want to do a live joint "surprise guest" song or two, Country Fever Fest style, between now and then, we sure wouldn't discourage it. That would be a lovely way to break up the lull...

More later!