Over the last 30 years, Buddy Greene has performed across America, made numerous trips abroad, and established himself as a predominantly independent recording artist. In 1991 he won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove award for Best Country Album, and has received 9 other Dove award nominations. Through his long association with the Gaithers, he has become a favorite gospel performer, often appearing on the Gaither’s popular Homecoming video series, and recently featured in a Best of Buddy Greene DVD retrospective.
Buddy has also made his mark as a songwriter. Besides the many self-penned songs of his own recordings, he co-wrote (along with Mark Lowry) the modern Christmas classic “Mary, Did You Know,” recorded by a host of major artists, including Kathy Mattea, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, CeeLo Green, Rascal Flatts, Mary J Blige, and Pentatonix. Other songs of Buddy’s covered by major artists include “Recovering Pharisee” by Del McCoury, “Fall Down, Children” by The Whites, and “He Is”, a number one for gospel artist Ashley Cleveland.
Throughout his career, Buddy has steadily advanced as a harmonica player. He has played on the recordings of many outstanding artists, including Jerry Reed, the Gaithers, Riders in the Sky, Charlie Peacock, Bela Fleck, The Ojays, Sara Groves, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Sandi Patty, and Larnelle Harris, just to name a few. After hearing Buddy’s 2002 release “RUFUS”, legendary folk icon Doc Watson invited Buddy to join him onstage at the prestigious MerleFest roots music festival in 2003 and subsequent years. In 2009 he joined an auspicious lineup of Nashville virtuosos to help jazz bass legend Charlie Haden celebrate his country roots in the Grammy nominated recording and video project Rambling Boy.
Other milestones in Buddy’s career include performing at numerous Billy Graham crusades, especially the 1992 New York Crusade before a crowd of 250,000 in Central Park, and his performance of the “William Tell Overture” at Carnegie Hall, captured live on a Bill Gaither Homecoming video and subsequently posted on YouTube, has been viewed by millions.
In this episode, John Chisum sits down with his long-time friend to reminisce, talk about songwriting as part of Buddy’s amazing career, and to share some of the songs from Buddy’s newest recording “Looking Back” available now at buddygreene.com and soon at all major music outlets.
For more information check out nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.
