We Chance to Meet…

In 2016, Becky Buller made bluegrass music history by becoming the first artist ever to win in both the instrumental and vocal categories at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards.

Her songs, recorded by some of the industry’s best, preceded the fiery-haired fiddler’s own prominence as an artist in the acoustic music world. Artists including Ricky Skaggs (“Music To My Ears”), Rhonda Vincent (“Fishers of Men”), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (“Be Living”), Josh Williams (“You Love Me Today”), Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (“My Angeline”, “Rest My Weary Feet”, “Cottontown”) and The Infamous Stringdusters (“Freedom”), have cut her songs.

Now, as the leader of her own band, Becky’s audiences are connecting the composer with her compositions … to the tune of five IBMA awards in the last two years, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist and 2015 Songwriter Of The Year nods.

Becky’s own recordings include: Little Bird (2004) and Rest My Weary Feet (2000). She also released a duet album with Valerie Smith: Here’s A Little Song (2007).  Her journey as a professional musician included a ten-year stint with Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike. She is featured on several of that group’s recordings, wrote for the group and toured internationally with them as well. She has produced several of Val’s more recent records. Becky’s recorded projects include three albums with the award-winning Daughters of Bluegrass: Pickin’ Like A Girl (2013), Bluegrass Bouquet (2008), and Back To The Well (2006), which won the 2006 IBMA Recorded Event Of The Year award.

Crêpe Paper Heart, Becky’s fourth solo album and second release for the Dark Shadow Recording label, came out on Valentine’s Day 2018 and is enjoying much success on the Bluegrass airplay charts. The album features Becky’s immensely talented road band, along with award-winning guests Rhonda Vincent, The Fairfield Four, Sam Bush, Frank Solivan, Claire Lynch, Rob Ickes, Stephen and Jana Mougin, and Erin Youngberg (FY5).

Becky’s third solo album, ‘Tween Earth And Sky, was released in October 2014 on Dark Shadow Recording.  It was the #1 album on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Airplay Chart in both March and April of 2015. The singles “Nothin’ To You” and “Southern Flavor” both reached #4 and each stayed on the chart 13 months.  Her 2015 Christmas single “Gingerbread House” topped the Bluegrass Today airplay chart both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Becky’s cover of Bill Monroe’s “Southern Flavor” (including new lyrics by DeWayne Mize and Guy Stevenson and featuring members of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys) garnered the 2015 IBMA Recorded Event Of The Year award. She penned the title cut of Special Consensus’ album Scratch Gravel Road, which was nominated for the 2013 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy.

From late 2012 through 2014, Becky toured and recorded with the Darin & Brooke Aldridge band. She can be heard on their 2013 album, Flying (Organic Records) and the 2015 album, Snapshots (Mountain Home Music).

Becky has been featured on the cover of Fiddler Magazine (2012), and Bluegrass Unlimited (2015). She was a 2016 SPBGMA Songwriter Of The Year nominee and was chosen as 1^st Runner Up for the 2016 IAMA Country/Bluegrass Song of Year for her composition “Nothin’ To You.”

Growing up in Minnesota, Becky played fiddle with her parents and Gordy and Roxy Shultz in the group Prairie Grass. She studied classical violin with both Patti Tryhus and Charles Gray and participated in the Mankato Area Youth Symphony and the Minnesota All-State Orchestra while in high school. Becky’s heart, however, has always been that of a fiddler.

She graduated in 2001 with a public relations degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), where she took part in the renowned Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music program. That same year, Becky’s songwriting nabbed a first-place finish in the bluegrass category of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in Wilksboro, NC.

Becky maintains an active touring schedule, and teaches instrumental music both in her adopted hometown of Manchester, TN, and online with students around the world. She served on the IBMA Board of Directors from 2013-17 as well as a three-year term as chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee from 2013-16. She is a Leadership Bluegrass alumna, class of 2003.

Becky uses Fishman electronics:  an Aura Ellipse pickup in her LaPlant Guitar, a Classic Series banjo pickup in her DP Hopkins signature model clawhammer banjo, and a V-300 Concert Series pickup on “The Old Man” (her fiddle). The

Becky Buller Band is also grateful for relationships with BlueChip Picks and D’Addario Strings.

Sings Just Like A Songbird

She was featured in the July 2015 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited and honored as a 2016 SPBGMA Songwriter Of The Year nominee as well as being chosen as first Runner Up for the 2016 IAMA Country/Bluegrass Song of Year for her composition “Nothin’ To You”

Becky’s third solo album, ‘Tween Earth And Sky, was released in October 2014 on the Dark Shadow Recording label. It was the #1 album on the National Airplay Chart in the March and April 2015 issues of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. The singles “Nothin’ To You” and “Southern Flavor” both reached #4 and each stayed on the chart 13 months. Her 2015 Christmas single “Gingerbread House” topped the BluegrassToday.com radio airplay chart both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Do Believe I’ll Play

Becky’s journey as a professional musician included a ten-year stint with Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, touring internationally, writing for and recording with the group, producing several of Val’s most recent records. In 2011, she decided to take some time off, but was back on the circuit from late 2012 through 2014 with Darin & Brooke Aldridge and their fine band. She can be heard on their album Flying (2013) on the Organic Records label as well as Snapshots (2015) on the Mountain Home label.