Willie Cantu
Born1946 or 1947
Genres
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1964–1967
Formerly ofThe Buckaroos

Willie Cantu (born 1946 or 1947) is an American drummer. He was the original drummer for the country music band The Buckaroos from 1964 until 1967. He joined the United States Armed Forces in 1968.[1]

Career

In January 1964,[2] Cantu joined the county music band The Buckaroos[3]: 91–92  at the age of seventeen[3]: 87  by auditioning, and played with the band for the first time in Redding, California.[3]: 88  On stage he was known as "Wonderful Willie."[3]: 90  Cantu, along with Doyle Holly are credited with giving the Buck Owens-led band its rock music energy, making the band's sound more lively than the Nashville sound that was common in country music at the time.[4] He was the band's youngest member and Owens "aged" him three years in band publications.[3]: 88 

In May 1967, Cantu quit the band, seeking a new challenge,[3]: 170  before signing up for the United States Armed Forces.[5] He was replaced by Jerry Wiggins, in 1968.[5]

By 2009, Cantu was the only surviving original member of the band.[6]

Family life

Cantu was born Guillermo Cantu in Corpus Christi, Texas 1946 or 1947,[3]: 87  to Trina Parra and Manuel José Cantu. He has one sibling, a sister.[3]: 87 

He married his first wife Geraldine when he was eighteen years old.[3]: 96 

References

  1. ↑ Price, Robert (2016-03-25). "50 years ago, Buck Owens changed country music". The Bakersfield Californian. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. ↑ Buck Owens and Randy Poe, (2013). Buck 'Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens. United States: Backbeat. ISBN 9781480366923
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Eileen Sisk, (2010). Buck Owens: The Biography. United States: Chicago Review Press, ISBN 9781569767450
  4. ↑ "Doyle Holly, bassist for Buck Owens, 70". The Bangor Daily News and Los Angeles Times. 17 Jan 2007. p. 16.
  5. 1 2 Davis, Chuck (26 February 1968). "Buck Owens and Buckaroos Bring Audience to Life". Vancouver Sun. p. 10.
  6. ↑ Branco, Shellie (2009-02-04). "Buckaroo whose steel guitar made 'Together Again' a classic dies". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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