Buzz Evans was born in Adams, Massachusetts, a small New England town nestled in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. Recognized within the music industry as an accomplished pedal steel and lead guitar player, Buzz is highly respected by his peers and is considered by most to be a musicians' musician. He has a unique playing style that blends elements of country, R&B, jazz, pop, blues and soul.
Buzz has been in high demand as a top recording session musician since the 60's, working in New York, Boston, Denver, Nashville, Miami, as well as, Capitol Records in Hollywood. Over the years, he has performed along side many top name Nashville artists, including the late greats, Tex Ritter, Ernest Tubb and Dick Curless. He has also opened shows for such artists as: David Frizzell, David Allen Coe, Gary Morris, Sawyer Brown and Steve Wariner. However, Buzz is most proud of the fact that he spent four years touring with the legendary guitar player, Thumbs Carllile.
Late 1996, Buzz concluded a five year performance with the production show, Country Tonite (formerly appearing at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas), serving as the shows musical director for the last three years. Although he still does recording sessions for various artists and studios, he has since been in pursuit of a career as a solo artist.
Buzz was a featured entertainer at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada from 1997 through 1999. This venue provided him with the perfect opportunity to market his CD’s to the general public. His first CD, “It’s A Hard Life”, was recorded in 1995, however, this was the first time that the public was made aware of it. He now has six solo CD’s available.
For the last four years, Buzz has been doing road work and freelancing with several groups. More recently, he has been working on a new project with New Orleans vocalist/recording artist, Shirley Peters.
Buzz’s guitar influences include such legendary artists as the late greats, Thumbs Carllile, Lenny Breau and Roy Buchanan. When asked to name his favorite guitar player alive today, without hesitation he'd tell you, Joe Lano, a Las Vegas local and premier jazz guitarist. His influences on the pedal steel guitar include Buddy Charleton, Buddy Emmons, Terry Bethel, as well as, the late greats, Jimmy Day (Buzz's youngest son's namesake) and Curley Chalker, just to name a few. If you ask Buzz about his influences on pedal steel guitar be prepared for a very lengthy response. In naming his influences, I only mentioned those whose names he spoke in almost every breath (a slight exaggeration).
Buzz tries not to classify his playing to any one genre, listeners are treated to a variety of music in every set. His musical interpretations capture the audiences. From television themes to the chart toppers, he entertains the audience with his own instrumental versions of musical selections spanning over the past 7 decades.