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Just one of the true, ardent, idiosyncratic songs fans in North Texas died October 2nd. He was James Burnett, known as “Bucks” Burnett or, originally, “Major Bucks” Burnett. He was 64.
If persons knew Burnett, they may well have recognized him as the operator of 14 Records, the shop on Garland Street. But 14 Data was a retail store for diehard audio supporters. It seriously mirrored the owner’s preferences — the vintage alternatives had been curated by Burnett.
Burnett also managed musicians, pursued eccentric endeavours like enthusiast golf equipment and he befriended the well-known. Dallas Morning News contributor Manny Mendoza met Burnett 30 many years back — on the extremely initially day Mendoza moved to Dallas.
This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.
So Manny, Bucks Burnett’s retailer was undoubtedly sort of ‘fringe’ — however his standing was greater than that. Why?
Very well, for 1 factor, the file keep operated at a really intriguing fringe. When it was on Greenville Avenue, he offered 8 observe tapes, and the gamers to hear to them. And these players were being previously a rare commodity. And he went on to open up an eight monitor museum [in Deep Ellum].
So he was not just a history keep operator. He was a male who was incredibly deeply embedded in songs and in the tunes community.
Burnett was a musician himself, he promoted concerts, he managed Tiny Tim, the singer, and developed an album with Little Tim and the band Courageous Combo. Burnett even wrote a tunes column for a when for The Dallas Observer termed Namedropper — which was basically his nickname.
His nickname was Namedropper simply because he established out considering the fact that he was a teen to meet all his rock star idols. And he did it. He wound up likely to England two unique occasions to remain with Jimmy Page.
I indicate, a single of the final times that I observed Bucks, I went to his retail outlet and he was on the cellular phone and he was like, “Oh, Manny, why? Why are you here to trouble me? I’m on the cellphone.”
Properly, he was chatting to Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth of The Speaking Heads, who he was pals with. So, yeah, Bucks experienced, y’know, rock stars on speed dial.
So Burnett was a real character. Sort of larger than existence. But folks have explained even with all of his tales, his friendships, he could be contentious, argumentative.
Properly, due to the fact more substantial-than-lifestyle people are, you know, they’re in your experience. They’re going to hold you conversationally hostage. I imply, he most likely annoyed as several persons as he befriended.
But I believe, you know, persons felt a specified solidarity with him. Because he was quite genuine in his enthusiasms, and his enthusiasms have been very appealing — you know, 8 monitor tapes and Mister Ed. He experienced a Mister Ed — as in the Tv clearly show — Admirer Club that he experienced commenced in large faculty, that he eventually roped individuals like Iggy Pop and Eric Clapton into joining.
The 8-Observe Museum Guided Tour with Bucks Burnett
And often his enthusiasms went over and above the fringe. The Mister Ed Fan Club was a joke but it led to Edstock,a clearly show with Joe Ely at the Bronco Bowl in 1984. Which was a financial failure.
For a little file shop owner, that could not have helped Burnett’s bottom line.
But I imagine Bucks — you know, I cannot testify to this, but I have a feeling Bucks hardly ever compensated for a concert ticket. I guess men and women bought him a great deal of dinners.
Barley Vogel, Burnett’s life spouse, has posted on the net that Bucks tragically took his possess lifestyle. She also wrote, amid other things, that he was bipolar.
I could possibly have known that at some time. I’ve forgotten about it if I did know it.
But I necessarily mean, I consider that could account for, you know, some of his talkativeness. He was a male who would communicate to you incessantly about tunes when you went to his retail store. He was not as interested in, you know, advertising data as he was in just talking about music.
So I think that passion that he had was infectious. And which is why folks liked him.
As a memorial for him Barley Vogel has designed the Fb website page, Namedropper – Tribute to Bucks Burnett. No providers are at the moment prepared, but Vogel stated she is looking at a celebration for Burnett — “anything fitting as a Significant Bucks Output.”