By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
Most every kid has done it. Just admit it and move on! Sure, you fiddled around with a guitar, a drum set, maybe thought you were the next great singer to take the stage.
Sure, you “practiced” on the carport, in the garage, in a basement. Maybe you and your “group” were chased out into the ‘back 40’ to practice.
Then you realized you were never going to be the Beach Boys, or Bon Jovi, Billy Joel or Sting. So you hung up the guitar, whittled down the drumsticks into toothpicks and went on your merry way.
But not this group!
Nope, these guys still think they are good. They still play gigs, they still have that rock ‘n roll music in their hearts.They still have fun - probably more fun than when they were teenagers!!
Guitarist John Steward, bassist Kip Musgrave, drummer Scott Kruse and vocalist/keyboardist Bobbi Kay Wooley Parker still play that “good ‘ol rock and roll”, still have a good time, and still can chase the cows out of the ‘back 40’’.
It started out just a guy thing. John, Kip and Scott all stalked the halls at DHS and thought they could make music. They practice the two – count ‘em one, two – songs in John’s basement. They called themselves Sittin' Pretty. And they made the momentous decision to head to the Talent Show at the Stoddard County Fair.
Good thing these guys recruited Jim Elledge and Arlen Pixley to sing backup and work as bodyguards. On the positive side, they also recruited classmate Candy Coburn to sing vocals.
“A second place finish (or creative differences?) plus high school athletics and graduation sent Sittin' Pretty heading in different directions,” Steward recalls.
Candy has gone on to greater and grander things. Thank goodness. But they had an incredible cute young lady named Addie Kruse who helped with vocals and Bobbi Kay Wooley (she’s cute too!) joined the team as well.
“BK also immediately showed she not only could sing beautifully and powerfully, but she also was a true talent on the keyboard,” said Kruse. She should play that keyboard well … her momma and daddy paid enough for piano lessons!!! Jean Rahm and MaryRuth Boone are proud!!!
The name. Let’s discuss this name thing.
The group started their musical career at the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Charity Golf Event Banquet. Well, Ben had this nickname - Buzzard, or just Buzz for short. So, logically speaking, since the group started on the path to musical greatness at the event which bore Ben’s name, they assumed his nickname.
“We simply put his name on our band,” big brother Scott said. “The BUZZ was born and has been playing music together ever since, getting people together for fun and good times.”
Not many bands can boast a lawyer, accountant, school principal and a beer distributer. BUZZ can, by golly. Which can be good - they have a lawyer to keep them on the straight and narrow, an accountant to make sure there's a nickel in the piggy bank, an principal to keep them out of after-school-detention, and a beer distributor ... well, for refreshment!
Which leads us to the present; this week to be exact. After the band’s World Tour (Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, Dunklin, Cape and Dunklin counties) and headlining the Second Annual Bearcat Homecoming Tailgate Party this fall, the band has decided to blast away the old year and greet the new one.
This New Year’s Eve the band will have guitars, drumsticks, keyboard and vocal cords all ready for a BUZZ BASH at the Hidden Trails Country Club. They now have 75 whole songs on their music list and promise a fantastically great time for all.
Table reservations are being taken, so call 573.624.3638 to save a table with your name. The cost is just $15 per person and there will be drink specials throughout the night.
“It’s just a fun time and great way to get together with friends and ring in a new year,” Kruse said.
With a crew like the BUZZ playing the music, it’s bound to be a heck of a fun year!
