Remembering The “Father Of Nashville Rock,” Buzz Cason

Few people can say they shaped the musical landscape in Nashville quite like Buzz Cason. That’s why, after he passed away on June 16, so many fans have taken the time to honor his legacy. His career started all the way back in the ’50s when Cason was still in high school. During this time, he co-created what would become Nashville’s first rock band, The Casuals. This feat alone is amazing, but it’s only the start to his long list of accomplishments.

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Over the course of decades, Cason made a name for himself as a songwriter, singer, record producer, and studio owner. Although he helped create countless hits, one of his most memorable ones has to be Everlasting Love. This song, which he wrote with Mac Gayden, has been covered by so many other iconic artists. This includes Gloria Estefan, U2, and more. He also sang this classic song himself, as you can see in the video below.

If there’s an artist that you love, there’s a good chance that Cason wrote songs for them — there’s the Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, and Jerry Lee Lewis, to name a few. This is something Cason was able to do thanks to his passion for creating new music that paid no mind to certain expectations or rules.

“Buzz Cason never concerned himself too much with musical boundaries. He just lived and breathed music,” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum shares. “As a singer, songwriter, producer, and publisher, he helped shape and expand the sound of Nashville in countless ways across seven decades.”

Although Cason is no longer with us, his impact on the world of music can still be seen today. In addition to his music, there’s the Creative Workshop studio in Berry Hill. In the ’70s, Cason founded this place to help develop and produce new talent. Artist like Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Presley, and Merle Haggard have created music here over the years. Best of all, there’s still music being made there to this day.

“Buzz Cason left this plane this morning. He will be singing, I’m sure, and making his new surroundings smile,” Cason’s writing partner and friend, Gayden, shares on social media. “I’m so glad we got to do these last two shows together. Brother in love and music.”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.