Music and Hearts Share the Stage at Williams Backyard Boogie Aug 28

Local musicians will bring their music and hearts together on stage at Williams Backyard Boogie on Friday, August 28 in memory of local musician Marcus Buckner. The memorial benefit jam will also feature a silent auction to include a painting "30A Angel Band" by local musician and folk artist Franko "Washboard" Jackson depicting local musicians who have passed away over the years and recently, including Marcus.

Tickets are $20 donation at the door with all proceeds going to benefit the Buckner family. The show starts at 5:00 p.m. in the backyard, where the locals love to go for a great night of music. Live music accompanied by a silent auction, food by Grayton Beach Catering and drink by Grayton Beer Company.

Friday night's music lineup will include members of Waco Ramblers, Tennessee Firearms, The Owsley Brothers, Dread Clampitt, The Courtyard Saints, Franko & Fiends, Dismal Creek, Duke Bardwell, Forrest Williams, Red Rocket, Bud Dillard, Joleen Jones, and more. It's going to be quite a show put on by SoWal's favorite local musicians sharing the stage.
 

Bring your own chair and bring your own bottle. Food will be available for purchase. All proceeds go to help the Buckner family of Santa Rosa Beach. A website has been set up for contributions to help with family expenses and Hartford’s education: www.gofundme.com/zqibsk.

The South Walton Community is filled with beautiful hearts and great music.
 

Local music lovers are crazy for great live music and good times at Williams Backyard Boogie. It has become a favorite gathering spot and music venue tucked away in the woods off Chat Holley Road in South Walton. Forrest and Pherrel Williams created the Backyard Boogie to provide local musicians and the music loving community with a casual and comfortable outdoor venue at 1921 Chat Holly Road, santa rosa beach, Florida 32459.

See SoWal.com Live Music for a complete calendar of local music in and around South Walton, including local favorite Forrest Williams Band, playing in many of the area's hottest venues all year round.
 

We love these words from our local friends recently published in the Beachcomber.
In Memoriam - Marcus Buckner...

I first met Marcus in the Winter of 2011 when I watched Tennessee Firearms play a Sunday afternoon gig at Great Southern in Seaside. He was tearing up the banjo. Jared Reynolds was on fiddle, Neal Sebree on standup bass and Brian Wise on guitar. The band had just formed when Marcus moved down to the beach from Birmingham. They were all wearing suits, which made them stand out around here, and they were all playing their asses off.

Marcus’ wife Whitney was there with baby son Hartford. It was good to see a new music family bringing more talent to our town.

Marcus could make great music on just about any instrument with strings. Not only could he burn up a banjo, he was equally impressive on acoustic or electric guitar and mandolin as well as being a fine songwriter. He was one of the finest musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure to share a stage with.

Marcus’ love of music was only surpassed by his love for Whitney and his fine son Hartford. While he may not have been the most effusive in many things, his love for his son was unreserved, and he was the kindest of fathers to Hartford. If Marcus was onstage, odds are little Hartford was at his side strumming along on his toy guitar to begin with, and more
recently on a full-sized instrument which dwarfed him to comic effect.

The site of them together on stage never failed to bring a smile to anyone fortunate enough to witness it. Marcus beamed whenever he looked at his son. While the loss of Marcus is a huge one to those of us who knew and worked with him, it is to Hartford that our deepest sympathies go.

A benefit will be held Aug. 28 at the Williams Backyard Boogie in Santa Rosa Beach. Live music will be featured, as well as a silent auction.

- Franko “Washboard” Jackson and Billy Garrett _____________

Marcus Buckner was the Doc Holliday of wire and wood.

When I take the stage, never will another plug that hole like my lost brother. Although I know a better place he must go, I’ll always be missing my favorite banjo.

I will miss him extensively. He was my very good friend and brother in song.

He was a committed father and worshiped his wife.

He loved fish, Phish and fishing. Hartford, Whitney and water. He was a man of many talents who should have been recognized in his time here for how truly gifted he was.

Goodbye, my friend. I’ll see you in the sky, Lord, in the sky.

- Jeremiah “Red Rocket” Campbell

Marcus Buckner, portrait of bluegrass. Photo by Dawn Chapman Whitty