"Folk Sounds From The Southwest"
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Buenger brings a lifetime of experiences to songs that tell stories and reflect the feelings and emotions of everyday living. He began this second career as a singer/songwriter after retiring from teaching in 2000. Buenger grew up with a love of music. While in high school he played in a rock band called "The Night Beats." His main claim to fame was a guest appearance with Roy Orbison at a high school dance. (This was before Roy was famous.) He continued to play in small bands while attending college where he wrote several songs. One song, "Cry Of The Raven", was recorded and received modest play around Abilene, Texas and Oklahoma City. Then in 1963 his music career took an unexpected turn. Buenger chose to go into the Methodist ministry instead of heading for Nashville. Ironically, it was while he was attending seminary that he developed his love of folk music, protest songs, and story songs. During those years he teamed up with another folk singer, Joe Lovelady, and they played parties and banquets. Buenger graduated from seminary, was ordained in 1963, and served as a Methodist minister for five years. In 1968 he left the ministry and moved to Baytown, Texas, where for the next thirty-one years he taught history at Robert E. Lee High School. Throughout his years in teaching, music was still an important part of his life. Aside from playing for parties, banquets, and conventions, Buenger developed a program for studying history through the use of folk music. In 2000 he retired and began playing in nursing and retirement homes, and his old love of music resurfaced. He is now writing songs and performing around the Austin area. Buenger was born in Pecos, Texas in 1940. He graduated from McCamey High School and then attended McMurry College where received a B.A. in Social Studies and Speech. He earned a Masters Of Theology degree from Perkins School Of Theology at S. M. U. in Dallas, Texas. It was while attending seminary that he met his wife, Sally Kay Welch. He has lived in West Texas around Odessa and Midland, the Texas Panhandle in Lubbock, North Texas in Dallas, and Southeast Texas around Houston. Buenger has two children, Sean and Dalea, and one grandchild, Amber. He and his wife now reside in Austin. |
