------even if it's an ox. like the one pictured here, that my wife took at a little shop in Banff, Alberta.  The deadline for mix tapes or CD-R covers of the song, If You Wanna Be the Next Buck Owens, is June 30, 2008 at 12 midnight. 

The thing that scares most people is the idea that you have to sound, or be like Buck to win.  You don't.  You simply have to convey the spirit, and a modicum of the talent to win.  The spirit is that of bold independence, determination, drive and willingness to sing and play outside the box. 

You can be a band, a solo artist, a dual, a male, or a female to be named Bakersfield's Next Buck.  In fact, you don't even have to necessarily sound "country," at least not in the traditional sense.  You can add a little alt rock, a little post-punk, a little jazz, a little blues, a little hip or "hick" hop, whatever your thing is.  Like the song goes, "Be yourself/be yourself/don't try to be like anybody else."

Blog visitors here, at bakotopia.com and at bakersfieldunderground.com will select the winner, so my biases don't have to stand in the way.

Here's a sample of your audition mp3:

If You Wanna Be the Next Buck Owens

Dr BLT

words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008 Nu Bako Sound Recordings/Krock Records

Download | Duration: 00:01:11

You simply learn the original Dr. BLTune posted right here (check the play station affixed at the top, left-hand-corner, then either play it safe, but save some bucks (no pun intended) by going to a professional studio where all of the musical instrument tracks have already been recorded and simply pay for the studio time involved in laying down your vocals and mixing them down, or record the song in your own style, and a studio of your own choice (at your own expense) or at no or little expense if at your own personal studio) taking a greater creative risk, and putting more of your personality in the musical interpretation. 

E-mail me for your own free mp3 copy of the song to practive with, and if you want to do it with pre-recored tracks call Reggie at Bakersfield School of Music and Recording to see if he can squeeze you in before the deadline. 

Also, e-mail me if you have any further questions.  Are you Bakersfield's Next Buck?  You won't know until you grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

The winner will be a featured artist on my new CD, From Buck Owens Blvd. to Merle Haggard Drive.  The winner will be pictured here, and will receive a certificate naming the person Bakersfield's Next Buck. 

Bakersfield's Next Buck Talent Contest: Bakersfield Sound Underground