CHRISTIANSBURG – Who is tall, talented, red-headed, musically gifted, faithful, concerned about mental health issues, loads of fun and a terrific entertainer?
Becky Buller, of course!
A 10-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning fiddler, singer, songwriter and Minnesota Hall of Famer, Buller and her band are scheduled to perform live at the new, state-of-the-art auditorium at Christiansburg High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:30-9 p.m. as part of the Montgomery Museum of Art and History’s ongoing and acclaimed “Sounds of Appalachia” series.
Buller has toured America with her musical family, including, among others, banjo Hall of Fame picker Ned Luberecki. From the Grand Ole Opry to venues across the nation, she has earned accolades including becoming the first woman to win the IBMA Fiddler of the Year Award (2015) as well as IBMA Vocalist of the Year (2016), notching another first as the initial winner in both categories.
She invites everyone to come out to the impressive new facility at CHS “for a fun, fast-paced frolic while making friends with the ‘ol devil’s box.’’’
Becky continues to develop, telling her friend Dr. Jean Haskell, whom she met at East Tennessee State University, that her style of bluegrass is “progressive” and that she enjoys bringing a new flavor to the genre while exploring a wide variety of musical styles to keep her fans entertained.
In addition, she works with legendary performers.
Recently, Buller was selected to sing the “scratch” vocals for the first posthumous release of Dolly Parton’s work entitled “Bound to Ride” with the First Ladies of Bluegrass including Alison Brown, Sierra Hull, Missy Raines and Molly Tuttle.
“I call Becky ‘Dolly’s Voice Double’,” quips Dr. Jean Haskell, a member of the concert committee at the museum, and Professor of Appalachian Studies at Virginia Tech and ETSU (retired).
Buller is an adjunct professor at ETSU as time allows and is also a well-respected advocate for assisting those who struggle with mental health issues, including musicians.
She has released eight albums, and her highly-rated “Jubilee” album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart in June 2024, primarily features her own compositions on both vocals and instrumentals with the exception of the title track, which she co-wrote with Grammy Award winner Aoife O’Donovan.
Her songs have been featured by Molly Tuttle, the Travelin’ MCourys and The Infamous Stringdusters.
The event helps fund community programs provided during the year by the Montgomery Museum. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the show and $10 for students. Tickets may also be purchased on the museum website, Montgomerymuseum.org.
