Folks have all sorts of questions for Buddy. Below, Buddy has compiled a "Question and Answer" collection.
If you still have a question, email it, and he'll get back with you.
Q: Don't you play the banjo, too? (asked mostly by the people who saw me ten years ago at an event and could swear they saw me playing the banjo)
A: No, but I wish I could.
Q: What's Bill Gaither really like?
A: He is what you see. He genuinely loves to help people have a good time. He's crazy about gospel music and loves the heroes and pioneers of that genre. He has great intuitive business savvy. He has passion for art, literature, and the world of ideas. He loves the church, understands her strengths and weaknesses, and loves the challenge of helping God's people hear the gospel, see Jesus, and worship Him. Oh yeah, he married up.
Q: What's Mark Lowry really like?
A: He, too, is what you see. Need I say more?
Q: When did you play with Jerry Reed?
A: From 1983 to 1987.
Q: Was that before you became a Christian?
A: Actually I had just become a believer when I got that job. It was a great learning experience for me as I had to learn what it means to be in the world and not of it.
Q: What's Jerry Reed really like?
A: For the past few years, we've been reconnecting, not only as old friends, but also as brothers in Christ. Jerry is a character who loves people, golf, fishing, a great song, and good pickin'. He's also extremely generous with a heart for kids and anyone who is struggling with the hardships of life. He's a card carrying, flag waving Republican who loves his country. Occasionally, I get together with him and other friends in his world for some rich fellowship over breakfast. He's been a great influence in my life.
Q: How much do you travel?
A: It depends on the time of year, but on average I'm gone 2 or 3 long weekends a month.
Q: Does your family get to travel with you?
A: Not if they can help it, unless there's a payoff for them, like an Alaskan cruise or a trip to Disney World. It's really not much fun for them to follow me around while I ply my trade.
Q: Is it hard on them with you traveling all the time?
A: Sometimes, they don't even know I'm gone. Here's a story from a few years ago... I said goodbye to the family early one morning, and told my girls I'd see them in a few days. I then flew to Miami for a concert. That night in my hotel room, my cell phone rang. It was Erin, my oldest, teenage daughter. "Hi Erin," I said. "Hi Dad- could you come pick me up?" (She was at school, after a ball game and needed a ride home). I paused for a second and said, "well, that's gonna be kinda hard, Erin, since I'm in MIAMI!" "Oh", she said. "Well, then, do you know where Mom is?" Well, you get the point, but sometimes they actually do miss me after I've been gone for a few days, but, because of them, I try not to schedule long stretches on the road.
Q: Do you have any family?
A: Yes, I'm married to Vicki, for 25 years, and we have two daughters, Erin and Georganna.
Q: Why can't I find your stuff in stores?
A: It's a matter of distribution. Presently, I have two releases that can possibly be found in stores, Pilgrimage (released on Spring Hill Records) and "Hymns & Prayer Songs", but everything is available through my website, buddygreene.com.
Q: How do I get started in the music business?
A: I can only speak to those who desire to make a living as a musician. Practice a lot, perform as often as possible, receive formal training if possible, and accept the opportunities that are given you and make the most of them. If you've got real talent, a good work ethic, and you're willing to "show up for the audition," whatever that is, most likely you'll get some work. Then you'll either love it enough to keep trying or not. I think you have to have a strong desire in the first place to want to perform or compose or produce or publish- you know you just can't get enough of the world of music. Then it's a matter of humbling yourself, working hard at your instrument, learning the business, making contacts, gaining experience little by little, knocking on doors, and marketing yourself. In other words it's going to take a lot of self-initiative and patience. Most important, remember that the talent to make music is a gift. So whether you end up making a living with it, singing in the choir, or just having an occasional jam session, you can be thankful for the gift and provide much satisfaction for yourself and whoever's listening.
Q: How long have you been playing music?
A: I've been singing since I can remember. My first instrument, at age ten, was the ukulele; within a year I had graduated to the guitar.
Q: How long have you been playing Harmonica?
A: Approximately 33 years. I started when I was in college.
Q: Who's Rufus?
A: That's my middle name. When I was in Jerry's band, he called me Rufus, because there was already a Buddy in the band. I have many friends from that period, like my pastor for instance, who still call me Rufus.
Q: You looked bigger up on stage
A: I was. Being up there is an inflating experience.
Q: You look bigger on TV.
A: I am. It's magic.