BUCK
WAYNE
Buck
Wayne Johnston (born: Marlow, OK, May 12, 1923) learned
to play steel guitar at age eight, and combined a career
in radio with one in music. Buck served in the US Air
Force in World War Two and was shot down over Berlin,
captured an imprisoned in Stalag Luft. After the war,
he began his radio career part time at KSET and KROD
while attending College of Mines University of Texas
in El Paso (now UTEP) . He also worked at KAVE, Carlsbad,
NM during summer vacation. In 1949, he became Country
DJ and Farm Editor of KAMQ, Amarillo, TX. After being
recalled to service for the Korean War, Buck returned
to El Paso, where he worked at both KSET and KROD and
ld the Bluebonnet Playboys. In 1957 he joined XERB,
Rosarito Beach Mexico, just south of San Diego, CA.
The New York Times called Buck “the last of the
border radio pitchmen”. While working in Smokey
Rogers’ Western Caravan, he brought Country radio
to the San Diego market with XEAU in Tijuana Mexico
and joined KSON when they switched to Country. He stayed
at KSON until 1975, when throat cancer ended his radio
career. He continued performing with his band, The
Buckshots. Buck’s songs have been recorded by
Hank Snow, Floyd Tillman, Tommy Duncan and others.
He was inducted into the Western Swing hall of Fame
in 1991 and the Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame
in 1996. Buck Wayne Johnston was inducted into the
Country Music D J Hall of Fame in 2002.
