Frank Buck Shaffer

I could not get this post to load properly - no matter what I did. So I removed it and started over.

I have had several emails asking about Buck Shaffer.
I interviewed him in March for a story. The two hours I spent with him were precious and priceless.

As I left his home, my CD played in my car and the song "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelberg came on. I had to wipe away a couple of tears as I listened to the words:

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I’m just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

Thank you, Buck Shaffer. For the gift that you gave me -- the gift of music and for believing in me. Thank you for putting a song in my soul.

To see the original post, please click on March archives and scroll down to March 22. You can find the entry there.

To see the story I wrote for the Porterville Recorder, see below:

The Spirit of Freedom, page 1
Traditions Start Here, page 2
Shaffer: A Living Legend in the Community, page 10