At the age of 6, Bucky Bryant got an acoustic guitar for his birthday.  Bought by his grandmother at a pawn shop on Broughton Street for $5, that guitar was instrumental in changing the course of Bryant’s life forever.

“It was my prized possession,” said Bryant, 51.  “I would listen to the old records my parents had, and I would pick out the guitar parts and learn them by ear.  When The Beatles came out, that was it.  I said: ‘This is what I’ve got to do.’”

Today he’s a fixture in Savannah’s music scene, and he’s played ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s acoustic guitar music with several musical acts for the past 30 years.

Bryant is best known for playing with his longtime friend and music partner, Barry Johnson, in the Bucky and Barry acoustic duo.  Friends since first grade, the pair grew up on Savannah’s eastside, where they started their first band in the Bryant family garage.

“We became best cohorts in life, really,” said Bryant.  “When we perform to this day, it’s like we’re two silly kids back in our youth trying to get in some sort of trouble.”

Bryant performs regular gigs with Chuck Courtenay as “Chuck Courtenay and Uncle Buck” and has played with other musicians through the years.  He isn’t one to have an ego or demand much attention.  Instead, he brings a commonsense attitude to performing and doing what he loves — making music.

“I’m the gel,” explained Bryant.  “The guys that I play with are the real act, and I just bring out the best in them with my harmonies and guitar.  I’m really knowledgeable about sound and production, and I make them sound really good.  Of course, all the equipment is mine, too, and I’m the business guy — and I handle all the bookings and contracts.”

Bryant, a major accounts representative for the Savannah Morning News for the past 20 years, also serves as the booking agent for his acoustic duos as well as 50 other music acts. 

He’s also had the good fortune to experience a taste of fame during his musical career.  In 1998, an executive for Hard Rock Cafe recruited Bryant along with Joey Manning, another local Savannah musician, to perform for several years at Hard Rock Cafe events in major cities.

“They really liked us and the genre of music we played,” explained Bryant.  “I think they were so used to bands they hired being demanding, and we were a couple of good ol’ boys that were like, ‘Man, thanks so much for having us.’ Fortunately my day job was understanding.  It was a great time.”