The Buford Majors Band

A saxman by training, Buford Majors became a bandleader for R&B singers in the 1960s and would later be involved in numerous community jazz programs in Nashville until his death.

History[edit | edit source]

In the early 60s, Buford Majors had played with the King Kasuals according to a 1980s article in the Tennessean. Billy Cox remembers, "When we finally left the Del Morocco, we wound up playing in Printers Alley at the Jolly Roger; later it was the Subway and then the Captain's Table. We stayed at the Jolly Roger about 60 days playing five nights a week. We played 'Soul Twist,' all the Booker T. stuff, 'Green Onions,' stuff like that." Article writer Thomas Goldsmith describes it further: "With Hendrix, Cox, Harold Nesbitt on drums, Harry Bachelor on vocals and Buford Majors on saxophone, the King Casuals continued as a group after the Jolly Roger engagement, returning to the Del Morocco."

Buford Majors then later backed Earl Gaines in his band as a saxophone player, before branching out with his own band. As a member of the Earl Gaines band, Buford Majors would have been in close contact with Ted Jarrett and Bob Holmes, who also created numerous singles using studio groups like the Little Rock Brotherhood, from assembled studio ensembles, such as the Earl Gaines Band.

Poster owned by the CMHoF

The Buford Majors Band routinely recorded as the backing band for Sur-Speed, a label created by local record man, Red Wortham, who had previous success running Delta Records and Bullet Records in the 1950s. According to historian and musician Fred James in the liner notes for "The Bullet and Sur-Speed Records Story," The Buford Majors Band had backed Larry Birdsong on his two releases for Sur-Speed in the late 60s (only being credited on one), elaborating that "Buford had been the sax player for Earl Gaines before starting his own chitlin circuit band to back traveling R&B singers. In addition to Birdsong and [George] Williams, Major's band backed Rubin Russell, Art Mayes, and a host of others. These recordings by The George Williams Revue were intended for a Bullet LP releases, but as far as anyone knows it was never issued."

In the 1980s, Buford Majors ran the Centennial Jazz Workshop in Nashville to help spread jazz to a wider audience, as part of his affiliation with the Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society. Several performances by Major's Centennial Jazz Workshop also helped to raise money for the W.O. Smith School in South Nashville. Further outreach by Buford Majors includes his work in the The Nashville Community Concert Band, where he played Bassoon and Saxophone for many years including even more community oriented performances. Buford Majors made an important direct impact on the lives of many young Nashville musicians in his role as a music teacher at Hillwood High, starting in the early 80s.