GREG HENNESSEY: A PASSION FOR BUFFALO MUSIC

Music, particularly the vibrant sounds of Buffalo and Western New York, fuels my passion. For eleven years, I served on the Board of Trustees for the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame (BMHOF), and currently serve as Vice President of the board of the Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation (SAMF) in Buffalo. I even had the pleasure of directing the MOB (Musicians of Buffalo) with local legends Jessie Galante, Bobby Lebel, and Billy Sheehan.

My time with the BMHOF gifted me the opportunity to meet and connect with Buffalo’s musical heroes: Ramblin’ Lou Schriver, Joanie Marshall, Willie Nile, Robby Takac, and countless others. Their captivating stories of their musical journeys ignited a fire within me, sparking a desire to preserve these narratives for future generations. This passion became the driving force behind this Buffalo music podcast.

But why “RockabillyGreg.com”? Well, I’m a lifelong Elvis fan, mesmerized by the masterful guitar work of Scotty Moore and James Burton. Other rockabilly icons like Buddy Holly, Wanda Jackson, and my all-time favorite Brian Setzer/Stray Cats, deeply resonate with my musical soul.

As a self-proclaimed audiophile, one of my greatest joys is collecting recordings and memorabilia by Buffalo and Western New York musicians. This pursuit began with a simple goal: owning at least one recording from every BMHOF inductee. However, my vinyl collection initially stemmed from a love for the artistry of album covers, not just the music within. Milton Glaser, Roger Dean, Frank Frazetta, and Al Hirschfeld, these creative giants, along with local talents Philip Burke and Greg Meadows, fueled my fascination. I even had the distinct honor of designing the cover art for the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Vinyl Volume 1 (2016), featuring the legendary Stan Szelest.

My hope is that these stories entertain, educate, and inspire you to explore the rich musical landscape of Buffalo or discover your own local music scene.

Rock On and Enjoy!

— Rockabilly Greg

*A big shout out to Andrew Davis for the great image, Bobby Lebel for the intro music, CatsLikeUs.com where I get my cool threads, Diamond Hawk Golf Course and Pub, Buffalo Iron Works and Sportsmens Tavern for helping to keep the music alive.

AND, if you are a fan of music podcasts, you can also check out Why Music Matters with Jeff Miers.

RockabillyGreg.com is committed to ensuring digital accessibility. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.