Budrock “Buddy” Prewitt worked his first show as lighting director for Willie Nelson and Family 36 years ago today at the SuperDome in New Orleans, with Linda Ronstadt on the bill, too.. This is the poster from that show.
Sometimes on my blog, you know, I refer to him as Budrock “The Illuminator” Prewitt, I think that’s a name Willie gave him once, and I think it’s such a great name. I’m grateful to Buddy because he sends me photos from the road, all the time. It’s a big deal, as busy as the guy is, he’ll step across the street to get a picture of a bill board (I love those photos) and he’ll text me the picture. He wakes up, sees the Honeysuckle Rose in the parking lot outside his window, he’ll send me a picture. He knows what a kick us fans get out of seeing Willie Nelson’s bus. Or sitting at the soundboard, he’ll send pictures of the concert happening live right then. And then there’s the ongoing flow of material he shares from his voluminous private collection, of photo and guitar picks and posters and more.
And I know it’s because Buddy is a Willie Nelson fan, and he knows how much us fans love those photos, fans who love Willie but only get to see him once a year. Or the fans all over the world that love Willie, but will never get to see him live in concert – we love those pictures. And the photos remind me that Buddy is a guy who loves his job, is happy to be lighting up Willie Nelson and Family so us fans can see them.
Congratulations, Buddy, here’s to many more years to come.
“That was awhile back and I’m still here. Lucky, I guess. Greatful, for sure.” — Buddy
Think about it, Buddy has seen more Willie Nelson & Family shows than anyone ever anywhere! His job doesn’t just involve getting in early and getting the lights set up, he works throughout the show and can’t slip away for a nap or snack. That’s a lot of Willie Nelson & Family music!
[ed note: I wanted to write that Buddy can't 'slip away to get stoned or get laid', but it didn't seem appropriate to write here, so I went with the nap and the snack thing. -- Linda]
“On the road again”. Buddy “Budrock” Prewitt (SHOWCO lighting designer/director) catches a smoke during David Bowie’s 1976 Isolar “Station to Station” tour. Buddy resigned from SHOWCO in 1980 to work exclusively for Willie Nelson as his lighting director. Please like our FB page SHOWCO the Book. Thank you!”
www.showcothebook.com / www.bootstrappub.com
