The Boxmasters
In April 2009, the band was scheduled to tour across Canada, opening for co… Read Full Bio ↴In April 2009, the band was scheduled to tour across Canada, opening for country music veterans Willie Nelson and Ray Price. On April 8, the band appeared on the national CBC Radio One program Q, hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. During the first half of the interview, Thornton sounded nervous and confused, giving erratic answers, such as "I don't know" when asked how long the band had been together. When asked about his musical tastes and influences as a child, he gave his longest answer, but it was about his favorite "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine. He also stated that he had "instructed" the show's producers to not ask any questions about his career as a screenwriter and actor.
Ghomeshi, in introducing the band, mentioned the acting credentials of Thornton, but never based his questions to Thornton about his show business career. Thornton, who was visibly upset, then complained about Canadians in general to a national radio audience since they didn't get up and move or throw things at the stage, referring to Canadians to being like 'mashed potatoes without the gravy.' This caused an outpouring of criticism from across Canada and around the world for the star's behavior.
The following night, the band opened for Willie Nelson at Toronto's prestigious Massey Hall. A series of boos and catcalls erupted mid-set, with people in the audience yelling "here comes the gravy!" when Thornton unsuccessfully tried to explain he liked Canadians but not the popular CBC radio host. Local reviews of Thornton's Toronto performance have not been positive. The Toronto Star called Thornton's voice a "high, tinny whine" and Globe and Mail commented that "Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things". On April 10, The Boxmasters dropped out of the tour early, announcing that they would not be playing with Nelson during subsequent concerts scheduled in London, Ontario and Montreal. Thornton said that band members had come down with the "the flu". Willie Nelson's publicist had no comment.
The Boxmasters were formed long ago when W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton went in to a fast food chicken restaurant in Bellflower, California and got in an argument with the young man working the counter over a coleslaw incident. That young man was J.D. “J.D.” Andrew. The incident turned out to be a misunderstanding and the two had a laugh about it and they became fast friends. They started hanging out together and eventually discovered that they had both come to California in search of the big time in the world of ELECTRIC HILLBILLY Music, W.R. ‘Bud’ from Hot Springs, Arkansas and J.D. from Gypsum, Kansas. They also shared a love of 60’s pop and rock music and the 60’s in general. They decided to combine those things and form a band. But, they needed at least one more member.
J.D. knew a talented, lead guitar player named Micheal Wayne Butler from Brattleboro, Vermont. They formed ‘The Boxmasters’ and rehearsed for months in J.D.’s apartment or ‘Flat’ as the British Invasion groups called it. They played small club dates around Bellflower, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Downey, Southgate and even as far as the Inland Empire as well as a couple of shows in Tecate, Mexico. And so the Boxmasters were born. What happened between now and then is somewhat hazy, but all you need to know is they finally landed a great record deal with Vanguard Records. W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton handles the lead and background vocals and drums and tambourine. J.D. plays electric and acoustic guitar and bass and sings background vocals with Micheal Wayne on electric guitar and lap steel.
They had one problem, which was, when playing live they needed more people to make all the racket they had made on the record. So, they started recruiting. W.R. had played in bands for years, so he snagged some of the old gang. He got Bradley ‘Brad’ Davis of Fort worth, Texas for mandolin, guitar, and background vocals. He and Brad had done solo projects together along with Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis who handles harmonica, organ and accordion (he’s Greek) and Mike ‘Bubba’ Bruce who plays drums live so W.R. can sing out front with the public. Bubba is an old friend from Alabama who is actually responsible for the name Boxmasters. More on that later. After the band was good and tight they still knew one thing was missing. Even though this was to be A 60’s band, it was still Hillbilly music. They had to have a steel guitar player. They asked around and after W.R.’s conversation with his old buddy Stephen Bruton they were lucky enough to get a guy from Baltimore named Marty ‘Riff’ Rifkin who plays steel guitar like nobody’s business.
Then the original Boxmasters, W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton, J.D. ‘J.D.’ Andrew and Micheal Wayne Butler could make their records and play whatever they wanted and have enough band fellas to play it all live. Teddy, Riff and Brad have all made contributions on the record as well. Bubba has his own combo in Atlanta that he keeps busy with when not touring with the Boxmasters. The boys include among their main influences, Michael Nesmith, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the great bands of the British Invasion, The Monkees, The Wilburn Brothers, and Dell Reeves.
And now Ladies and Gentlemen, from Bellflower, California, Vanguard Recording artists, The Boxmasters.
Billy Ray Custer
Los Angeles, CA
Ghomeshi, in introducing the band, mentioned the acting credentials of Thornton, but never based his questions to Thornton about his show business career. Thornton, who was visibly upset, then complained about Canadians in general to a national radio audience since they didn't get up and move or throw things at the stage, referring to Canadians to being like 'mashed potatoes without the gravy.' This caused an outpouring of criticism from across Canada and around the world for the star's behavior.
The following night, the band opened for Willie Nelson at Toronto's prestigious Massey Hall. A series of boos and catcalls erupted mid-set, with people in the audience yelling "here comes the gravy!" when Thornton unsuccessfully tried to explain he liked Canadians but not the popular CBC radio host. Local reviews of Thornton's Toronto performance have not been positive. The Toronto Star called Thornton's voice a "high, tinny whine" and Globe and Mail commented that "Nelson could teach Billy Bob Thornton more than a few things". On April 10, The Boxmasters dropped out of the tour early, announcing that they would not be playing with Nelson during subsequent concerts scheduled in London, Ontario and Montreal. Thornton said that band members had come down with the "the flu". Willie Nelson's publicist had no comment.
The Boxmasters were formed long ago when W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton went in to a fast food chicken restaurant in Bellflower, California and got in an argument with the young man working the counter over a coleslaw incident. That young man was J.D. “J.D.” Andrew. The incident turned out to be a misunderstanding and the two had a laugh about it and they became fast friends. They started hanging out together and eventually discovered that they had both come to California in search of the big time in the world of ELECTRIC HILLBILLY Music, W.R. ‘Bud’ from Hot Springs, Arkansas and J.D. from Gypsum, Kansas. They also shared a love of 60’s pop and rock music and the 60’s in general. They decided to combine those things and form a band. But, they needed at least one more member.
J.D. knew a talented, lead guitar player named Micheal Wayne Butler from Brattleboro, Vermont. They formed ‘The Boxmasters’ and rehearsed for months in J.D.’s apartment or ‘Flat’ as the British Invasion groups called it. They played small club dates around Bellflower, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Downey, Southgate and even as far as the Inland Empire as well as a couple of shows in Tecate, Mexico. And so the Boxmasters were born. What happened between now and then is somewhat hazy, but all you need to know is they finally landed a great record deal with Vanguard Records. W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton handles the lead and background vocals and drums and tambourine. J.D. plays electric and acoustic guitar and bass and sings background vocals with Micheal Wayne on electric guitar and lap steel.
They had one problem, which was, when playing live they needed more people to make all the racket they had made on the record. So, they started recruiting. W.R. had played in bands for years, so he snagged some of the old gang. He got Bradley ‘Brad’ Davis of Fort worth, Texas for mandolin, guitar, and background vocals. He and Brad had done solo projects together along with Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis who handles harmonica, organ and accordion (he’s Greek) and Mike ‘Bubba’ Bruce who plays drums live so W.R. can sing out front with the public. Bubba is an old friend from Alabama who is actually responsible for the name Boxmasters. More on that later. After the band was good and tight they still knew one thing was missing. Even though this was to be A 60’s band, it was still Hillbilly music. They had to have a steel guitar player. They asked around and after W.R.’s conversation with his old buddy Stephen Bruton they were lucky enough to get a guy from Baltimore named Marty ‘Riff’ Rifkin who plays steel guitar like nobody’s business.
Then the original Boxmasters, W.R. ‘Bud’ Thornton, J.D. ‘J.D.’ Andrew and Micheal Wayne Butler could make their records and play whatever they wanted and have enough band fellas to play it all live. Teddy, Riff and Brad have all made contributions on the record as well. Bubba has his own combo in Atlanta that he keeps busy with when not touring with the Boxmasters. The boys include among their main influences, Michael Nesmith, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the great bands of the British Invasion, The Monkees, The Wilburn Brothers, and Dell Reeves.
And now Ladies and Gentlemen, from Bellflower, California, Vanguard Recording artists, The Boxmasters.
Billy Ray Custer
Los Angeles, CA
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Boxmasters Lyrics
2-Bit Grifter You're one of those horrible bitches That eats whatever is …
20 years ago It's been a long time since I walked Through this old…
A Dime At A Time My whole life's saving's a two dollar bill That's why I'm…
Anymore THERE IS TOO MUCH IN THE WAY AND I CAN'T…
As Tears Go By It is the evening of the day I sit and watch…
Big Ole Brew Well, I work a double shift at the plant And I…
Blue Christmas I'll have a blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue…
Build Your Own Prison Tough, you think you got the stuff You're telling me and…
Christmas in California LET'S HIT THE BEACH THIS CHRISTMAS DAY THAT'S THE CALIFORNIA…
Christmas In Prison SURE WISH I COULD TELL YOU WHERE WE'RE GOING FROM…
Day's Gone DAY'S GONE DAY'S GONE NIGHTIME IS COMIN' NIGHTTIME IS COMIN'…
Elenore You got a thing about you I just can't live without…
Errol Flynn In a hall, on a wall, in a house in…
Every King Wears A Crown There's a lot of warriors out on the road Stories have…
Focus on the One Some people say make love not war That'd be good, but…
Gentle On My Mind It's knowing that your door is always open And your path…
Goin' Home The light is getting dimmer They say that happens when you…
Golden Hour We're on the martini and a hundred pairs of red…
Half A Mind I don't love you like I used to do But I'm…
Happy Xmas So this is Christmas and what have you done, Another year…
Heartbreakin' Wreck Believe me, buddy, she's as hot as hell And smart as…
Heartbreakin’ Wreck Believe me, buddy, she's as hot as hell And smart as…
Help...I'm Alive There's a world out there I can't see anymore I…
Here She Comes THERE'S A WARM WIND COMIN' IN FROM WAY OUT WEST A…
Hollow Walls Hollow walls, hollow walls Cold black echoes breathe her na…
House at Pooh Corner Christopher Robin and I walked along Under branches lit up …
I Damn this circular thinking My eyes are always blinking Kee…
I Don't Wanna Know I don't want to know, so please don't tell me I…
I Don’t Wanna Know I don't want to know, so please don't tell me I…
I Got a Girl Damn this circular thinking My eyes are always blinking Kee…
I Never Let You Cry The tension all built up and stayed there The truth was…
I See a Light I see a light, It's puttin' up a fight It's…
I Wanna Go Where You Go YOU'VE GIVEN ME THE RIGHT TO WALK AWAY JUST SO YOU…
I Wanna Hold Your Hand Oh, I've got to tell you something I think you'll understan…
I Won't Be Home For Christmas Outside the window in my memory Snow is coming down I can…
I'll Give You a Ring My britches got all tight The first time that we met Not…
I'm Watchin' The Game Stop telling me stuff Quit asking me shit Can't you see I'm …
If I Forget Tomorrow If I forget tomorrow If I forget tomorrow I'll be…
If I Had Wings Be careful when you tell them what you feel Cancellation's…
Im Watchin The Game Stop telling me stuff Quit asking me shit Can't you see I'm …
Joanne Her name was Joanne And she lived near a meadow by…
Knoxville Girl I met a girl in Knoxville A town we all know…
Let the Bleeding Pray WE HAD A HEARTLAND THAT THUMPED TO BEAT THE BAND WE…
Lord Knows I'm Drinkin' Hello, Missus Johnson You self righteous woman You Sunday sc…
Memories of You and I I thought to leave your bed for the street Was as…
Merrimack County Way up north, by the ice bound ocean I was born,…
My Dreams Of Christmas It started in October About the same time as last year Dad…
New Mexico I can't go back to New Mexico There's ghosts at the…
No Deep Down You'll never know why I cry And I will never know…
No Whiskey in Heaven I pray there's no whiskey in heaven I pray there's no…
Propinquity I've known for a long time The kind of girl you…
Real Everything I write for you Every song I sing to…
Reasons For Livin' I like to drink and I like to smoke I like…
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer You know Bubba and Teddy and Butler and JD Daryl and…
Santa Rosa It seems like ten years ago Though today my mind is…
Sawmill Well, once I was a slave at the sawmill Talk about…
She' Lookin' Better by the Minute She′s looking better by the minute Well I don't know what′s…
She's Lookin' Better by the Minute She's looking better by the minute And I don't know what's…
Shit List I'm in our old room, baby It hasn't changed at all It's…
Shut the Devil Up WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'LL GO OR WHO'S A FRIEND OR WHO'S…
Silver Bells City sidewalks Busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In…
Slower Than Christmas Dysfunctional belles Dysfunctional balls The folks in my f…
Some of Shelley's Blues Tell me Just one more time the reason why you must…
Some of Shelly's Blues Tell me just one more time the reasons why you…
Somebody to Say EVERYBODY'S SCARED THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE NOBODY GROWS UP TH…
Someday CAN YOU SEE IN THE DISTANCE IS THERE A PICTURE IN…
Speck LOOK OUT INTO THE WILD THEN LOOK AT YOUR CHILD FEAR…
Square I WENT SAILING ON A SHIP TODAY MY MIND WAS THIRSTY…
That Mountain There's a big black train I've been hearing all my life Ever…
That's Why Tammy Has My Car I had a little too much to drink last night And…
That’s Why Tammy Has My Car I had a little too much to drink last night And…
The Boxmasters Theme Do you need a man To come around and fix what's…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
The Girl On The Side I cry every night for my family But they don't know…
The Kids Are Alright Let's try, Kids Are Alright I don't mind for the guy…
The Last Place They Would Look Stealing cars and doing dope Not necessarily in that order …
The Poor House Reno?s sparkling ahead honey I thought I?d give you a…
The Work of Art A heavy feeling creeps through my bones As I get out…
Time In the middle of hell we stuck together I gotta say…
Turn Away Turn away from me And walk into tomorrow with a smile…
Turn It Over You know the desk in the bedroom The one with all…
Two Weeks Notice Well, I'm staying here in this place of mine The one…
Watchin' the Radio EVERYTHING IS BUSTED NO REASON TO PRETEND SOMEHOW TOMORROW'S…
We Three Kings We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts, we traverse afa…
Yesterday's Gone I loved you all the summer through I thought I'd found…
You Crossed The Line Hey there, buddy, that's a beautiful girl you got next…
You'll Never Be Mine You'll never be mine You'll never be mine How can…
Oswald the Rabbit
on That's Why Tammy Has My Car
funny
ur mom
on That's Why Tammy Has My Car
poop