From climbing trees to radio fame: the unlikely evolution of Canadian rapper Buck 65
In short: Richard Terfry, known as Buck 65, began his career by climbing a tree to catch radio signals in rural Nova Scotia. He evolved from an underground hip-hop obsessive into a genre-bending artist, radio host, and author, proving that a singular, restless creativity can thrive far beyond the confines of mainstream labels.
Born in 1972 in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia, Richard Terfry’s path to music was unconventional. As a teenager, he relied on the campus station CKDU, which broadcast at a mere 33 watts, forcing him to climb a tree in his yard just to hear hip-hop shows. Initially a baseball prospect scouted by the New York Yankees, a knee injury redirected his focus toward rapping, DJing, and production. By 1993, he was hosting his own radio programs, eventually becoming a fixture on CBC Music.
Terfry’s artistic identity is defined by constant reinvention. Operating under various aliases like Stinkin' Rich and Uncle Climax, he explored diverse sounds ranging from abstract hip-hop to folk, country, and blues. His 2003 album, Talkin' Honky Blues, marked a major stylistic shift that earned him a Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year. His career has been marked by both critical acclaim and eccentric detours, including narrating commercials, contributing to Sesame Street, and releasing music through digital-only campaigns.
The origin of his stage name remains a subject of debate. Terfry has attributed it to a common rural nickname for sons named after their fathers, jokingly claiming he was one of 65 'Bucks' in his town. Alternatively, he once suggested it stemmed from a misprinted poster that turned a comparison to a '1965 Buick' into 'Buck 65.' Regardless of the name's history, his output remains prolific, spanning decades of experimentation, collaborative projects like Bike for Three!, and a 2015 autobiography, Wicked and Weird.
Despite periods of hiatus, including a break from 2015 to 2020, Terfry has maintained a consistent presence in Canadian culture. His work continues to be recognized by critics, with multiple albums appearing on Robert Christgau's Dean's List in recent years. Whether through his daily radio hosting or his ongoing musical collaborations, Buck 65 remains a testament to the power of persistent, genre-defying creativity.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Buck 65
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