Ken Buono (pronounced: Boo–No), singer of songs, player of instruments has traveled great distance’s from his native east coast Philadelphia in a quest to reach a musical precipice for all the land to bear witness. Like the search for some mythical creature, this apex of allusiveness challenged Buono”s fortitude, as many a fortnight have now come to pass. Yet, this is not to say it hasn’t brought a few moments of glory within his quest.
Amongst his earliest achievements, as part of a group of traveling minstrels known as Flight of Mavis (later, morphing into the honorable Buzz Zeemer), he has graced the stage in support of these highly admired and decorated artists of their time: Joe Strummer, Sinead O'Connor, Lucinda Williams, Squeeze, Goo Goo Dolls, Del Amitri, NRBQ.
Alas, having never shook the hand of influence, or bent the knee to a king in power, the finality of his tenure performing with these noble lads was of result.
Setting out on his own accord, along with his wife of 11–years, the golden–haired fare maiden Anne Marie, along with their loyal royal Labrador Retriever Stax, a new path was traveled. One that took them to what is known as Music City (Nashville, Tn). A Mecca filled with seekers who have come to try and manifest the same as Buono. Much like a sailor adrift uncharted waters, he faced new challenges, relying on instinct and experiences to help navigate this vast channel that has swallowed many who came bravely before. He quickly gained creative allies in his new found home. Collaboration, though a new concept, starts to solidify for Buono. Burning the midnight oil, the norm. Honing his craft, the goal! Still, the cliff top peak he desires alludes him.
Just when glimpses of higher ground were starting to come into view (by way of independent cuts of these collaborative musical compositions), misfortune descended by way of a great plague. A dark time of empathy, mortality, isolation, and reflection has set in. With scenarios of outcome weighing heavy on the mind, Buono had little to no room for creative thinking. Frustration and disillusionment are the day–to–day. To offset the dismay, Buono utilized his time to look back upon previous unfinished works of his own that he deemed worthy. A light of clarity started to develop, which would prove to grown brighter, illuminating a truer path to go down once this plague is conquered.
“Yes” he said aloud in self-confession. “I must resurrect my once endeavor of sonic thunder and hook laden melody”. Referring to the moniker The Tell Alls, to which such music he created was known.
In the time between his coming of age and travels southward, Buono pulled together his resources and musical abilities to record a 2006 AD full–length debut CD entitled ‘Feeding Frenzy’, released on his very own start up label Journeyman Records. The setting was in the remote Red Hook district within Brooklyn–town New York, where producer Sir Adam Lasus (Juliana Hatfield, Helium, collaborative music producer for the 2025 AD feature film ‘Freakier Friday’, etc) ran a studio out of an old converted firehouse.
Fast forward to the post–pandemic era, Buono decided it was time to come out of this lengthy hiatus to try, once more, to take The Tell Alls Americana–Power Pop endeavor to new heights.
In a 4–year span, he released a series of independent self–produced songs on a bold new format called digital streaming. The most recent, entitled “Road Gets Rough (June 20th, 2025 AD), is the first such single from a forthcoming full–length album slated to be birthed in January 2026 AD. This song of love/duet features support vocals by the talent artist Lilly Hiatt. Steeped not in melancholy, but yet endearing all the same. Jangly guitars playith, keeping perfect time in the song’s uptempo bravado, as Buono and Hiatt harmonize in heavenly fashion.
Close on its heals, from yet–to–be–named album, is a follow up single that will delight the many who favor a bit more amped–up aesthetic! “Comin’ On Strong” is scheduled to launch into the world in late summer 2025 AD. Hence, unlike an onlooker watching for meteors to shower upon darkened sky, fear not the chance of missing this Pop–Rock jewel to would–be crown, for it will forever stream on the many platforms abroad.
NEW SINGLE (June 20th, 2025)-Road Gets Rough
Back story:
Well, it's been a hot minute since moving to Nashville from Philly back in 2010. This, the most recent road in my lifelong music journey (which I previously traveled from east to west, back east again, and eventually landing here in the south) had me feeling like I was starting a whole new chapter in my book of aspirations. Music City certainly lives up to its name, and for me, navigating the terrain to which direction to travel proved a learning curve.
My main focus here was to work on my songwriting, try my hand collaborating with other writers in town striving to do the same. Never having sat in a room one-on-one with another writer before, to try and start writing a song from scratch, the whole concept had always intrigued me. With thoughts of Lennon and McCartney dancing in my head, I was more than eager to try and get-on-the-books with anyone in town who'd take the time to take me on.
As it turned out, a few years into my tenure in town, I met Kyle Nachtigal. A Missouri transplant attending Belmont University studying guitar, songwriting and production, We hit it off right away, and fate my have had a hand in our getting together, as we both shared a love for The Beatles! We got together, and man it just clicked!
This new single coming out on June 20th is one that he and I wrote entitled “Road Gets Rough”, a titled that Kyle came up with and had started when he brought it into our writing session. Of course the title resonated with me immediately, the road I've personally been on throughout my years making music…the many times it truly had been rough (many perpetual potholes, ha!). In its completion, I told Kyle I was hearing the song as a duet.
So, I decided to seek out a female vocalist that would hopefully be a good fit with my voice, be into singing the song. I had recently been getting into Lilly Hiatt's music, daughter of legendary songwriter/artist John Hiatt. I have multiple John Hiatt records in my collection, just sayin'!! Lilly has her own thing going on within her vocal style and the kind of songs she's crafting, and I became a fan rather quickly. I went to see her perform here in Nashville with hopes of meeting her post gig. She put on a great solo set, just her and the black 6-string Rickenbacker she played that night. I was floored by her songs/performance, I couldn't wait to try and talk with her…I mean she was barely off stage trying to pack up her guitar before I struck up a conversation. Luckily, she was super cool with a total stranger “bothering” her while trying to get her guitar back in the case.
The rest is history, and I couldn't be more honored and thankful to have Lilly singing with me on this track! Thinking on it, this music-themed road I've been traveling on, to get to this point in my career (having been in Nashville close to 15 years now), it's very rewarding to have this kind of magic come to be reality. That's how the making of this single feels to me, completely magical! To have Lilly singing on it with me, and to have my good bud's Adam “Red” Lasus & Kirk “Sarge” Swan involved, the recording process just became pure magic by the end. I can't forget to mention the talented engineer at Bomb Shelter Studio (East Nashville, Tn) Drew Carroll, who recorded Lilly's vocals for the track. Thank you all for the role you've played in making this one come out so sweet sounding!!
The road to where you want to try and go can be rough, but when it takes you to where you want to be (and then further!), it's beyond rewarding. This song is the proof! Give a listen, hoping that you feel the same magic we did bringing this one to life!! The new single “Road Gets Rough” going out to streaming platforms June 20th, 2025.
