Written by Sydney Banks

In a quiet home in Whiteside, Tennessee, a tapestry of Elvis Presley watches over Buck Gouger’s living room. 

The walls are crowded with photos and posters of the King, boasting Presley’s handsome smirk. Among them hang pictures of Gouger’s children and grandchildren from years gone by. A photo of a soft-smiling young woman, with the handwritten caption “My Mom,” rests beside his chair. Across the room, his guitar leans not far beyond reach. It is never dusty. 

For nearly sixty years, Gouger–known affectionately as Buck “Elvis”– has carried both country music and southern gospel to unlikely stages. Most recently, he performs with the Georgia Gospel and Bluegrass Association at Bojangles in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Friday evening, Bojangles customers might expect fried chicken and sweet tea, not Elvis Presley singing gospel in a white jumpsuit next to the soda fountain. But for the past month, that’s exactly what they’ve gotten. 

Gospel music was stitched into Gouger’s life long before the iconic Presley attire and restaurant performances. He was raised in Tiftonia, Georgia, by a preacher and a piano player. “I’ve just about the biggest portion of my life in gospel. I had a country band for a long time, but my dad brought in a woman to play gospel for the church,” Gouger said. Though he grew up in the steady rhythm of Sunday mornings, his own journey in music started when he was 18 years old. 

One day, Gouger was at a barbershop. He looked up, saw a guitar and asked for the price. When the barber asked if he played guitar, he said, “No, but I’m going to learn. How much do you want for it?” 

12 dollars later, Gouger walked out holding his future. In his twenties, he formed a country band. His first gig was a honky tonk in Trenton, Georgia, and soon enough, his music carried him to numerous venues throughout the South in Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee, along with Mobile, Alabama.

Between gigs, he built a life working different jobs, the way many musicians do. He served in the US Army as a driver and worked at the Chattanooga Bakery Inc. on and off for 20 years when he wasn’t touring on the road. Later on, he was employed as a janitor and ran the forklift for BSI Mechanical Inc. “There ain’t much I hadn’t done really,” Gouger said. “But all in all, my music is what kept me going.” 

Gouger’s early exposure to gospel music made a reappearance later in his musical career. During a conversation with his lead guitarist about faith, Gouger made a special realization that would change the course of both his life and his music forever. “He said, ‘Brother, I got one thing to say. If you really believed in God, you’d serve him.’ And boy, I could not shake that off. No way to save my soul. So I finally ended up going to church and got saved,” Gouger recalled. 

Though his internal struggle was satisfied, Gouger wrestled with the idea of shifting away from the country music he had come to love. 

“I thought for a while, ‘Man, I play country. I can’t go get in there and sing gospel music.’ But just as sure as I started singing that gospel music, I found out that’s where I’ve been wrong all along. You know you can take an old guitar and get in the bar somewhere, be out of tune, and out of key and everything. But when you work for the Lord, you’ve got to be in tune. You’ve got to make Him sound right.” 

Gouger’s spiritual and musical journey took him to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he met his wife, Barbara, and began playing in tent revivals. “I was not an Elvis impersonator when my band and I first started. I mostly came into Elvis stuff because he sings gospel. In the tents I’d always do Elvis, like, ‘Peace in the Valley’ and all his good gospel music that people wanted to hear,” Gouger said. 

Inspired by his faith and the elegance of Presley’s spiritual tunes, Gouger found himself connecting deeply with the gospel legend. “Elvis played the guitar, and I played the guitar. Elvis was in the service, I was in the service. I’ve always said, me and Elvis got a whole lot in common in music, that’s why I guess I feel closer to him. After I got into his music, it gave me more opportunities,” said Gouger. 

Those opportunities came in the form of performing as Elvis on the Carnival Elation ship, an experience that was gifted to him by a minister and close friend, Ray Boone. As a thank-you for leading worship at Boone’s church in Jacksonville, Florida, Boone sent Gouger aboard two cruises with the Elation to the Bahamas, where he began dressing up in Presley’s iconic white outfit and attire. 

After his voyages, Gouger continued his mission of spreading the gospel through Elvis’ songs, performing with his daughter Kristy for a few years. He began performing with the Georgia Gospel and Bluegrass Association at the Cloud Springs Deli, and now Bojangles going on nine years. 

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Striking a Chord

Written by Sicily Hardgrave

Chattanooga’s vibrant music scene showcases many talented artists, including local guitarist and educator Michael McCallie. Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, McCallie has become a prominent figure in the region’s classical music community, inspiring a new generation of musicians through his teaching and performances.  

McCallie serves as the Director of the Guitar Program at McCallie School in Chattanooga, where he has been a faculty member for the past eight years. His journey with music began early in his life.  

“My mom and dad love music, but they don’t play anything, and I was really into listening to classic rock radio with my dad, which is real guitar based. They bought me an electric guitar when I was 10. I was serious with that for a while,” McCallie said.  

Despite his parents not being musicians, he developed a passion for guitar, leading him to study music at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, for his undergraduate degree.  He received his master’s at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.  

Throughout his career, McCallie has been committed to expanding access to guitar education. He plays a pivotal role in growing the program at McCallie School, which has seen enrollment grow from around 65 students to over 110– a remarkable achievement for a single-instructor program. Under his guidance, many students have gone on to participate in international competitions, perform at notable festivals, and even showcase their talents at the Yale Guitar Extravaganza. 

McCallie’s influence extends beyond the classroom. McCallie has arranged numerous concerts featuring world-class guitarists and has brought international artists to Chattanooga, enriching the local cultural scene. His efforts have helped foster a community where classical guitar and music appreciation thrive, making Chattanooga a notable hub for guitar enthusiasts.  

In addition to his teachings, McCallie is an accomplished performer, having played with the Chattanooga Symphony and participated in various festivals. His versatility shines through as he performs both classical solo repertoire and electric guitar for popular concerts, film scores, and symphony collaborations.  

McCallie’s passion for music and education is rooted in his desire to cultivate lifelong appreciation for guitar and the arts. He aims to ensure that students not only learn to play guitar but also develop a deep understanding and love for music that lasts a lifetime. His work has created a lasting impact, nurturing musicians and music lovers who will carry Chattanooga’s musical legacy forward.  

“I feel like it’s something that’s so niche that if I don’t create an audience for it by putting people out into the world who appreciate it, it might go away. So that’s how it feels all the time. I think I’m most proud of just having put hundreds of people who know what it is and appreciate it, out into the world,” McCallie said.

As Chattanooga continues to grow as a cultural city, Michael McCallie remains a vital part of that evolution, blending his artistic mastery with a dedication to community and education. His contributions have solidified his standing as a cornerstone of the local music scene and a key figure in the ongoing development of classical guitar in the Chattanooga area. 

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