Joe Buck's first serious musical project was called Gringo. They released self-titled "Gringo" on Pravda Records in 1995. The lineup consisted of Jim (Joe Buck) on vocals and guitar, Leila Vartanian on vocals and bass, and Tim Krause, who produced the CD, playing drums. It is a polarized collection of ballads and throbbing rockers. The follow-up CD, "Combine" was released on Pravda Records in 1997. It is a blend of country and newgrass and is musically distinct from the first CD. The lineup consists of Jim and Leila as before but the drums are replaced by Martin O'Doherty on banjo.
He played bass for Hank Williams III's country/hellbilly "Damn Band", and was also member of Williams' punk-metal project Assjack. He is credited, along with Williams and Andy Gibson, with engineering and producing Williams' album, Straight to Hell, and appears to have recorded backing vocals for Hank Williams III's Bootleg #3 Pre-Release album.
As a solo artist, he tours internationally under the moniker "Joe Buck Yourself" and is represented by Bucket City Agency, a booking agency which he co-founded.
He and a former girlfriend, Leila, once owned Jim and Layla's Bar, a honky tonk in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. After splitting up, Leila obtained ownership of the establishment which is now known as "Layla's Bluegrass Inn".
He is now married and has one son who was born in 2013.
