About Taft Buckley

Taft Buckley is an Americana singer-songwriter from Redondo Beach, California. His music blends neo-traditional country with the melodic feel and vocal harmony of late-1950s and early-1960s records.

Growing up by the ocean, he was drawn early to simple melodies and playing music with others. He first connected with harmony through The Beach Boys, then moved into the blues, influenced by B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. From there, classic country artists like Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Rich, and Ricky Nelson shaped the way he approaches songwriting and storytelling.

Taft spent time in Nashville developing his craft before returning to Southern California. He records primarily to analog tape and works closely with childhood friends and musicians he met in college, keeping his process centered on feel, chemistry, and live performance.

Music runs deep in his family. Taft’s great-grandfather, Matty Malneck, was an important figure in American popular music during the swing era. Malneck was a jazz violinist, composer, and arranger who worked at the center of the early recording industry, helping shape how popular songs were written, arranged, and recorded in the 1920s through the 1940s.

As a songwriter, Malneck co-wrote enduring standards including “Goody Goody” and “I’ll Never Be the Same,” songs that became widely recorded and remain part of the American standard repertoire. As an arranger and musical director, he worked closely with major artists such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, contributing to the sound that defined early popular vocal recordings. His work extended into film as well, including contributions to the soundtrack of Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe.

Malneck’s importance wasn’t just in individual songs, but in his role during a formative period of American music. He helped bridge jazz, popular songwriting, and recorded music at a time when the modern music industry was taking shape. The emphasis on strong melodies, clear structure, and songs built to last are hallmarks of the standards tradition—are values that continue to influence Taft’s own approach to songwriting today.