Jewish singers and songwriters have made great contributions to country and western music.
They include the likes of Daniel Antopolsky, Barbi Benton, Richard “Kinky” Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, Ray Benson and the western swing group Asleep at the Wheel, even Bob Dylan. To that lineup we should add Joe Buchanan. Texas-born and river-raised, Buchanan combines traditional country sounds with Jewish liturgy and themes. The Jerusalem Post called Buchanan “an affable, burly, bearded, cowboy-hat wearing, picking and grinning Texas Jew by Choice.” Buchanan’s “Judaism with a Twang” is country music that is steeped in Torah.
“I grew up on classic country music and it was pretty much all we had on the jukebox out at the ranch,” Buchanan tells us. “When I was in the process of converting to Judaism, I started writing songs as a way to connect even more to what I was learning. Country music is where I naturally go when I write. I didn’t even know Jewish music existed at that time.”
Buchanan’s life and music changed when, 13 years into his marriage, he discovered that his wife was a Jew. This led to his own discovery of Judaism as a religion, a way of life, and a musical muse.
“Judaism answered every spiritual question and brought an incredible amount of healing.”
Unlike some other faiths, Judaism does not proselytize and often discourages conversions.
Fortunately for Joe Buchanan, “I didn't have any discouragement and thank goodness. I am not a fan at all the ‘turn them away 3 times’ mentality. I get why it was done and this is certainly a hard time to be Jewish but I'm thankful that we're much more of an open door now,” he says. “My Rabbi changed my life in 5 minutes, and I jumped into conversion as fast as I could. It's what I was looking for all my life and I haven't looked back once.”
Since joining the Tribe, Buchanan released three albums: Unbroken (2016), Back from Babylon (2020) and Heaven & Earth (2025); all country and all Jewish. To the artist, Judaism “is the absolute beating heart of everything I write. Our values, our liturgy, all of it is a constant source of inspiration and a well without end. It also helped me get back into my life and I write a lot about that.”
“I used to be so rough on myself and felt like I wasn't good enough to be here. Judaism and a lot of love changed that. Now I'm just trying to share those healing messages with as many people as I can.”
Buchanan has carried his musical message across America and even into Israel. On the weekend of May 15 and 16, Buchanan will bring his sound to South Florida. Sponsored by Congregation Etz Chaim, “Joe Buchanan Live” will play at the Gray Box Theater in Wilton Manors on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. The night before, also at 7:30, Buchanan will bring his “Friday night lights” to the Synagogue’s weekly Shabbat Service and Oneg.
In between, Buchanan will treat the Temple to “Choosing to be Chosen,” his popular Shabbat Morning “Brunch and Learn” workshop, at 10:30 a.m. The Saturday night concert will be preceded by a VIP Meet and Greet and Havdalah.
For more about Buchanan, visit www.joebuchananmusic.com. For information and tickets to Buchanan’s Wilton Manors concert and other events, visit www.etzchaimflorida.org.
