John Coffelt, Editor

Two hometown Manchester favorites, Becky Buller Band and Jiffy Burger, are currently commemorating the release of the 10 time IBMA-award winner and Minnesota Music Hall of Famer’s upcoming new album with a new jalapeno-pimento cheeseburger for a limited time.

“Tracy Pennington St. John and I have been talking about creating my signature burger for at least nine years now, ever since I did a social media series on pimento cheese,” Buller said. 

“Mmmm!” Buller said.  “The burger, like my first all-covers record is ‘covering’ an old favorite (a Jiffy burger) …in melted jalapeño pimento cheese and bacon.”

The Becky Buller Burger features a Jiffy Burger hamburger patty with mayo, lettuce tomato jalapeno-pimento cheese and bacon on a number one bun.

Buller explained, “We didn’t have pimento cheese in Minnesota when I was growing up.  I found out quickly that folks are passionate about their pimento cheese, both home-brewed and store bought.  Anyway, the timing just seemed right to launch the Becky Buller Burger.”

The burger is tentatively available Aug. 19 through the end of the year (though Jiffy Burger is open to making it a permanent part of the menu if it catches on).

While the Becky Buller Burger is available at Jiffy Burger now, the new album “Songs that Sing Me” will not be available in its entirety until Sept. 5.

Buller said the album is her first album composed entirely of covers.  This collection of songs features works that have inspired her since her youth in Minnesota. 

“I’ve always included one cover at least on my albums, but they’ve primarily been original material because I write so much,” Buller said, who has written songs for Grammy award-winning records. 

As an appetizer, the current single “The Hazy Shade of Winter” is available on all streaming services. Buller said she has been a Simon and Garfunkel fan ever since a high school friend, Caty Wojtalewicz, introduced her to the band.

Buller said the group helped her through the awkward teenage years as a bluegrass artist in St. James, Minnesota, a community that had no clue what bluegrass was. 

“I was just weighted down by just how uncool I was,” she said. “Their music helped me through that tough time.” 

Buller adds a bluegrass twang to “Hazy Shade of Winter” along with other covers.

“It’s bluegrass instrumentation because that’s my wheelhouse, but there’s a little bit of everything in flavor and feel. We did a cover of Seldom Scene’s ‘Muddy Waters’ and that’s very bluesy – breezy. We’ve got Jay Starling on there singing with me.”

A Dry Branch Fire Squad version of “Auction at the Home Place” brings a “trad-grass” feel to the album with its heavy 3/4 time.

Buller said she was limited to only two James Taylor songs. “Millworker” is already out to stream.

“Wall Around Your Heart” featuring nationally recognized Jim Lauderdale is also available. 

Other guests on the album include Ricky Skaggs, Becky Isaacs Bowman from the Bowmans, Sharon White and Abby Washburn. And returning guest Romy Haley, one of the most important artists on the album, Buller said.   

Songs that Sing Me is available for pre-save in digital format and for autographed preorders at BeckyBuller.com.      

The release celebration will be Sept. 5 at The Station Inn in Nashville, Sept. 6 in Georgia at the Red Clay Foundry, but the album will be performed live at the Noah Community Center fundraiser on Sept. 7 for a matinee show.

Seating is limited. Advance tickets are available at Beckybuller.com.           

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.