Born and raised in Wimberly, Texas, Buck was introduced to the guitar during his youth. His teen years were spent playing blues, manouche jazz, and western swing in bars and dance halls across the state. After moving to Brooklyn, he self-released two EPs as a solo artist, "Live from a Volcano" (2013) and 'Heart Was Beat' (2015). In the meantime, he connected with Adrianne Lenker, who he performed with as a duo before forming the band Big Thief.

In May 2018, Buck released his debut, eponymous album through Keeled Scales. Later that year, he relocated to Los Angeles where he wrote most of the material for his next record. His second solo LP, 'Two Saviors,' was released in January of 2020. In 2023, he signed with 4AD and released his third full-length album, 'Haunted Mountain' in August.