John Cowan

Last updated
John Cowan
John Cowan at Piedmont Land Conservancy Benefit, Greensboro, NC 2012 October 19, 2012.jpg
Cowan in 2012
Background information
Born (1953-08-24) August 24, 1953 (age 71)
Minerva, Ohio, U.S.
Genres Bluegrass
OccupationMusician
Instrument Bass guitar
Years active1974–present
Labels Sugar Hill, RCA
Website johncowan.com

John Cowan (born August 24, 1953) is an American progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival. [1] Cowan became the band's bassist in 1972 after the departure of original bassist Ebo Walker [2] and was noted as being the only member of New Grass Revival not to come from a bluegrass background. [3] [4] He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of New Grass Revival.

Contents

Biography

After the disbandment of the New Grass Revival, Cowan released a soul record of covers, called Soul'd Out, for the Sugar Hill Records label in 1990. [1]

Cowan appeared as a duo with Sam Bush on the PBS series, Lonesome Pine Special in 1992, and also appeared with other artists on the program.

From 1988 to 1996, Cowan teamed with Rusty Young of Poco, Bill Lloyd of Foster & Lloyd and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers—in a band originally called Four Wheel Drive, which was later changed to The Sky Kings. [1] Several singles were released but failed to chart well. Two albums were recorded but not released by RCA until 1997 after the group's demise as the Sky Kings, "Out of the Blue".

Partly thanks to his collaboration with Simmons in Four Wheel Drive, Cowan also found himself the bass player for The Doobie Brothers from 1993 to 1995. His song "Can't Stand To Lose", co-written with Rusty Young, was featured on the Doobies' 2000 album Sibling Rivalry .

In addition, throughout the 1990s, Cowan picked up session work singing harmony vocals and/or playing bass on recordings of Travis Tritt, Steve Earle, Garth Brooks and Wynonna.

From 1996 to 1998, Cowan was the bassist and backing vocalist in Sam Bush's touring band.

The new century brought a blues record from Cowan. By 2002, his projects on Sugar Hill turned more to his "newgrass" stylings.

Cowan performed on two bluegrass tribute albums for the British rock band the Moody Blues: Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to The Moody Blues (2004), and Moody Bluegrass TWO... Much Love (2011). [5] [6]

In 2006, Cowan left Sugar Hill and went to the independent label Pinecastle Records. In 2008, Cowan was chosen to participate in a movie on the life of Billy Graham, entitled 'Billy: The Early Years.' [7] [ citation needed ]

In May 2010, Cowan rejoined The Doobie Brothers as their touring bass player (after their regular bassist, Skylark, suffered a stroke).

In 2017, he released an album with fellow Doobie Brother Ed Toth and Chicago guitarist Keith Howland titled Button.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

As a member of New Grass Revival

As a member of The Sky Kings

Also appears on

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Bush</span> American mandolinist

Charles Samuel Bush is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time in 2023 as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Grass Revival</span> American progressive bluegrass band

New Grass Revival was an American progressive bluegrass band founded in 1971, and composed of Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, John Cowan, Béla Fleck and Pat Flynn. They were active between 1971 and 1989, releasing more than twenty albums as well as six singles. Their highest-charting single is "Callin' Baton Rouge", which peaked at No. 37 on the U.S. country charts in 1989 and was a Top 5 country hit for Garth Brooks five years later.

<i>Too Late to Turn Back Now</i> (album) 1977 live album by New Grass Revival

Too Late to Turn Back Now is the title of a 1977 album by the progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival on the Flying Fish label. It was their first live album, and was recorded at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McFee</span> American musician

John McFee is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long-time member of The Doobie Brothers.

Mountain Heart is an American band, which combines elements of rock, jam band, country, blues, jazz, folk and bluegrass music. Mountain Heart or its members have won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry

Missy Raines is an American bassist, singer, teacher, and songwriter. She has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Bass Player of the Year. Missy Raines was the first woman to win IBMA Bass Player of the Year award. She won 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothin' Fancy</span> Bluegrass band from Virginia, US

Nothin' Fancy is a bluegrass band based in Buena Vista, Virginia and was formed in September 1994. Its "parent band" East Coast Bluegrass Band was formed Summer 1985 to compete in the East Coast Bluegrass Championship in Crimora, Virginia.

<i>Commonwealth</i> (New Grass Revival album) 1981 studio album by New Grass Revival

Commonwealth is the fifth studio album by progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival, released in 1981 on the Flying Fish label. This album was the last one for two band members, Courtney Johnson and Curtis Burch, who cited fatigue with the band's touring schedule.

Timothy Goodman is an American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and producer who has recorded for RCA, Columbia Records and Warner Brothers and performed on numerous sessions for other recording artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Baldassari</span> Musical artist

Jerome Henry "Butch" Baldassari was an American mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and music teacher.

Larry Lee Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays mandolin, and writes songs in the bluegrass tradition.

David Grier is an American guitarist. In addition to his solo albums and recordings with Psychograss, Richard Greene and The Grass Is Greener, and with Todd Phillips and Matt Flinner, he has been featured as a performer on many albums by other artists.

Louis Reid Pyrtle is an American bluegrass singer and musician, bandleader of The Seldom Scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Baucom</span> American singer-songwriter (1952–2023)

Terry Baucom was an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader. He was nicknamed "The Duke of Drive" for his propelling banjo style. He led his band, The Dukes of Drive, and was a founding member of Boone Creek, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and IIIrd Tyme Out.

Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview.

Ron Stewart is an American multi-instrumentalist in the bluegrass tradition. He plays fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and has won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 2000 and Banjo Player of the Year in 2011.

Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo.

Randy Alan Kohrs is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his resonator guitar prowess, but he plays 13 instruments. He is also a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Simpkins</span> American singer-songwriter

Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene.

Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Loftus, Johnny. "John Cowan biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  2. ↑ Wolff, Kurt; Duane, Orla (2000). Country music: the rough guide. Rough Guides. p. 242. ISBN   9781858285344.
  3. ↑ Stambler, Irwin; Laudon, Grelun; Stambler, Lyndon (2000-07-14). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. Macmillan. pp. 339–341. ISBN   9780312264871.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin encyclopedia of country music. Virgin. p. 304. ISBN   9780753502365.
  5. ↑ "Moody Bluegrass: Rocking Through the Hills". NPR.org. 2004-12-30. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  6. ↑ "Moody Bluegrass Two…Much Love". bluegrasstoday.com. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  7. ↑ Teen lands role as Billy Graham's sister in new film | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.