Randle Lynn Chowning (born April 4, 1950, in Mountain View, Missouri) is an American musician best known as the founder, one of the lead vocalists, and the lead guitarist of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
Randle Lynn Chowning (born April 4, 1950, in Mountain View, Missouri) is an American musician best known as the founder, one of the lead vocalists, and the lead guitarist of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
From a very early age Chowning was surrounded by electric guitars and amplifiers in his father’s TV and radio shop. In 1960 Randle and his family moved to Springfield, Missouri where the Ozark Jubilee country music show was in its heyday. Randle’s musical interest broadened. Taking up guitar around this time he began learning songs in a variety of styles. He played a number of club bands during high school and college. [1]
In 1971 Chowning put together several local songwriters with the intent of performing their material as a group. They later would be known as The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Chowning sang the band’s first chart success “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” which was released on the band's first album, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, in 1973. The Daredevils continue to perform with two of the original members, Michael "Supe" Granda and John Dillon; however Chowning no longer performs in concert with the band.
In the mid 90s, Chowning moved to Nashville, Tennessee and ultimately teamed up with Ozark Mountain Daredevils co-founder Larry Lee in 2005 to release Beyond Reach, a collection of pop originals backed by some of Nashville’s most versatile studio musicians. [2]
After nearly ten years in Nashville, Chowning returned to Springfield, Missouri where he is writing songs that are influenced by rock, country, bluegrass, folk, and blues. He’s still performing with bands, including an acoustic version of Beyond Reach, and also as a solo artist.
Randle just finished a much anticipated CD - R.C. and the Keys/All Over the Place, May 2013. The style of the music is "all over the place" and includes a new version of one of his fan's favorite song "Whippoorwill". This CD was recorded in Nashville, TN and in Springfield, MO.
In March 2015, Randle Chowning and Larry Lee were inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame, receiving the coveted Quill Award. This was the first time that the award was given to songwriters.
Randle completed a successful Kickstarter Campaign in Dec. 2014. His new Ozark Joe CD is nearing completion at this time. This body of work is a return to his acoustic/folk roots.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.
Ozark Jubilee is a 1950s United States network television program that featured country music's top stars of the day. It was produced in Springfield, Missouri. The weekly live stage show premiered on ABC-TV on January 22, 1955, was renamed Country Music Jubilee on July 6, 1957, and was finally named Jubilee USA on August 2, 1958. Originating "from the heart of the Ozarks", the Saturday night variety series helped popularize country music in America's cities and suburbs, drawing more than nine million viewers. The ABC Radio version was heard by millions more starting in August 1954.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are an American rock band formed in 1972 in Springfield, Missouri. They are most widely known for their singles "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" in 1974 and "Jackie Blue" in 1975.
James Messina is an American musician, songwriter, singer, guitarist, recording engineer and record producer. He was a member of the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield, a founding member of the pioneering country rock band Poco, and half of the soft rock duo Loggins and Messina with Kenny Loggins.
Thomas Ross Whitlock is an American songwriter and musician, best known for his Academy Award-and Golden Globe-winning song "Take My Breath Away", from the film Top Gun, which he co-wrote with Giorgio Moroder.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils is the debut album by the American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Sporting a patchwork quilt cover that gave some indication of its eclectic musical content, it contained the #25 hit single "If You Wanna Get to Heaven," plus many other laid-back originals from the southern Missouri natives.
It'll Shine When It Shines is the second album by the American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, released in 1974.
"Jackie Blue" is a track recorded by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils for their second album It'll Shine When It Shines released in 1974. Released as a single in February 1975 – subsequent to the album's unsuccessful lead single "Look Away" – "Jackie Blue" became the band's second Top 40 hit – their 1974 debut single "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" having reached #25.
Men from Earth is the fourth album by American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Founding band member Randle Chowning left to go solo after The Car Over The Lake Album and was replaced by Rune Walle in time for "Men From Earth". The album includes a pair of standout Larry Lee tunes, the romantic "You Know Like I Know" and the hard-country "Homemade Wine". As their previous album had contained an EP called The Little Red Record, this release featured the even rarer The Little Red Record 2 that contained two additional songs: "Roscoe's Rule" and "A Dollar's Worth Of Regular". These two tracks were included in the 2002 CD release of the album, along with "Better Days", which had only been released as the B side of their "Jackie Blue" single in late 1974.
The Car Over the Lake Album is the third album by American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, it was named after its cheerfully surreal cover illustration, which was borrowed from a poster advertising one of the band's college gigs. This package originally included a 33⅓ rpm red flexi disc record nicknamed The Little Red Record that was only available in the very first pressings of the album. These tracks were included on later CD releases of the album.
Rhythm And Joy 1980 Reunion Concert. Recorded on the last day of 1980 at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. This was the first time in five years the Ozark Mountain Daredevils all played together. These recently discovered tapes and video feature the original lineup.
Don't Look Down is the fifth album by American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. The band lost another founding member, Buddy Brayfield, gained a new producer David Kershenbaum, and added three new players, including singer/guitarist and longtime pal Steve Canaday, who as owner of the New Bijou had been instrumental in the group's formation. Despite containing "Following The Way That I Feel", one of the strongest pop tunes in their catalogue, Don't Look Down didn't meet sales expectations, and presaged the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' move from A&M Records to Columbia Records.
Ozark Mountain Daredevils is the seventh album issued by American country rock band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. It is their first and only album for the Columbia Records label after having issued six previous albums on A&M Records.
It's Alive is the sixth album by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and is a 2-record set recorded live in concert through Missouri and Kansas with the Enactron truck in April 1978. It contains their hits and well known album cuts. It is their final A&M Records release before moving to Columbia Records.
Archive Alive is a live album released by American country rock band the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
Clyde Carol Wilson, better known as Slim Wilson, was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and radio and TV personality who was a cornerstone of country music in the Ozarks for more than 50 years beginning in the 1930s; both in his own right, and as a member of The Goodwill Family and The Tall Timber Trio. Wilson was a mainstay of ABC-TV’s Ozark Jubilee; and hosted ABC's Talent Varieties in 1955 and his own local television show in Springfield, Missouri, from 1964–1975.
Live at the Gillioz is a limited edition two DVD set concert film release by country rock band the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. The concert was taped on May 10, 11 & 12 2007, at the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Missouri. It features over two hours of music by the Daredevils including never before released songs. The DVD was sold only through their official website.
Flying Norwegians were a Norwegian country rock group formed in 1974, who became highly successful and popular during the 1970s.
Dana Cooper is an American singer-songwriter from Missouri. His awards include the 2014 Heritage Musician award from the Pilgrim Center for the Arts in Kansas City, MO and Folk Alliance International's 2015 Spirit of Folk award. He has performed on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Cooper’s songs have been recorded by a long list of artists that include Trout Fishing in America, Rex Foster, Claire Lynch, Maura O’Connell, Pierce Pettis, and Susan Werner. Fellow singer-songwriter Buzz Holland has said “Cooper is a person who can sing like an angel and play like the devil.”
Harold Morrison was an American country music singer-songwriter and session musician. He played banjo, dobro, and guitar on albums with musicians such as Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, The Wilburn Brothers, and Tammy Wynette. Throughout his musical career, Morrison was a cast member and recurring guest on multiple country music television shows, such as the Ozark Jubilee, the "Wilburn Brothers Show", and The Porter Wagoner Show.
