Robert Bowlin
Encyclopedia
Robert Bowlin is an award-winning American
bluegrass
and country
musician.
In 1978, Bowlin won second place in the National Guitar Flat Pick Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival
, in Winfield, Kansas
. The next year, in 1979, he won first place in the festival's Finger Style Guitar Championship.
In the 1980s, Bowlin was a sideman to artists like Maura O'Connell
and Kathy Mattea
, the latter whom he appeared with on the popular television program, "Austin City Limits
".
In 1993, Bowlin was chosen to fill the fiddle spot in Bill Monroe
's Bluegrass Boys. This job would last until 1996. The band played the Grand Ole Opry, and a few months later, Monroe died.
Following Monroe's passing, Bowlin turned to recording sessions with Tom T. Hall
, the Osborne Brothers
, Boxcar Willie
, and Hank Thompson
, among others. In addition, Bowlin has toured with artists such as Ray Price
, Bobby Bare
, Faron Young
, and Ricky Van Shelton
.
At one point, he was a member of the swing band The Time Jumpers
, a band that often plays The Station Inn and currently features Vince Gill
.
In 2007, FGM Records, the recording arm of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, released his debut CD, "Six String Soliloquy", which features sixteen instrumentals played on acoustic guitar with a flatpick.
From 2004 through present, Bowlin left the road with the major country and bluegrass stars and chose to perform with singer-songwriter Wil Maring.
In 2008, Bowlin won first place in the Guitar and Mandolin categories at the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
.
He is an accomplished instructor, teaching a semester in the bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University
, and he has held workshops at music camps and stores across the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
musician.
Biography
Bowlin started playing ukelele when he was one, and by the time he was five years old he had picked up the guitar.In 1978, Bowlin won second place in the National Guitar Flat Pick Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival
Walnut Valley Festival
The Walnut Valley Festival is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass, but other acoustic styles are represented...
, in Winfield, Kansas
Winfield, Kansas
Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,301...
. The next year, in 1979, he won first place in the festival's Finger Style Guitar Championship.
In the 1980s, Bowlin was a sideman to artists like Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell is an Irish singer and actress. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American country music.-Background:...
and Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...
, the latter whom he appeared with on the popular television program, "Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
".
In 1993, Bowlin was chosen to fill the fiddle spot in Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
's Bluegrass Boys. This job would last until 1996. The band played the Grand Ole Opry, and a few months later, Monroe died.
Following Monroe's passing, Bowlin turned to recording sessions with Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
, the Osborne Brothers
Osborne Brothers
The Osborne Brothers, Sonny Osborne and Bobby Osborne , were an influential and popular bluegrass act during the 1960s and 1970s...
, Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie, born as Lecil Travis Martin was an American country music singer, who sang in the "old-time hobo" music style, complete with dirty face, overalls, and a floppy hat...
, and Hank Thompson
Hank Thompson
Hank Thompson may refer to:*Hank Thompson *Hank Thompson , country music singer and songwriter...
, among others. In addition, Bowlin has toured with artists such as Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, Bobby Bare
Bobby Bare
Robert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
, Faron Young
Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...
, and Ricky Van Shelton
Ricky Van Shelton
Ricky Van Shelton is a currently retired American country music artist. Active between 1986 and 2006, he has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
.
At one point, he was a member of the swing band The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers are a Western swing ensemble formed in 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee.The Time Jumpers began as a garage practice session; the group started playing occasional gigs in the Nashville area until they were offered a regular slot playing at the Station Inn. In 2007, the group recorded a...
, a band that often plays The Station Inn and currently features Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
.
In 2007, FGM Records, the recording arm of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, released his debut CD, "Six String Soliloquy", which features sixteen instrumentals played on acoustic guitar with a flatpick.
From 2004 through present, Bowlin left the road with the major country and bluegrass stars and chose to perform with singer-songwriter Wil Maring.
In 2008, Bowlin won first place in the Guitar and Mandolin categories at the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
.
He is an accomplished instructor, teaching a semester in the bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
, and he has held workshops at music camps and stores across the United States.