John Cowan
Encyclopedia
John Cowan is an American
soul music
and progressive bluegrass
vocalist and bass guitar
player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival
. Cowan was bassist in the band in 1972 from original bassist Ebo Walker, and was noted as being the only member of New Grass Revival not to come from a bluegrass background.
, Cowan released a soul record of covers, called "Soul'd Out", on the Sugar Hill Records label in 1990.
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
. 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".
Thanks in part to his collaboration with Simmons in Four Wheel Drive, Cowan also found himself the bass player for the Doobie Brothers
from 1993-1995. 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 through 1998, Cowan was the bassist and harmony 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.
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, titled, Billy: The Early Years.
In May 2010, due to an illness to The Doobie Brothers bassist Skylark, Cowan returned to the Doobies as their touring bassist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and progressive bluegrass
Progressive bluegrass
Progressive bluegrass is one of two major subgenres of bluegrass music. It is also known as newgrass, a term attributed to New Grass Revival member Ebo Walker. Musicians and bands John Hartford, New Grass Revival, J.D. Crowe and the New South, The Dillards, Boone Creek, Country Gazette, and the...
vocalist and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival
New Grass Revival
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....
. Cowan was bassist in the band in 1972 from original bassist Ebo Walker, and was noted as being the only member of New Grass Revival not to come from a bluegrass background.
Biography
After the breakup of the New Grass RevivalNew Grass Revival
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....
, Cowan released a soul record of covers, called "Soul'd Out", on the Sugar Hill Records label in 1990.
Cowan appeared as a duo with Sam Bush
Sam Bush
Sam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
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
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
, Bill Lloyd of Foster & Lloyd
Foster & Lloyd
Foster & Lloyd is an American country music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd . Founded in 1986, the duo recorded three albums for RCA Records, in addition to charting nine singles on the Billboard country charts. The highest-peaking of these was their debut single...
and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
in a band originally called Four Wheel Drive which was later changed to The Sky Kings
The Sky Kings
The Sky Kings was an American country music supergroup formed in 1991 as Four Wheel Drive. The band consisted of John Cowan, Bill Lloyd, Patrick Simmons and Rusty Young. They were signed to a recording deal with RCA Nashville and completed an album which for the label was never released.Warner...
. 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".
Thanks in part to his collaboration with Simmons in Four Wheel Drive, Cowan also found himself the bass player for the Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
from 1993-1995. 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 through 1998, Cowan was the bassist and harmony vocalist in Sam Bush
Sam Bush
Sam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
'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.
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, titled, Billy: The Early Years.
In May 2010, due to an illness to The Doobie Brothers bassist Skylark, Cowan returned to the Doobies as their touring bassist.
External links
- Official site
- John Cowan collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive