- Bryan Bowers
Bryan Bowers (born
August 18 ,1940 Yorktown, Virginia ) is an Americanautoharp player who is frequently credited with introducing the instrument to new generations of musicians. [ [http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/index.php?em192=96720_-1__0_~0~445_-1_3_2008_0_0&issue=190007&search_string=Bowers&em193= Bluegrass Unlimited ] ]Career
Bowers became very popular with the audience of the comedy radio program "The
Dr. Demento Show" with his 1980 song "The Scotsman". In 1993, Bowers was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame whose membership includes MotherMaybelle Carter ,Kilby Snow , andSara Carter . [ [http://www.mlag.org/Hall_of_Fame/inductees.html Autoharp Hall of Fame Inductees ] ]In two consecutive years, 2006 and 2007, he released new recordings: "Bristlecone Pine" and "September in Alaska". "Although such guests as Tim O'Brien, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, and Enright and O'Bryant play and sing on a number of cuts, this is a Bryan Bowers disc all the way, with his exquisite autoharp flavoring many of the tunes," wrote a November 2006 "
Bluegrass Unlimited " reviewer of "Bristlecone Pine". "Bowers selects thematically diverse and lyrically strong material. There are powerful love songs ("When You And I Were True" and "Magnolia") and non-cloying meditations on life and death ("Bristlecone Pine," "Friends For Life," and "When I Go"), as well as haunting instrumentals. He nicely avoids the hackneyed stuff of so many folk/bluegrass/country performers." [ [http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/index.php?em192=93094_-1__0_~0~445_-1_3_2008_0_0&issue=190007&search_string=Bowers&em193= Bluegrass Unlimited ] ] He maintains an active performance and teaching schedule.Awards
*Contemporary Inductee, Autoharp Hall of Fame, 1993.
*Lifetime Achievement Award, California Autoharp Gathering, 2006. [ [http://www.calautoharp.com/about.html California Autoharp Gathering ] ]
*Induction into Frets Magazine's First Gallery of the Greats [ [http://www.bryanbowers.com/bio.html Bryan Bowers - Master Autoharpist, Storyteller, singer/songwriter/performing artist ] ]elect Discography
*"The View from Home", Flying Fish, 1977
*"Home, Home on the Road", Flying Fish, 1980
*"By Heart", Flying Fish, 1982
*"For You", Flying Fish, 1990
*"Friend for Life", Flying Fish, 2002
*"Bristlecone Pine", Seattle Sounds, 2006
*"September in Alaska", Seattle Sounds, 2007References
External links
* [http://www.bryanbowers.com www.bryanbowers.com]
* [http://www.somagency.com/BryanBowers/index.html Bryan Bowers management]
* [http://www.shorock.com/folk/bowers/ Home Page for Bryan Bowers]
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