Ralston Bowles

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Ralston Bowles is an American songwriter, producer, musician and singer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born in the midwest. His parents Buel Bowles of Green Sulpher Springs, West Virginia.(1913-2002) and May Jean Morgan of Vincennes, Indiana(1919-1998) met in Gary, Indiana. Married and had two children. Ralston and Mary-Jane Wallace Bowles.

Bowles authored the songs "Fragile", recorded by Peter Mulvey and Caroline Aiken, and "Grace", based on the book by author Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace?, which he wrote upon reading the galley of the book before it's publication. After it was published, singer Bono of U2 wrote and released a simlilar song of the same title based on the same book on the album All That You Can't Leave Behind.

Bowles has been a fixture on the western Michigan music scene since 1970, helping the Grand Rapids music scene to flourish while encouraging national artists to make Grand Rapids a tour stop on their schedules. Host of the Frederik Meijer Gardens Tuesday Evening Music Club and a supporter of numerous charities through benefit concerts, he has performed with the Hothouse Flowers, T-Bone Burnett, Shawn Colvin and the Del McCoury Band.

In 2004 Bowles released a debut album, Carwreck Conversations. It was produced by Marvin Etzioni (former member of Lone Justice and producer of Counting Crows, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Peter Case and Grey DeLisle), engineered by David Vaught. The musicians include David Raven (drums), Brian Head (percussion), Danny McGough (keyboards) and Eric Heywood (pedal steel). It was recognized with three Jammie Awards: "album of the year", "best folk album" and "artist of the year."

[edit] Discography

Carwreck Conversations (2004)

[edit] Compilations

Winter in West Michigan: A Benefit for Heartside Community Song Title - Light A Candle, 2002
One on One Song Title - Remember, 2002
Standing Together: A Benefit for Public Schools Song Title - Remember, 2003
Paste Magazine Music Sampler No. 9 Song Title - Everybody But You, 2004
Words Song Title - Paper Moon, 2004
Grand Rapids Compilation Song Title - Velve Elvis, 2005