Robert Bowlin
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| Robert Bowlin | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 22, 1956 |
| Origin | Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA |
| Genre(s) | Bluegrass Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar Fiddle Mandolin |
| Years active | 197x-present |
| Label(s) | FGM Records |
| Associated acts | The Gordons (duo), Bill Monroe, Kathy Mattea, Osborne Brothers |
Robert Bowlin (born September 22, 1956 in Pocahontas, Arkansas) 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. In 1979, he won first first place in the festival's Finger Style Guitar Championship.
In addition, Bowlin has toured with artists such as Maura O' Connell, Kathy Mattea, Tom T. Hall, the Osborne Brothers, Bill Monroe, Ray Price, Bobby Bare, Faron Young, and Ricky Van Shelton. 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. He currently tours with singer-songwriter Wil Maring.
[edit] Biography
Bowlin started playing ukelele when he was one, and by the time he was five years old he had picked up the guitar.[1]
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 passed away.
Following Monroe's passing, Bowlin turned to recording sessions with Tom T. Hall, the Osborne Brothers, Boxcar Willie, and Hank Thompson, among others.
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.
