{{short description|American songwriter (born 1979)}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Damon Fowler |image = DamonFowler.jpg |caption = Damon Fowler playing the Buckingham Blues Bar in Fort Myers, Florida |image_size = |birth_name = |alias = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|March 16, 1979}} |birth_place = Brandon, Florida, United States |death_date = |death_place = |instrument = Vocals, guitar |genre = Electric blues, blues rock, soul blues<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|author=Steve Leggett |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/damon-fowler-mn0001040811/biography |title=Damon Fowler | Biography |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref> |occupation = Singer, guitarist, and songwriter |years_active = 1990s–present |label = Blind Pig Records, Landslide Records |website = {{URL|damonfowler.com/}} }}
'''Damon Fowler''' (born March 16, 1979){{citation needed|date=July 2024}} is an American electric blues and blues rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Allmusic noted that "his sound is blues based, but there are hints of country, swamp rock, R&B, and swing in his playing and song writing."<ref name="Sugar Shack">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sugar-shack-mw0000808028 |title=Sugar Shack – Damon Fowler | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2009-01-27 |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref>
==Early life== Fowler was born in Brandon, Florida, United States.<ref name="AMG"/> His first association with the guitar began at the age of twelve, and by experience has expanded his skills and range to include playing acoustic, electric, lap steel, and dobro, incorporating slide techniques.
In his teenage years, Fowler played at small clubs in the Tampa Bay Area.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Damon">{{cite web|url=http://www.damonfowler.com/ |title=Damon Fowler |website=Damon Fowler Official Site|access-date=2014-03-26}}</ref> With a growing local reputation, he began to appear as a support act, both on other musicians tours and at music festivals.
==Early recordings== Fowler's self released debut album, ''Riverview Drive'' (1999),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricblues.com/archive/2000/riverviewdrive.html|title=Damon Fowler Group - Riverview Drive|publisher=Whiskey Bayou Records|website=Electric Blues|date=October 14, 2000}}</ref> was produced by Rick Derringer, who also played on the album. All nine tracks were written by Fowler.<ref name="Damon"/>
His next two albums, credited to the Damon Fowler Group,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/8747644-Damon-Fowler-Group|title=Damon Fowler Group|website=Discogs}}</ref> ''Roots and Branches'' (2000)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://damonfowler.bandcamp.com/album/roots-and-branches|title=Damon Fowler – Roots and Branches|website=Bandcamp|date=2000}}</ref> and the live album, ''Skipper's Smokehouse 8/15/03 & 9/7/03'' (2003),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://damonfowler.bandcamp.com/album/damon-fowler-group-live-at-skippers-smokehouse|title=Damon Fowler Group Live at Skipper's Smokehouse|website=Bandcamp|date=2003}}</ref> were also self-released, and were produced by fellow Florida native Greg Marchak.
==Blind Pig Records== In March 2007, Blind Pig Records announced the signing of Fowler to a three record deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://omahablues.com/forums/other-blues-related-news/575-blind-pig-signs-damon-fowler.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140310095254/http://omahablues.com/forums/other-blues-related-news/575-blind-pig-signs-damon-fowler.html |archive-date=2014-03-10 |title=Blind Pig Signs Damon Fowler|publisher=The Blues Society of Omaha |website=Omahablues.com |access-date=2014-03-26 }}</ref> His first release with Blind Pig was the largely blues based album, ''Sugar Shack'' (2009), produced by Scott Cable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/entertainment/music/2009/05/music_review_damon_fowler_puts.html|title=MUSIC REVIEW: Damon Fowler puts sweet touch on new CD 'Sugar Shack'|website=silive.com|publisher=Advance Local Media LLC.|date=May 17, 2009}}</ref> On ''Sugar Shack'', Fowler covers Merle Haggard ("Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down"), Billy Joe Shaver ("I'm Just an Old Chunk Of Coal") & The Amazing Rhythm Aces ("Third Rate Romance"), as well as rerecording his own "Sugar Lee" from ''Roots and Branches''.
''Billboard'' commented that "Fowler may be so skillful that he prefers pickin' tasty to larger-than-life guitar heroics. Fowler wrote nine of the 12 tunes on the album, and his original material is solid."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piedmonttalent.com/artists/artist.cfm?id=146 |title=Piedmont Talent : Damon Fowler |publisher=Piedmonttalent.com |access-date=2014-03-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918082951/http://www.piedmonttalent.com/artists/artist.cfm?id=146 |archive-date=2012-09-18 }}</ref> Fowler also performed at Memphis in May in 2009. Following the release of ''Devil Got His Way'' two years later, Allmusic remarked that "Fowler's creative lap steel work is what sets him apart from the rest."<ref name="Devil">{{cite web|author=Hal Horowitz |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/devil-got-his-way-mw0002086195 |title=Devil Got His Way – Damon Fowler | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2011-01-18 |access-date=2014-03-26}}</ref> ''Devil Got His Way'' featured a cover of Chuck Prophet's "After the Rain" and Leon Russell's "Tight Rope",
Following an impromptu jam session in July 2011 in Florida, Fowler teamed up with Victor Wainwright, J.P. Soars, Chuck Riley and Chris Peet to form what was to be known as Southern Hospitality. Their first gig was supporting Buddy Guy in August the same year at the Heritage Music Blues Fest in Wheeling, West Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riverfrontbluesfestde.com/southern-hospitality-2/|title=Southern Hospitality featuring the Damon Fowler Band & Victor Wainwright and the Wild Roots – Riverfront Blues Festival|publisher=Riverfrontbluesfestde.com|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085446/http://riverfrontbluesfestde.com/southern-hospitality-2/|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their debut album, ''Easy Livin{{`}}'', (2013) was produced by Tab Benoit, and released by Blind Pig Records. It peaked at No. 9 on the US ''Billboard'' Top Blues Album chart.<ref name="Daytona">{{cite web|url=http://daytonabluesfestival.com/new-victor-wainwright-album-debuts-on-billboard-top-ten/|title=New Victor Wainwright Album Debuts on Billboard Top Ten|website=Daytonabluesfestival.com|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
Tab Benoit produced ''Sounds of Home'', which was recorded in Houma, Louisiana, and released on January 21, 2014.<ref name="AMG"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Leggett|first=Steve |date=2014-01-21 |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-home-mw0002605165 |title=Sounds of Home – Damon Fowler | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=2014-03-26}}</ref> The album featured "Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me", which has gone on to become a staple of Fowler's live sets, as well as covers of Elvis Costello's "Alison", Johnny Winter's "TV Mama" and the African-American slave spiritual, hymn and protest song "I Shall Not Be Moved".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-home-mw0002605165|last=Leggett|first=Steve|title=Sounds of Home Review|website=Allmusic}}</ref> In February 2014, Fowler appeared at the Blast Furnace Blues Festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
==Fowler's Garage== With the demise of Blind Pig Records, Fowler self-released ''Damon Fowler Live 2015''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14480803-Damon-Fowler-Live-2015|title=Damon Fowler – Live 2015|website=Discogs|date=December 15, 2015}}</ref> Later that year, he joined Butch Trucks and the Freight Train Band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://butchtrucksandthefreighttrainband.com/hello-world/|title=Butch Trucks and The Freight Train Band – Damon Fowler joins the band!|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> Following Trucks' death, Fowler was invited to join Dickey Betts Band as the slide guitar player on the 2018 Tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180227/dickey-betts-adds-damon-fowler-to-his-band|last=Tatangelo|first=Wade|date=February 27, 2018|title=Dickey Betts adds Damon Fowler to his band|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref>
In July 2018, He released ''The Whiskey Bayou Session'' on Tab Benoit's Whiskey Bayou Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whiskeybayourecords.com/|title=Tab Benoit's Whiskey Bayou Records|website=Whiskey Bayou Records}}</ref> The ''Whiskey Bayou Session'' featured covers of Little Walter's "Up the Line", Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight" and the traditional gospel and jazz standard "Just a Closer Walk with Thee".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/12772913-Damon-Fowler-The-Whiskey-Bayou-Session|title=Damon Fowler – The Whiskey Bayou Session|website=Discogs|publisher=Whiskey Bayou Records|date=September 7, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fowler began performing "Fowler's Garage" livestream concerts on his Facebook page and the "Gig Stories" series on his YouTube channel, where he talks with other blues musicians about life on the road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/events/2020/07/30/damon-fowler-on-life-as-musician-during-pandemic-upcoming-album/112591542/|last=Geurts|first=Jimmy|date=July 30, 2020|title=Damon Fowler on life as a musician during pandemic, upcoming album|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}}</ref>
==Landslide Records== On March 26, 2021, Fowler released ''Alafia Moon'', his first album for Landslide Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/17660401-Damon-Fowler-Alafia-Moon|title=Damon Fowler – Alafia Moon|website=Discogs|publisher=Landslide Records|date=March 26, 2021}}</ref> The album cover was created by Flournoy Holmes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2021/03/damon-fowler-is-a-very-lucky-man/#google_vignette|last=Nash|first=JD|date=March 23, 2021|title=Damon Fowler Is a Very Lucky Man|website=American Blues Scene}}</ref> whose album covers include The Allman Brothers Band's ''Eat a Peach'', as well as albums by Christopher Cross, Charlie Daniels, Ted Nugent, Kansas and many others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flournoyholmes.com/flournoy-holmes-album-cover-artist|title=Flournoy Holmes Album Covers|website=Flournoy Holmes Official Website}}</ref> It debuted at #1 on the ''Billboard Blues Chart'' and was nominated for a Blues Music Award.<ref name="randb">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2024/06/06/review-damon-fowler-barnyard-smile/|last=Horowitz|first=Hal|title=Review: Damon Fowler 'Barnyard Smile'|website=Rock & Blues Muse|date=6 June 2024 |publisher=Rock and Blues Muse, LLC.}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Big Top Brewing Company, based out of Sarasota, Florida, released "Fowler's IPA" in Fowler's honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/06/15/musician-damon-fowler-sarasotas-big-top-brewing-team-up-beer/7688630002/|last=Geurts|first=Jimmy|date=June 15, 2021|title=Sarasota's Big Top Brewing Company & Musician Damon Fowler Teaming Up on New Beer|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}}</ref> The hazy blood orange hibiscus IPA was released on June 27, to coincide with Fowler playing the brewery as part of its Blues & Brews Sunday concert residency.
His second release for Landslide, credited to Damon Fowler & Friends, was a live album recorded at the Palladium at St. Petersburg. Released on January 20, 2023, the friends on this recording include guests Jason Ricci on harmonica, Dan Signor on keyboards and Eddie Wright on guitar, along with his regular road band, drummer Justin Headley and bassist Chuck Riley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2023/01/13/review-damon-fowler-live-at-the-palladium/|last=O’Cull|first=Mike|title=Review: Damon Fowler 'Live At The Palladium'|website=Rock & Blues Muse|date=13 January 2023 }}</ref>
His third album with Landslide records, ''Barnyard Smile'' came out on June 7, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jazz-jazz.com/2024/06/07/damon-fowler-barnyard-smile-2024.html|title=Damon Fowler - Barnyard Smile (2024)|website=Jazz-Jazz.com|date=June 7, 2024}}</ref> It includes a cover of Bo Diddley's "Road Runner" and Porter Wagoner's "Misery Loves Company". A second album with Southern Hospitality, entitled ''Yard Sale'', came out on December 13, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmnf.org/sotd-8-28-24-yard-sale-by-southern-hospitality-damon-fowler-j-p-soars-victor-wainwright/|last=Bonilla-Warford|first=Nate|date=August 28, 2024|title=SOTD 8/28/24: YARD SALE by Southern Hospitality (Damon Fowler, J.P. Soars, Victor Wainwright)|website=WMNF in Tampa Official website|publisher=Post-Modern Hootenany}}</ref> Fowler wrote or cowrote seven of the eleven tracks on ''Yard Sale'', and sings lead vocals on three.
Other artists Fowler has worked with over the years includes: Gregg Allman, Jeff Beck, Junior Brown, Chris Duarte, Little Feat, Delbert McClinton, George Thorogood, Robin Trower, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter and the Radiators.<ref name="nohurry">{{Cite web|url=https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2021/05/21/damon-fowler-interview/|last=Garber|first=Craig|date=May 21, 2021|title=Damon Fowler Interview: "These days I'm not in a hurry anymore…"|website=EveryoneLovesGuitar}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year<ref name="Albums">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/damon-fowler-mn0001040811/discography |title=Damon Fowler | Discography |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref> || Title || Record label(s) || US Top Blues Albums Chart |- | 1999 || style="text-align:center;"|''Riverview Drive'' || style="text-align:center;"|Self released || style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2000 || style="text-align:center;"|''Roots and Branches'' (The Damon Fowler Group)|| style="text-align:center;"|Self released || style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2003 || style="text-align:center;"|''Live at Skipper's Smokehouse'' (The Damon Fowler Group)|| style="text-align:center;"|Self released || style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2009 || style="text-align:center;"|''Sugar Shack'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blind Pig || style="text-align:center;"|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sugar-shack-mw0000808028/awards |title=Sugar Shack – Damon Fowler | Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2009-01-27 |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref> |- | 2011 || style="text-align:center;"|''Devil Got His Way'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blind Pig || style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2011 || style="text-align:center;"|''Easy Livin''' (with Southern Hospitality) || style="text-align:center;"|Blind Pig || style="text-align:center;"|9<ref name="nohurry"/> |- | 2014 || style="text-align:center;"|''Sounds of Home'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blind Pig || style="text-align:center;"|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-home-mw0002605165/awards |title=Sounds of Home – Damon Fowler | Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2014-01-21 |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref> |- |2015 || style="text-align:center;"|''Damon Fowler Live 2015''|| style="text-align:center;"|Self Released||| |- |2018 || style="text-align:center;"|''The Whiskey Bayou Session''|| style="text-align:center;"|Whiskey Bayou Records|| |- |2021 || style="text-align:center;"|''Alafia Moon''|| style="text-align:center;"|Landslide Records || style="text-align:center;"|1<ref name="randb"/> |- |2023 || style="text-align:center;"| ''Live At The Palladium'' (Damon Fowler & Friends)|| style="text-align:center;"|Landslide Records|| |- |2024 || style="text-align:center;"| ''Barnyard Smile''|| style="text-align:center;"|Landslide Records|| style="text-align:center;"|4 |- |2024 || style="text-align:center;"| ''Yard Sale'' (with Southern Hospitality)|| style="text-align:center;"|Soho Records|| style="text-align:center;"| |}
==See also== *List of blues rock musicians *List of soul-blues musicians *List of electric blues musicians
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{facebook|DamonFowlerBand|Damon Fowler on Facebook}} *{{facebook|SouthernHospitalityMusic|Southern Hospitality on Facebook}} *{{YouTube|MFi1MZ8nO-o|Damon Fowler - "Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me"}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, Damon}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American blues singers Category:Electric blues musicians Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Steel guitarists Category:American blues rock musicians Category:Songwriters from Florida Category:Blues musicians from Florida Category:People from Brandon, Florida Category:Guitarists from Florida Category:Musicians from Tampa, Florida Category:Blind Pig Records artists Category:American male songwriters