# Damon Fowler > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Damon_Fowler > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Damon_Fowler.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Fowler > Source revision: 1346495001 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Fort_Myers), [Florida](/source/Florida) |image_size = |birth_name = |alias = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|March 16, 1979}} |birth_place = [Brandon, Florida](/source/Brandon%2C_Florida), United States |death_date = |death_place = |instrument = Vocals, guitar |genre = [Electric blues](/source/Electric_blues), [blues rock](/source/blues_rock), [soul blues](/source/soul_blues){{cite web|author=Steve Leggett |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/damon-fowler-mn0001040811/biography |title=Damon Fowler | Biography |publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |accessdate=2014-03-26}} |occupation = Singer, guitarist, and songwriter |years_active = 1990s–present |label = [Blind Pig Records](/source/Blind_Pig_Records), [Landslide Records](/source/Landslide_Records) |website = {{URL|damonfowler.com/}} }} '''Damon Fowler''' (born March 16, 1979){{citation needed|date=July 2024}} is an American [electric blues](/source/electric_blues) and [blues rock](/source/blues_rock) singer, [guitarist](/source/guitarist), and songwriter. [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic) noted that "his sound is blues based, but there are hints of [country](/source/country_music), swamp rock, [R&B](/source/R%26B), and [swing](/source/swing_music) in his playing and song writing."{{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}} ==Early life== Fowler was born in [Brandon, Florida](/source/Brandon%2C_Florida), United States. His first association with the [guitar](/source/guitar) began at the age of twelve, and by experience has expanded his skills and range to include playing [acoustic](/source/acoustic_guitar), electric, [lap steel](/source/Lap_steel_guitar), and [dobro](/source/dobro), incorporating [slide](/source/Slide_(guitar_technique)) techniques. In his teenage years, Fowler played at small [clubs](/source/nightclub) in the [Tampa Bay Area](/source/Tampa_Bay_Area).{{cite web|url=http://www.damonfowler.com/ |title=Damon Fowler |website=Damon Fowler Official Site|access-date=2014-03-26}} 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),{{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}} was produced by [Rick Derringer](/source/Rick_Derringer), who also played on the album. All nine tracks were written by Fowler. His next two albums, credited to the Damon Fowler Group,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/8747644-Damon-Fowler-Group|title=Damon Fowler Group|website=[Discogs](/source/Discogs)}} ''Roots and Branches'' (2000){{Cite web|url=https://damonfowler.bandcamp.com/album/roots-and-branches|title=Damon Fowler – Roots and Branches|website=Bandcamp|date=2000}} and the live album, ''Skipper's Smokehouse 8/15/03 & 9/7/03'' (2003),{{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}} were also self-released, and were produced by fellow Florida native Greg Marchak. ==Blind Pig Records== In March 2007, [Blind Pig Records](/source/Blind_Pig_Records) announced the signing of Fowler to a three record deal.{{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 }} His first release with Blind Pig was the largely blues based album, ''Sugar Shack'' (2009), produced by Scott Cable.{{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}} On ''Sugar Shack'', Fowler covers [Merle Haggard](/source/Merle_Haggard) ("Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down"), [Billy Joe Shaver](/source/Billy_Joe_Shaver) ("I'm Just an Old Chunk Of Coal") & [The Amazing Rhythm Aces](/source/The_Amazing_Rhythm_Aces) ("[Third Rate Romance](/source/Third_Rate_Romance)"), as well as rerecording his own "Sugar Lee" from ''Roots and Branches''. ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' 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."{{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 }} Fowler also performed at [Memphis in May](/source/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."{{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}} ''Devil Got His Way'' featured a cover of [Chuck Prophet](/source/Chuck_Prophet)'s "After the Rain" and [Leon Russell](/source/Leon_Russell)'s "[Tight Rope](/source/Tight_Rope_(song))", Following an impromptu [jam session](/source/jam_session) in July 2011 in Florida, Fowler teamed up with [Victor Wainwright](/source/Victor_Wainwright), [J.P. Soars](/source/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](/source/Buddy_Guy) in August the same year at the Heritage Music Blues Fest in [Wheeling, West Virginia](/source/Wheeling%2C_West_Virginia).{{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}} Their debut album, ''Easy Livin{{`}}'', (2013) was produced by [Tab Benoit](/source/Tab_Benoit), and released by Blind Pig Records. It peaked at No. 9 on the US ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' [Top Blues Album](/source/Billboard_charts) chart.{{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}} Tab Benoit produced ''Sounds of Home'', which was recorded in [Houma, Louisiana](/source/Houma%2C_Louisiana), and released on January 21, 2014.{{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}} 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](/source/Elvis_Costello)'s "[Alison](/source/Alison_(song))", [Johnny Winter](/source/Johnny_Winter)'s "TV Mama" and the [African-American](/source/African-American) [slave](/source/Slavery_in_the_United_States) [spiritual](/source/Spirituals), [hymn](/source/hymn) and [protest song](/source/protest_song) "[I Shall Not Be Moved](/source/I_Shall_Not_Be_Moved)".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-home-mw0002605165|last=Leggett|first=Steve|title=Sounds of Home Review|website=Allmusic}} In February 2014, Fowler appeared at the [Blast Furnace Blues Festival](/source/Blast_Furnace_Blues_Festival) in [Bethlehem, Pennsylvania](/source/Bethlehem%2C_Pennsylvania). ==Fowler's Garage== With the demise of Blind Pig Records, Fowler self-released ''Damon Fowler Live 2015''.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14480803-Damon-Fowler-Live-2015|title=Damon Fowler – Live 2015|website=Discogs|date=December 15, 2015}} Later that year, he joined [Butch Trucks](/source/Butch_Trucks) and the Freight Train Band.{{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}} Following Trucks' death, Fowler was invited to join [Dickey Betts](/source/Dickey_Betts) Band as the slide guitar player on the 2018 Tour.{{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](/source/Sarasota_Herald-Tribune)|access-date=2019-04-24}} In July 2018, He released ''The Whiskey Bayou Session'' on Tab Benoit's Whiskey Bayou Records.{{Cite web|url=https://whiskeybayourecords.com/|title=Tab Benoit's Whiskey Bayou Records|website=Whiskey Bayou Records}} The ''Whiskey Bayou Session'' featured covers of [Little Walter](/source/Little_Walter)'s "Up the Line", [Johnny Nash](/source/Johnny_Nash)'s ["Hold Me Tight"](/source/Hold_Me_Tight_(Johnny_Nash_song)) and the traditional [gospel](/source/gospel_music) and [jazz standard](/source/jazz_standard) "[Just a Closer Walk with Thee](/source/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee)".{{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}} During the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), Fowler began performing "Fowler's Garage" livestream concerts on his [Facebook](/source/Facebook) page and the "Gig Stories" series on his [YouTube](/source/YouTube) channel, where he talks with other blues musicians about life on the road.{{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}} ==Landslide Records== On March 26, 2021, Fowler released ''Alafia Moon'', his first album for Landslide Records.{{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}} The album cover was created by [Flournoy Holmes](/source/James_Flournoy_Holmes),{{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}} whose album covers include [The Allman Brothers Band](/source/The_Allman_Brothers_Band)'s ''[Eat a Peach](/source/Eat_a_Peach)'', as well as albums by [Christopher Cross](/source/Christopher_Cross), [Charlie Daniels](/source/Charlie_Daniels), [Ted Nugent](/source/Ted_Nugent), [Kansas](/source/Kansas_(band)) and many others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flournoyholmes.com/flournoy-holmes-album-cover-artist|title=Flournoy Holmes Album Covers|website=Flournoy Holmes Official Website}} It debuted at #1 on the ''Billboard Blues Chart'' and was nominated for a [Blues Music Award](/source/Blues_Music_Award).{{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.}} Shortly afterwards, Big Top Brewing Company, based out of [Sarasota, Florida](/source/Sarasota%2C_Florida), released "Fowler's IPA" in Fowler's honor.{{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}} 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](/source/Jason_Ricci) on [harmonica](/source/harmonica), Dan Signor on [keyboards](/source/Musical_keyboard) and Eddie Wright on guitar, along with his regular road band, [drummer](/source/drummer) Justin Headley and [bassist](/source/bassist) Chuck Riley.{{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 }} His third album with Landslide records, ''Barnyard Smile'' came out on June 7, 2024.{{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}} It includes a cover of [Bo Diddley](/source/Bo_Diddley)'s "[Road Runner](/source/Road_Runner_(Bo_Diddley_song))" and [Porter Wagoner](/source/Porter_Wagoner)'s "[Misery Loves Company](/source/Misery_Loves_Company_(Porter_Wagoner_song))". A second album with Southern Hospitality, entitled ''Yard Sale'', came out on December 13, 2024.{{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}} 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](/source/Gregg_Allman), [Jeff Beck](/source/Jeff_Beck), [Junior Brown](/source/Junior_Brown), [Chris Duarte](/source/Chris_Duarte_(musician)), [Little Feat](/source/Little_Feat), [Delbert McClinton](/source/Delbert_McClinton), [George Thorogood](/source/George_Thorogood), [Robin Trower](/source/Robin_Trower), [Jimmie Vaughan](/source/Jimmie_Vaughan), [Johnny Winter](/source/Johnny_Winter), [Edgar Winter](/source/Edgar_Winter) and [the Radiators](/source/The_Radiators_(American_band)).{{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}} ==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/damon-fowler-mn0001040811/discography |title=Damon Fowler | Discography |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2014-03-26}} || Title || Record label(s) || [US Top Blues Albums Chart](/source/Billboard_charts) |- | 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](/source/Blind_Pig_Records) || style="text-align:center;"|12{{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}} |- | 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 |- | 2014 || style="text-align:center;"|''Sounds of Home'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blind Pig || style="text-align:center;"|12{{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}} |- |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 |- |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](/source/List_of_blues_rock_musicians) *[List of soul-blues musicians](/source/List_of_soul-blues_musicians) *[List of electric blues musicians](/source/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"}} {{Authority control}} {{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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Damon Fowler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Fowler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Fowler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.