Bobby Sowell

Performing, 2006
Born:	July 8, 1947 Memphis, Tennessee
Occupation:	Pianist and Composer
Website:	www.bobbysowell.com

Bobby Sowell, born July 8, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee is an American musician, pianist and composer. He spent much of his early years playing rockabilly piano in the late 50's, playing organ in rock n roll bands in the 60's and playing piano in numerous country music bands in the 70's, 80's and 90's, a Mid-South Fair Winner in 1966. Bobby was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2002. He is included in a book, History of Memphis Bands, 1960-75 by Ron Hall. In 1994, he went out on his own as a solo artist. As a pianist and composer, Bobby has recorded 8 CDs, crossing just about all genres of music, from jazz, pop, rock n roll, honky tonk and blues to country music, gospel and easy listening.
Image File history File links BobbySowell. ... See also: 2006 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2006 Record labels established in 2006 other events of 2006 list of years in music 2000s in music January – James Nicholl, drummer of Pay*Ola became ill and was admitted to hospital. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest and most important styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on March 21, 1997 to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre. ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans at around the start of the 20th century. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that typically follows a twelve-bar structure. ... Look up country in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Allegory of Music on the Opéra Garnier Music is an art form that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... Easy listening music is a style of popular music which emerged in the mid-20th century. ...

The following Memphis musicians were all part of bands with Bobby during the 60's, 70's, 80's or 90's: Barry Sowell (Amazing Rhythm Aces), Bobby Whitlock (Eric Clapton/George Harrison), Bill Humble, Elvis Presley/Tom Jones), Danny Fitzgerald (Johnny Rodriguez/Janie Fricke), David Miller (Castels/Bill Black/U2), Eddie Slusser (Jerry Lee Lewis/Hank Williams Jr), Fred Prouty, (Charlie Rich), Glenn Childress (Lonestar), Jack Holder (Black Oak Arkansas), Jim Gammell (Eddie Bond), Robert Johnson (The Rolling Stones/ZZ Top), Ronnie Scaife (Shylo/Neil Diamond),Roy Yeager,(Crackerjacks/Lobo/Atlanta Rhythm Section/Ronnie Milsap). For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... Amazing Rhythm Aces is an American country rock group. ... Bobby Whitlock a session musician, best known for being a member of Derek and the Dominos, was born in 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee. ... The famous Clapton is God graffiti Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born March 30, 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most respected and influential musicians of the 20th century[1], garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Sir Tom Jones OBE (born Thomas Jones Woodward, June 7, 1940), is a Welsh singer particularly noted for his powerful voice. ... Johnny Rodriguez born December 10, 1951 in Sabinal, Texas, is a country music singer. ... William Bill Patton Black, Jr. ... This article is about the Irish rock band. ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Hank Williams, Jr. ... Charlie Rich ( December 14, 1932 - July 25, 1995) was an American country, jazz, and blues musician. ... Lonestar is an American country music band consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals) (born Richard Vance McDonald, on 6 February 1962, in Mesquite, Texas), Michael Britt (guitar) (born Michael Wayne Britt, on 15 June 1966, in Fort Worth, Texas), Keech Rainwater (drums) (born Randy Keech Rainwater, on 24 January 1963... Black Oak Arkansas, 1972 Black Oak Arkansas is an American southern rock band named after the bands hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. ... Eddie Bond (born July 1, 1933 in Memphis, Tennessee) was a pioneer singer and guitar player of American Rockabilly music. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... ZZ Top, affectionately known by their American fans as That little ol band from Texas,[1] is an American blues rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. ... Essential Neil Diamond album cover. ... Roy Yeager (b. ... The Crackerjacks, A popular 60s Memphis Garage Rock Group. ... Born Roland Kent Lavoie, July 31, 1943 in Tallahassee, Florida, Lobo was a singer-songwriter who was successful in the early 1970s. ... Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American southern rock band. ... Ronnie Lee Milsap (born January 16, 1943 in Robbinsville, North Carolina, USA) is an American country music singer and musician with 40 number one hit songs to his credit. ...

Performing 1997

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Biography

Performing 1959

Bobby's birth name is Robert G. Lee Sowell. He was named after a famous Southern Baptist preacher, Dr Robert G. Lee. When Bobby got drafted during the Vietnam War, he dropped the G and became Robert Lee Sowell. In music, his stage name has always been Bobby or Bobby Lee. Growing up in Memphis, Bobby had a lot of diversified musical influences. Early influences included Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Muddy Waters. But what really got his attention were the piano players of that day, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Roger Williams and Floyd Cramer. Bobby met Floyd Cramer when he was 16 years old and that experience really had a lasting effect on Bobby's music. On the family side, his Father played harmonica and piano by ear and his Mother sang, played the guitar and sung on the radio in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the 40's. They used to have regular family sing-a-longs, inviting area musicians to join in. During that time period, there was a strange new kind of music that was sweeping the country and it was actually born in Memphis at Sun Studio. It was called Rockabilly, later to be coined Rock n Roll. Those early Rock n Roll years, along with being subjected to the sounds of Rockabilly, Honkytonk, Blues, Gospel and his Mother's Country music really had an influence on Bobby's music creativity and can be heard in his music style throughout his career. Image File history File links Bobby1959. ... Image File history File links Bobby1959. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States cooperative ministry agency serving missionary Baptist churches around the world. ... Preacher is a colloquial term for a clergyman, in particular a local priest, pastor or Minister; one who preaches. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Allegory of Music on the Opéra Garnier Music is an art form that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. ... A stage name, or a screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers (such as actors, comedians, musicians, and clowns) Performers take stage names for many reasons, often because their real name is considered unattractive, dull, unintentionally amusing, already used, difficult to pronounce or spell, or projects the... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Hiram Hank King Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, who has become an icon of country music and Rock n Roll, and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music that evolved at Sun Records in Memphis in the early 1950s. ... McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1915 or 1913 – April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is generally considered the father of Chicago blues. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Antoine Dominique Fats Domino (born February 26, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana), is a classic R&B and rock and roll singer, songwriter and pianist. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Raymond Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). ... Roger Williams could mean: Roger Williams University Roger Williams (theologian), co-founder of Rhode Island Roger Williams (soldier) Roger Williams (pianist), American pianist Roger Williams (UK politician), British politician Roger Williams (US politician), US Texas politician Roger Williams (hepatologist), a British liver specialist Roger Williams (trombonist) Roger Williams (activist) This... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ... Allegory of Music on the Opéra Garnier Music is an art form that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chattanooga is a city located in United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s BC - 0s - 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Sometimes the 40s is used as shorthand for the 1940s, the 1840s, or other such decades in various centuries. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest and most important styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest and most important styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that typically follows a twelve-bar structure. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Early life

About the time Bobby was 12 years old, Honkytonk and Rockabilly music was really thriving in Memphis and he started playing in Bars and Night Clubs with much older musicians. They used to sneak him in the back door and hide him behind an upright piano where no one could see how young he was. Bobby also played a lot of Sock Hops and actually joined his first Band in 1959. The Band was called 'The Red Notes'. They were an all instrumental group. His Mom's house held many Jam sessions for area musicians back in the 60's. Most of the time, a street dance might have broken out. The neighborhood was rich in plenty of talent. Many successful professional musicians have come out of Frayser suburb of Memphis and Bobby has picked with most of them. Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest and most important styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Bars or bars can mean: The plural of bar. ... Clubs (♣) is one of the four suits found in playing cards, marked with a black trefoil; the term is translated from the Spanish basto. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A jam session is a musical act where musicians gather and play out of the blue, trying to accomplish harmony without prewritten music. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ...

Las Vegas 1972

Around the age of 16 another strange form of music was sweeping the USA. It was called the British invasion and Bobby once again had to adapt to a new kind of music, in which the organ was a more prominent instrument than the piano in that style of music. Bobby did pick up on the organ and since there were so few boys that played the piano anyway he suddenly became a sought after and very much in demand musician. He played in numerous groups in the 60's. In 1966 Bobby won the Mid-South Fair and was scheduled to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour on CBS Television, but before he could go there, he got drafted during the Vietnam War and his musical career was put on hold! After the war and a bout with Alcoholism, Bobby got back on the right track. He returned to his first love, the Piano, playing and recording Rockabilly, Country, Jazz, Memphis Blues and Gospel presented in an easy listening style piano format, be it hot and fast or smooth and mellow. Bobby stays booked performing gigs throughout the year. For show schedules, locations and general Information visit his official website at www.bobbysowell.com and at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame page. Image File history File links BobbyLV72. ... Image File history File links BobbyLV72. ... The appearance of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964, was the breakthrough moment of the burgeoning British Invasion. ... Allegory of Music on the Opéra Garnier Music is an art form that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Modern style pipe organ at the concert hall of Aletheia University in Matou, Taiwan The organ is a keyboard instrument with one or more manuals, and usually a pedalboard. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Allegory of Music on the Opéra Garnier Music is an art form that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... The Mid-South Fair comes to Memphis, Tennessee, every year from September 23 through October 2. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... CBS is derived from an abbreviation of Columbia Broadcasting System, the former legal name of a company Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired in 1995. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... A war is a violent conflict between two or more groups that involve large numbers of individuals. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest and most important styles of rock n’ roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Look up country in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans at around the start of the 20th century. ... The Memphis blues is a style of blues music that was created in 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ...

Performing TV 1973

Performing 1982

Performing 1997

Performing 1998

Performing 2007

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External links