Jay Owens | |
---|---|
Birth name | Isaac Jerome Owens |
Born | Lake City, Florida, United States | September 6, 1947
Died | November 26, 2005 Orlando, Florida, United States | (aged 58)
Genres | Electric blues, soul blues [1] |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1960s–2005 |
Labels | Atlantic, EastWest |
Jay Owens (September 6, 1947 – November 26, 2005) [2] was a blind African-American electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. [1]
Isaac Jerome Owens was born in Lake City, Florida, United States. [1] His mother was a minister in a local church, where Owens first learned to sing. He learned to appreciate blues from an uncle of his. [3] Having obtained his first guitar, Owens was playing music professionally by the time he left high school. [4]
Owens played alongside his friend, Johnny Kay, in the 1970s and 1980s, leading a succession of bands playing in the Tampa Bay and St. Petersberg area of Florida. [1] In such a role he supported many other musicians such as O. V. Wright, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Aaron Neville and Little Milton. [4]
Mike Vernon produced Owens' debut solo album, The Blues Soul of Jay Owens, which was released on Atlantic Records in 1993, and featured Pete Wingfield playing keyboards [5] It won Living Blues magazine's 'Best Blues Album' and 'Best Debut Album' awards. [3] In 1995, EastWest issued Movin' On, which included contributions as before from Vernon and Wingfield, while Dave Bronze played bass guitar on the collection. [6]
He was also a prolific songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by Jim Leverton ("Only Human"), [7] James Booker ("1-2-3" and "One Hell of a Nerve"), [8] [9] and K. T. Oslin ("Come On-A My House"). [10]
In 1997, Owens moved to Orlando, Florida after spending twenty years in New York City. [4]
Owens died at his home in Orlando, at the age of 58, from complications of diabetes in November 2005. [4]
Year | Title | Record label |
---|---|---|
1993 | The Blues Soul of Jay Owens | Atlantic |
1995 | Movin' On | EastWest |
Jay Owens | |
---|---|
Birth name | Isaac Jerome Owens |
Born | Lake City, Florida, United States | September 6, 1947
Died | November 26, 2005 Orlando, Florida, United States | (aged 58)
Genres | Electric blues, soul blues [1] |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1960s–2005 |
Labels | Atlantic, EastWest |
Jay Owens (September 6, 1947 – November 26, 2005) [2] was a blind African-American electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. [1]
Isaac Jerome Owens was born in Lake City, Florida, United States. [1] His mother was a minister in a local church, where Owens first learned to sing. He learned to appreciate blues from an uncle of his. [3] Having obtained his first guitar, Owens was playing music professionally by the time he left high school. [4]
Owens played alongside his friend, Johnny Kay, in the 1970s and 1980s, leading a succession of bands playing in the Tampa Bay and St. Petersberg area of Florida. [1] In such a role he supported many other musicians such as O. V. Wright, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Aaron Neville and Little Milton. [4]
Mike Vernon produced Owens' debut solo album, The Blues Soul of Jay Owens, which was released on Atlantic Records in 1993, and featured Pete Wingfield playing keyboards [5] It won Living Blues magazine's 'Best Blues Album' and 'Best Debut Album' awards. [3] In 1995, EastWest issued Movin' On, which included contributions as before from Vernon and Wingfield, while Dave Bronze played bass guitar on the collection. [6]
He was also a prolific songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by Jim Leverton ("Only Human"), [7] James Booker ("1-2-3" and "One Hell of a Nerve"), [8] [9] and K. T. Oslin ("Come On-A My House"). [10]
In 1997, Owens moved to Orlando, Florida after spending twenty years in New York City. [4]
Owens died at his home in Orlando, at the age of 58, from complications of diabetes in November 2005. [4]
Year | Title | Record label |
---|---|---|
1993 | The Blues Soul of Jay Owens | Atlantic |
1995 | Movin' On | EastWest |