Don Bowman (singer)
Don Bowman (August 26, 1937 – June 5, 2013)[2] was an American country music singer, songwriter, comedian, and radio host. He recorded for RCA Victor between 1964 and 1970, charting in the Top 40 with the novelty hit single "Chit Akins, Make Me a Star".[2] Bowman also worked at several radio stations, including KRZK in Branson, Missouri. At this time, he was also opening the show for Moe Bandy doing Seymore Miles. Bowman also worked at KDEO San Diego, KEWB Oakland, KDWB St. Paul, and KBBQ Burbank. He developed a fictional character for his radio shows named Gruesome Goodbody. In 1961 he had a country hit "Coward at the Alamo."
Don Bowman | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rubel Don Bowman |
| Born | August 26, 1937[1] Lubbock, Texas, United States |
| Died | June 5, 2013 (aged 75) |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1964–2007 |
| Labels | RCA Victor |
| Associated acts | Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jim Stafford, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Moe Bandy |
Bowman was born in Lubbock, Texas, and was the original host of the radio show American Country Countdown.[1] He hosted the show from its inception on October 6, 1973, through April 1978, after which Bob Kingsley (who had been ACC's producer since 1974) took over as host. Also, Bowman filled in for Casey Kasem on the June 16, 1973 episode of American Top 40.
In 1966, Bowman won Favorite Country Comedy Recording of the Year award from Billboard. In 1967, he was named Comedian of the Year by the Country Music Association.[3]
Bowman's song "Wildwood Weed" later became a hit for Jim Stafford, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.[4]
Bowman was confined to a nursing facility after a suicide attempt in which he was saved by professionals who rushed him to the hospital, only to discover he was suffering from an aneurysm which did burst. It paralyzed him causing him to be cared for in the nursing home for almost 12 years before he died of liver and pancreatic cancer on June 5, 2013, at the age of 75. He was survived by his two children.[2][5]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Our Man in Trouble | 14 | RCA Victor |
| 1965 | Fresh from the Funny Farm | — | |
| 1966 | Funny Way to Make an Album | 14 | |
| 1967 | Don Bowman Recorded Almost Live | 36 | |
| From Mexico with Laughs featuring the Tijuana Drum and Bugle Corps | 42 | ||
| 1968 | Funny Folk Flops | — | |
| 1969 | Support Your Local Prison | — | |
| 1970 | Whispering Country | — | |
| 1972 | All New | — | Mega |
| 1979 | Still Fighting Mental Health | — | Lone Star |
| 1981 | On the Road Too Long | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[1] | CAN Country[6] | |||
| 1964 | "Chit Akins, Make Me a Star" | 14 | — | Our Man in Trouble |
| 1966 | "Giddyup Do-Nut" | 49 | — | single only |
| "Surely Not" | 73 | — | Don Bowman Recorded Almost Live | |
| 1968 | "Folsom Prison Blues #2" | 74 | — | Support Your Local Prison |
| 1969 | "Poor Old Ugly Gladys Jones" (with Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson) |
70 | — | |
| 1972 | "Hello D.J." | — | 44 | All New |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[1] | CAN Country[6] | |||
| 1966 | "For Loving You" | Skeeter Davis | 72 | 18 |
| 1967 | "Chet's Tune" | Some of Chet's Friends | 38 | — |
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 211–212. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2013 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
- "Official website". Don Bowman. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- "Billboard Hot 100 Archive". Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- "Raizor's Edge Country Music: Articles, Reviews, Interviews, News, and Opinion". Retrieved April 14, 2015.
- "Search results for Don Bowman". RPM. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
