Jay Owens (September 6, 1947 – November 26, 2005)[2] was a blind African-American electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1]
Jay Owens | |
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Birth name | Isaac Jerome Owens |
Born | (1947-09-06)September 6, 1947 Lake City, Florida, United States |
Died | November 26, 2005(2005-11-26) (aged 58) Orlando, Florida, United States |
Genres | Electric blues, soul blues[1] |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1960s–2005 |
Labels | Atlantic, EastWest |
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, whilst 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 |
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1993 | The Blues Soul of Jay Owens | Atlantic |
1995 | Movin' On | EastWest |
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