Peter Rowan of “Old and In The Way” at AMSDConcerts
Grammy-award winning musician will be in concert at AMSDConcerts, 4650 Mansfield, in Normal Heights on December 29 at 7:30 p.m. Rowan’s career has spanned from bands such as “Sea Train,” “Old & In the Way,” and “The Free Mexican Air Force,” and several solo and ensemble projects with Don Edwards, David Grisman, Richard Greene and others. He is a soulful singer and a poignant songwriter. Rowan began his professional career playing guitar, singing lead vocals and co-writing as a member of the Bluegrass Boys, led by the founding father of bluegrass, the late, great Bill Monroe. He embarked on a well-received solo career in the late ’70s, releasing such critically acclaimed albums as Dustbowl Children and Bluegrass Boy, as well as much-admired collaborations with ace Dobro player Jerry Douglas, Flaco Jimenez, and his brothers Christopher and Lorin Rowan.
Rowan has a long history of expanding the musical boundaries of his loyal fans. He has also had a notable influence on the careers of other musicians via collaborations with new acts on the rise, as well as by presenting talented up-and-coming players in his road bands. The late ’60s and early 70’s saw Rowan collaborating with musical compatriots in a number of rock, folk and bluegrass combinations: Earth Opera with David Grisman, Sea Train with fiddler Richard Greene (himself a graduate of Monroe’s band), Muleskinner with both Grisman and Greene, former Bluegrass Boy banjoist Bill Keith and the great Clarence White. From the ashes of Muleskinner, Rowan and Grisman went on to join Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn, forming the legendary bluegrass band Old & In the Way. It was during this time that Rowan penned the song “Panama Red,” a subsequent hit for the New Riders of the Purple Sage and a classic ever since.
Other time-honored compositions by Rowan include “Moonlight Midnight,” ” In the Land of the Navajo” and “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy.” Jerry Garcia recorded Rowan’s “Moonlight Midnight” and the haunting “Mississippi Moon.” The 1970s also saw Rowan playing and recording alongside brothers Chris and Lorin Rowan as The Rowan Brothers. Their three albums for Elektra-Asylum featured original songs highlighted by the three siblings soaring harmonies. On the road, Rowan performs internationally as a solo singer-songwriter, while stateside he plays in three bands: the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, a quartet featuring Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight; The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet; and his rocking band, The Free Mexican Air Force.
Tickets for Peter Rowan are $22 for rows eight and up, and the dinner package, with seats in the first eight rows, along with a full three-course meal at DeMille’s, just across Adams Avenue are $47. For sound samples of Peter Rowan, see his website at www.peter-rowan.com
Category: Music