Wade Bowen

Wade Bowen is a country, red dirt and Texas country singer and songwriter from Waco, Texas. Born in 1977, he first performs in the Texas music scene as part of West 84 with Matt Miller. The group later rebrands under Bowen’s name.

Early releases and regional success

Bowen releases his debut album, Just For Fun, before following it with Try Not To Listen in 2002. That album becomes a regional hit in Texas, and its title track reaches number 8 on the Texas Music Chart. His first live album, The Blue Light Live, appears in 2003 and stays on the LoneStarMusic.com Top 25 best-sellers list for more than two years. It also wins Album of the Year from MyTexasMusic.com and earns Bowen Male Vocalist of the Year from the same site in 2004.

Lost Hotel and later work

In 2006 Bowen releases Lost Hotel on Sustain Records. The album includes “God Bless This Town,” which reaches number 1 on the Texas Music Chart and is named among the year’s top songs on both the Texas Regional Radio Report and the Texas Music Chart. The song’s video appears on CMT and spends time at number 1 on CMT’s Pure Country 12 Pack Countdown. Bowen records another live album at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth in 2009, and the CD/DVD release follows in 2010. In 2008 he releases If We Ever Make It Home, described in the bio as his biggest success to date.

Songwriting and collaborations

Bowen writes with a range of artists, including Pat Green, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Randy Rogers, Brandon Rhyder and Bleu Edmondson. He co-writes “Don’t Break My Heart Again” with Pat Green, and the song opens Green’s Lucky Ones. He also co-writes “When It All Goes Down” with Cody Canada, who is his brother-in-law and the frontman of Cross Canadian Ragweed. Ray Wylie Hubbard appears in the video for “God Bless This Town.”

Style, touring and recognition

His music blends roots rock, alt-country, traditional country and blues, with influences that include Aerosmith, Patty Griffin, Led Zeppelin and Paul Thorn. Bowen tours widely across Texas and the Southwest, and also performs in the Midwest and Southeast. He sells out venues such as Gruene Hall in New Braunfels and appears on tour with Lee Ann Womack and Friends. The bio describes him as an awarded name within the Americana and alt-country community, and his work is noted for its direct songwriting and layered vocals.

Personal life

Bowen and his wife Shelby live in New Braunfels with their son Bruce. He also has a degree in public relations from Texas Tech University.