Biography

From bars to arenas, dance halls to rodeos, the name Kevin Fowler on the bill ensures a full house and a hell of a fun time.
Despite the cowboy hat, inside that pearl-snap shirt beats a rocker's heat. A native of Amarillo who grew up inspired by Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, Kevin delivers 100 percent Texan country with its own Fowler flavor.
Kevin rounded out his musical education at Los Angeles' Guitar Institute of Technology before finding his way back to Texas, where he joined the award winning hard-rock band Dangerous Toys. He dabbled with his own Southern rock band, Thunderfoot, in the late ’90s but soon tuned his attention to a new Fowler vision of music.
The debut of Beer, Bait & Ammo planted Kevin's foot solidly on the road to country music success. The title track became wildly popular and the record was easily relatable for down-home country lovers everywhere.
But "country" isn't a broad enough term to encompass Kevin's sound-- a Southern rock and country music hybrid. His style is unique and has become the preference of 20- and 30-somethings raised on a dash of CMT with a dollop of MTV.
"Texas music fans are absolutely rabid. They know what they like and they know what they don't like, and they will tell you," Kevin says. This generation's appreciation of country is evenly matched by a taste for rock ’n’ roll, and no one knows that better than Kevin himself.
“Our fans listen to us, to AC/DC and to Buckcherry,” he adds. "We can mix it all together, and they like it."
That open-minded, sophisticated sensibility of country’s new audience is important to Kevin and played a large part in assembling his latest release, Bring It On. His live shows incorporate the usual trappings of a big rock ’n’ roll show with atmospheric smoke, bright-colored lights and elaborate staging, and he wanted the album to embody that scene.
“There are a lot of songs on Bring It On that I wouldn’t have cut before. They’re too rock, and I didn’t want to freak anyone out," Kevin admits "But one thing I’ve learned about our fans is that they don’t want a traditional record out of me. I can throw some screaming guitar in and crank the drums up. I can be more adventurous.”
Adventurous, yes. Yet Kevin, whose songs often begin as a sticky note on the dash of his truck, deeply understands the values held by country audiences. He may encourage the fans to “party like a rock star” on “Feels Good Don’t It,” but he gets “a jones for Jones, a hankering for Hank” on “Honky Tonk Junkie.”
Kevin's knack for creating a hit has impressed many high-caliber artists. In 2008, Montgomery Gentry released their album, Back When I Knew It All, with Kevin’s song, “Long Line of Losers” on the track listing. In June 2009, Montgomery Gentry released the song as a radio single, and it is currently climbing the charts.
"It's the ultimate form of flattery that somebody would risk their career on something that I wrote," Kevin says. "I'm flattered. I think it's awesome."
Bring It On has staked claim on a few chart spots as well. The album reached the top 20 on Billboard's Top Country Albums and the 2008 single, "Best Mistake I Ever Made", was featured on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
It was quite a feat, but Kevin's passion for making music is fueled by his loyal following. Dubbed "Fowler Fanatics," Kevin's fans are what sets him apart.
"Our fans are die-hard; they're the key to the whole thing. That's what's cool about what we do-- it's not about the hype or the radio; it's all about the fans."
Kevin says he feels a strong bond with his audience that many artists don't.
"I write songs about guys like me, so connecting with the fans has always been the really easy part because it's just like hangin' around my buds."
"I'm just another music fan, going to concerts. I'm just like those guys!" he says. "I like to drink beer, I like to go out, I like to hunt and fish and do all the things they do."
Kevin is currently writing and recording the next set of honky tonk sing-a-longs to satisfy his fans. "We're gonna try to beat that last record. We're just trying to write better songs and give the fans something they'll really enjoy. "
His upcoming single, "Beer Season", is set to hit the airwaves in September, and Kevin anticipates a stamp of approval from the Fanatics.
"It's kind of a throwback to "Beer, Bait & Ammo" and "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man"; the funny stuff that I've always been known for," he adds. "My inability to take life too seriously definitely shows up in the music."
"Beer Season" will also be available for free download on kevinfowler.com. "This is my own little economic stimulus plan, we're giving away music!"
This is not the first time Kevin has offered his music for free. Earlier this year he released a series of songs and videos that he recorded with his band in the “party barn” at his house.
"It's a way of giving back to the fans. They've been so supportive to us, coming to the shows all year long-- especially right now in hard times. It's a gift to them."
Though Kevin has seen successes that most can only dream of (like duets with Willie Nelson and George Jones), he insists that he has yet to-- and won't-- let fame jade him.
"I'm still the same redneck driving around playing songs out of an Astro van and a trailer. It's been one hell of a ride the last decade," he says. "We've gone from playing acoustic gigs to playing the Houston Rodeo. Sometimes I have to make myself look back at what all has happened."