RIJF 2023

Damon Fowler

“Fowler is as expressive a songwriter as he is a singer and instrumentalist. He’s preaching an otherworldly, Americana-themed gospel from a six-stringed pulpit. He is a roots guitar guru.” – LIVING BLUES

“He’s a formidable slide guitar player who has also mastered lap steel and dobro as well as electric guitar, indeed, Fowler may be so skillful that he prefers pickin’ tasty to larger-than-life guitar heroics.” – BILLBOARD   

Florida’s Gulf Coast has produced a plethora of distinctive musicians, from the blues of Tampa Red to jazz greats Cannonball and Nat Adderley to former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts to The Outlaws.  Tampa’s Damon Fowler, a masterful singer, guitar player, and songwriter, has absorbed the best of and furthered the work of the region’s definitive artists.  A hard-driving troubadour, his music is steeped with soul and representative of the many styles that make up the roots of American music. He has gained the respect of his peers given his featured slot in Butch Truck’s Freight Train band and his side gig as guitarist in the Dickey Betts Band.  Critics have compared Fowler’s guitar work to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar is reminiscent of the late Duane Allman. Fowler can play fiery guitar runs with the best of them, and his lyrical work on lap steel and dobro make him a stand-out performer among the legions of guitar heroes.  His new release, ALAFIA MOON, combines all the influences that have shaped his distinctive blues career.

On the strength of Fowler’s hybrid of roots rock, blues, and sacred steel, the Florida native started wowing audiences with his musical exploits as a teenager, building a reputation as one of the hottest young players on the scene. Adding songwriting and vocal skills to his repertoire over the years has brought him many accolades, with music journalists extolling his originality and maturity as well as his technical guitar expertise. All of these attributes have helped further define Damon Fowler as one of the great Southern artists of his time.

Produced by Fowler and George Harris (Cheap Trick, Rick Derringer, Brian Johnson—AC/DC), ALAFIA MOON, represents Fowler’s 8^th solo release.