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Although I was born in New York City, I grew up in Florida. And contrary to popular belief Florida is part of the south. I grew up with the sounds of Southern Gospel and New York City Doo Wop, Hank Williams and Ave' Maria's.
MY classmates in the small tourist and agricultural town of Winter Haven Florida, included Gram Parsons, (Flying Burrito Bros.), Jimmy Stafford, Kent LaVoie',(aka Lobo),The Bellamy Bros., Les Dudek, (solo Midnight Rider),etc.
I grew up in the swamps and on the beaches of Florida. At night I would listen to John R and Big Hue Baby, on WLAC Radio Nashville Tenn. Here I heard Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Son House,Tampa Red, on and on. I was hooked. I had to be part of that. I had to git me sum.
Around the age of 13 I started going down to the "blues" clubs and sing.
During High School I formed a band with some schoolmates called The Spades, who became very popular in the Southeast. (see Dizzy Rambler.com for more on the Spades) The Spades opened shows for Rufus Thomas , Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, The Zombies, Searchers, etc.
We shared venues such as The Ocean Pier Casino & the Martinique in Daytona Beach and the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami as well as poolside at the hotels along the beaches of Florida with The Allman Joys,(a teenage Allman Bros Band).
After this I went to New York and The Village and became part of that scene working the coffee houses and clubs of New York.
I jammed around with people who were to become bands such as Blood Sweat and Tears, Blues Project .I left this to move to San Francisco and Haight Ashbury and the rich stew of music that was bubbling there.
During these magical times I played and recorded around the San Francisco Bay Area.
During the 70's I toured the country pretty much nonstop . Sometimes living on the East Coast, sometime the West, and for a while in Aspen Colorado.
On May 30 1970, I played Carnegie Hall with my band OZ along with The Youngloods and Tim Hardin.
In the early Eighties I lived in Austin where my good friend Chesley Millikin was managing Stevie Ray Vaughan, where I got to play one of Clifton Chenier's last shows with him before his death.
I released my first solo album from there and struck out on a supporting tour.The band included, Jimmy Carl Black on drums, (from The Mothers Of Invention), and Reno Mussata ,(Kinky Friedman), in a double drumming configuration.
Most of the rest of the 80's and 90's I lived in Marin County California, where I continue to live today. During the last 20 yrs most of that time my daughter Mundai, has been a part of my band.This has been a great blessing to me and a joy beyond words. She has a strong powerful yet sweet voice that often brings a tear to her old dads eye. She also has two solo projects that we will offer on this website. My daughter has moved to the East Coast and is busy raising her three girls at the moment.
The band at present is myself guitar & vocals, Ernest "Boom" Carter, drums & vocals, and Michael White/ Bass, Ian Lamson / Guitar, Richie Smith / Keyboards
My son Tony Owen and his band The Greenroom have beeen recording alot lately. The sounds are chill. Follow the video link on the Links Page to see a video of them live opening for BOB.
When deciding what to write on this site Iwas thinking back about all the people I have been on stage with in the last 48 years and it made me realize just how blessed and lucky I have been to see and experience the lives of so many great musicians.
Some of the people I have either been on stage or recorded with are , Allman Bros., Rufus Thomas, Mitch Ryder, Dr John, Luther Tucker (my very dear friend whom I badly miss),Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Vaughan, Dino Valente', John Cipollina, Elvin Bishop, Alvin Lee, Michael Carrabello, Neil Schon, Bill Champlin, Leon Russell, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jerry Goodman, Chuck Berry, Buddy Miles, Rod Argent,
Gram Parsons, Harvey Mandel ,The Dizzy Gillespie Band, etc.
Ernest Carter is from Asbury Park New Jersey where he was an original member of "The E Street Band". He can be heard on the Springsteen anthem Born To Run. He left that group along with keyboardist David Sancious (Sting & Clapton) to form the fusion band Tone.
Since moving to the San Francisco area Ernest has played with Kingfish, Harvey Mandel & The Snake Band, Clarence Clemons, Dawn Patrol, and Howard Tate. He became part of Buddy Owen And The Band Of Angels at the end of the 80's. He continues to be a solid member of the current configuration . Although he is known worldwide for his tasteful and energetic drumming, Carter is adept at many instruments as witness to by his bass part on the Goin'Down Slow track available for your listening on this site.
Ian Lamson was Elvin Bishop's Second Guitar for many years, He also plays with the Ed Earley Band.
Richie Smith has played with many people Including The Ed Earley Band & Terry And The Pirates.
Michael White (bass) has been a solid fixture on the Bay Area Music Scene for more than 30 years.He has played with The New Riders, & Pablo Cruise among many others.
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