Good Afternoon Jeremy! Thank you so much for talking with us! What was a typical dinner or family meal like for you growing up? We were big on TV Dinners in the 1980’s lol. The Fried Chicken one was the best! Was there ever music playing in the kitchen? I remember my mother playing allot of soulful music when I was a kid. Artists like Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, James Brown. But also more rock type groups like Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor. As a Philadelphia native we have to know, what makes for the perfect cheesesteak? Any true Philadelphian will tell you there’s only one way to have a cheesesteak and that's “fried onions with cheese,"Cheese “Wiz” that is. Or as we would say here in Philly when ordering, “I’ll have one with, with.” What’s your favorite ingredient to cook with? Meat Which three things are always in your home refrigerator? We always seem to have multiple brands of hot sauce. Lots of eggs and a cold bottle of SoCo in the freezer. After playing a late show, what is your guilty pleasure food? I always seem to find myself at the White Castle when I play in Nashville. Being in Nashville a while, you have seen the food and drink industry really boom. Name three food experiences visitors to Nashville should not miss. Well, definitely Peg Leg Porker. The Smiling Elephant if you like Thai and of course I have to throw in White Castle for that late night drunken stupor. Drink of choice at a bar? I’m like an old pirate. Rum and Coke is my go-to. And, related: go-to hangover cure? A big ‘ol greasy cheeseburger and fries baby. You worked with producer Johnny Garcia for your brand new single, "I Wanna Be That Guy," What inspired you to do this song and what was it like working with Johnny? This song was actually written by Anthony Krizan formerly of the group the Spin Doctors. Anthony played it for me and I fell in love with the song. It just spoke to me. I have been working with Johnny for several years now. He is so good which makes it very easy to work when we get together. He and I just jive like that. Johnny is one of those guys who makes you feel like you’ve known him your whole life. Amazing producer and guitar play but an even better guy. For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? I started in music when I was young. I actually recorded professionally first in a different genre of music when I was still in high school. If you look hard enough you might just find it, lol. I then got away from music for a very long time. I met my wife, had three wonderful children and focused on building my construction company. It wasn’t until the last five years when I met up with Johnny and he encouraged me to get back in the studio that I decided to follow my dream. Goes to show you it’s never too late to do what you love. What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about pursuing a career in music? Do it because you love it and for no other reason. If you could have penned a song in any genre what would it have been? "Chicka Chicka Boom" by Carmen Miranda. That song just makes me happy every time I hear it, lol
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Bob’s Big Boy. Because we kinda look alike.
Bowman’s path to music is a classic case of Never Giving Up on Your Dreams. As a successful businessman and family man, one might ask – Why start a music career now? The answer is simple – it was destiny.
The Philadelphia native was around music from a very young age. “Saturday mornings my mother would play artists like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Fleetwood Mac and this helped form my love for music.” As years progressed, Bowman found rock music that then lead to the 80’s where he listened to artists such as Duran Duran, Howard Jones and Hall and Oats. While in High School, he was introduced to a little-known style of music called “Freestyle” (early electronic music). It was then that he started to take music as more than just a passion. “I fell in love with this style of music. This was the first type of music that I would start my singing career in. Often skipping school in my senior year of high school, I was going to clubs in NYC and jumping on planes to head to Florida to make music. I recorded some moderately successful hits and also lent some of my vocals to a song called Sending All My Love that would go eventually go platinum.” While Bowman had a good run in the Freestyle world, he decided to call it quits in 1995 to pursue a more conventional career and life.
“I knew I wanted a family. I met my wife of 22 years and started my own company in the construction industry and put my love of music on the back burner to buckle down, work hard, run my company and have children. In my early career, I spent much of my time on the road driving trucks and that is where I fell in love with Country Music. I would spend long hours listening to the likes of Cash, Hank and Twitty. I became particularly enamored with Garth Brooks. While singing along with Garth’s music to pass the time on the road, I noticed I could sound somewhat close to the music he was creating. I started to think about music as a career again.”
“I was so inspired by Garth when I would see him on stage, that I knew I had to go for it. The way he moved the audience resonated with me and I wanted to share my message, too,” As fate would have it, not only would Brooks inspire him to give his dream an honest shot, but he also got a call out of nowhere that changed his life forever.
Bowman was recording tracks with a producer in Orlando who had sent his music to one of his Nashville colleagues. This person liked what he heard, and a call was set up between the two of them. On the call this Nashville producer invited him to come to Nashville to record some music. When asked what’s the catch; he said “no catch, I just dig your voice man. Let’s make some music.” As fate would have it, this person was Johnny Garcia. “When I got off the phone with Johnny I googled him right away. What came up were pictures of him front and center with Garth Brooks. It turns out that Johnny has been Trisha Yearwood’s music director for over 20 years as well as got Brooks lead guitarist. You could imagine my excitement. I immediately called him back and said; Dude, you could have told me you were freaking Garth Brooks lead guitar player!”
Garcia would eventually become Bowman’s producer and collaborator. Having released his first EP in 2018, featuring the single “Stupid Kinda Crazy Love,” Bowman is gearing up to release a lot more music in 2020. The first single “I Wanna Be That Guy” is set to release in February.
“In the last few years, Johnny and I have made some awesome music together and became good friends. I have more confidence that I now know what to do when I am on stage knowing Johnny has my back.” They have built a band of incredible musicians who’ve played with country music royalty from Dolly, to Reba, to Garth. “This band ROCKS! Performing with guys who have played with most of my heroes is an amazing feeling. We always bring a fun show with a little bit of something for everyone.” Having played numerous shows around Nashville and opening up for Brothers Osborne in Florida, Bowman is gearing up to play many more shows in 2020.“
While Bowman’s Country Music career has transpired in an unconventional way, he wouldn’t have it any other way. His commitment to his family and providing for them took priority and now that that is thriving, he is going back to his first love and passion; music. Jeremy Bowman is just getting started. And the world better be ready!