Ralston Bowles is an American poet, songwriter, producer, musician and singer from

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

. Ralston Bowles was born on August 31, 1952, to parents, Buel Bowles of

Green Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Green Sulphur Springs (also Green Sulphur) is an unincorporated community in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. It lies near Interstate 64 to the northeast of the city of Hinton, the county seat of Summers County. Its elevation is ...

(1913–2002) and May Jean Morgan of

Vincennes, Indiana Vincennes is a city in, and the county seat of, Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the lower Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state, nearly halfway between Evansville and Terre Haute. It was founded in 1732 by F ...

(1919–1998). Bowles' song "Fragile", has been recorded by

Peter Mulvey Peter Mulvey (born September 6, 1969) is an American folk singer-songwriter based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It ...

, Rachael Davis and Caroline Aiken. His song "Grace", based on a book by author

Philip Yancey Philip Yancey (born November 4, 1949) is an American author who writes primarily about spiritual issues. His books have sold more than 15 million copies in English and have been translated into 40 languages, making him one of the best-selling con ...

, ''What's So Amazing About Grace?''. Which he wrote after reading a pre-publication galley of the book. After the book was published, singer

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...

of U2 wrote and released a similar song of the same title, based on the same book; the song appeared on their album ''

All That You Can't Leave Behind ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is the tenth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and was released on 30October 2000 through Island Records worldwide and through Interscope Records in the Unit ...

''. Bowles has served the western Michigan music scene since 1970, helping the Grand Rapids music scene to flourish while encouraging national artists to make Grand Rapids a tour stop on their schedules. He is the originator and host of the

Frederik Meijer Gardens Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a botanical garden, art museum, and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan, Grand Rapids Township, State of Michigan, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1995, Meijer Gardens ...

Tuesday Evening Music Club and a supporter of numerous charities through benefit concerts, he has performed alongside many songwriters of note including

Arlo Guthrie Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk music, folk singer-songwriter. He is known for singing protest song, songs of protest against social injustice, and storytelling while performing songs, following the tradition of his fa ...

, the

Hothouse Flowers Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock band that combine traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock. Formed in 1985 in Dublin, they started as street performers. Their first album, ''People'' (1988), was the most successf ...

T-Bone Burnett Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett III (born January 14, 1948) is an American record producer, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band during the 1970s. Burnett has won several Grammy Awards for his work on film sou ...

Shawn Colvin Shawn Colvin (born Shawna Lee Colvin, January 10, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1997 Grammy Award-winning song "Sunny Came Home". Early life Colvin was born Shawna Lee Colvin in Vermillion, South Dakota, and ...

and the

Del McCoury Band The Del McCoury Band is a Grammy Award-winning American bluegrass band. History Originally the band was called Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals with Del on guitar and his brother Jerry on bass. The band went through a number of changes in person ...

. On August 30, 2009, Bowles was featured in The Grand Rapids Press, in the paper's weekly "Sunday Profile" under the headline "SOUL MAN."

Chronology

2004 Bowles released a debut album, ''Carwreck Conversations''. It was produced by Marvin Etzioni (former member of

Lone Justice Lone Justice was an American country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee in Los Angeles. The band released two albums, '' Lone Justice'' in 1985 and '' Shelter'' the following year, before disbanding in ...

and producer of

Counting Crows Counting Crows is an American rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of rhythm guitarist David Bryson, drummer Jim Bogios, vocalist Adam Duritz, keyboardist Charlie Gillingham, David Immergl� ...

Toad the Wet Sprocket Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986. The band at the time consisted of vocalist/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss, ...

Peter Case Peter Case (born April 5, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His career is wide-ranging, from rock n' roll and blues, to folk rock and solo acoustic performance. Biography Early career Case was born in Buffalo, New York, B ...

and

Grey DeLisle Grey DeLisle (; born Erin Grey Van Oosbree; August 24, 1973), sometimes credited as Grey Griffin, is an American voice actress and singer-songwriter. DeLisle is known for various roles in animated productions and video games. On September 27, ...

), engineered by David Vaught. The musicians include

Sheldon Gomberg Sheldon Gomberg is an American record producer, audio engineer and bassist, who has worked with many artists including Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Warren Zevon, Rickie Lee Jones, Ryan Adams, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Five for Fighting, Mandy Moo ...

(bass) David Raven (drums), Brian Head (percussion), Danny McGough (keyboards) and Eric Heywood (pedal steel). It was recognized with three Jammie Awards: "album of the year", "best folk album" and "artist of the year." 2007 saw the re-release of ''Carwreck Conversations'' on Wildflower Records (Judy Collins label;

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning nearly seven decades. An Academy Awards, Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Awards, Grammy Award-winning rec ...

, also

Amy Speace Amy Speace is a Nashville-based folk/ Americana American singer-songwriter and essayist from Baltimore, Maryland. Career National Public Radio described her voice as "velvety and achy" and compared her to Lucinda Williams. She lives in Nash ...

, Andy White, Heather Greene,

Jimmy Norman James Norman Scott (August 12, 1937 – November 8, 2011) was an American R&B and jazz singer and songwriter. In his early career, Norman had a charting single of his own, "I Don't Love You No More (I Don't Care About You)", as well as per ...

Kenny White Kenny White is a New York City–based singer-songwriter, studio musician, and writer. For many years, White was a fixture in the NY studio scene, writing and producing hundreds of commercials for TV and radio. In this capacity, he worked with ...

, The Saints, Ali Eskandarian and Wes Charlton) into Europe and US. 2008 ''Rally at the Texas Hotel'' is released on Wildflower Records into Europe and receives accolades from Swedish and Dutch Americana Music Press. Produced by Marvin Etzioni and features studio contributions by

Gurf Morlix Gurf Morlix (born 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and music producer. Career Born in Buffalo, New York, Morlix moved to Texas in 1975 and performed with Blaze Foley. He moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and joined Lucinda Williams's band. ...

Charlie Sexton Charles Wayne Sexton (born August 11, 1968) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Sexton is best known for his years as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band, though also has become well known as a music producer. Sexton co-founded Arc A ...

, Jagoda and

Radoslav Lorković Radoslav Lorković (born September 3, 1958) is a Croatian-born and classically trained folk and blues musician, known in particular for his flair on the piano and accordion. He has six solo studio recordings, three live albums and has recorded a ...

. 2009 Bowles received an acoustic guitar hand-made by his Father-in-law, luthier Lew Fowler. And in 2012 received a special model Galloup Guitar from Brian Galloup who made a matching guitar for Peter Mulvey. 2010 Bowles has completed recording on a new album, produced by

Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born April 9, 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician, and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and graduated from Taylor University in 1975. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been ...

which features a long list of musicians including:

Drums: Bryan Owings
Bass: Chris Donohue
Percussion: Dennis Holt,
Steve Hindalong Steve Hindalong (born November 29, 1959) is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band the Choir. Since 2006, Hindalong has also been an official member of the alternative ...

Guitars:
Phil Keaggy Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 55 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. H ...
, Kenny Greenburg, Paul Gordon,
Derri Daugherty Derri Daugherty (born Derald Daugherty; October 13, 1958) is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band the Choir. Daugherty is also one of the founding members of the R ...
,
Marc Byrd Carey Marcus "Marc" Byrd (born 1970) is an American musician, writer, and producer best known as one-half of the post-rock/ ambient duo Hammock with Andrew Thompson. Since its formation in 2005, Hammock has released ten full-length albums and fi ...
& Andrew Thompson from
Hammock A hammock, from Spanish , borrowed from Taíno language, Taíno and Arawak language, Arawak , is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting, suspended between two or more points, used for swing (seat), swinging, sleeping, or Human relaxation, res ...
, Gordon Kennedy, Dave Perkins, Kenny Hutson,
Gurf Morlix Gurf Morlix (born 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and music producer. Career Born in Buffalo, New York, Morlix moved to Texas in 1975 and performed with Blaze Foley. He moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and joined Lucinda Williams's band. ...
,
Colin Linden Colin Kendall Linden (born 16 April 1960) is a Canadian guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Linden plays acoustic and electric guitar, specializing in slide guitar, country blues, and ragtime fingerpicking, who frequently collaborates wi ...
,
Mike Roe Michael Roe (born October 12, 1954) is an American, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is a founding member of the band the 77s and the Lost Dogs and has recorded several solo albums. Career Although he has released several solo albu ...
,
Lynn Nichols Lynn Nichols is an American songwriter,(January 24, 2009New 'Day' Dawns ''Billboard (magazine)'' (identifying Nichols as a producer with associations with Phil Keaggy and Switchfoot) and musician from New York who now resides in Tennessee. In ...
,
Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born April 9, 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician, and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and graduated from Taylor University in 1975. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been ...

Banjo: Dave Perkins
Pedal Steel Guitar:
Al Perkins Al Perkins (born January 18, 1944) is an American guitarist known primarily for his steel guitar work. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential Dobro player" and began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2 ...
,
James Pennebaker James Whiting Pennebaker (born March 2, 1950) is an American social psychologist. He is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
, Michael Flanders
Mandolin: Kenny Hutson,
David Mansfield David Mansfield (born September 13, 1956) is an American musician and composer. Mansfield was raised in Leonia, New Jersey. His father, Newton Mansfield was a first violinist in the New York Philharmonic. David played guitar, pedal steel guita ...

Mandocello:
David Mansfield David Mansfield (born September 13, 1956) is an American musician and composer. Mansfield was raised in Leonia, New Jersey. His father, Newton Mansfield was a first violinist in the New York Philharmonic. David played guitar, pedal steel guita ...

Fiddle:
Jake Armerding Jake Armerding is an American folk musician and multi-instrumentalist from Boston, Massachusetts. He plays mostly acoustic string instruments like the mandolin, acoustic guitar, and fiddle. In 1990, Jake began playing with Northern Lights occasio ...
, James Pennebaker
Accordion: Jodie Moore, Tim Lauer
Hammond Organ: Tim Akers, Dennis Wage,
Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born April 9, 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician, and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and graduated from Taylor University in 1975. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been ...

Piano: Richard Souther
Harmony Vocals: Molly Felder, Katy Bowser,
Patricia Conroy Patricia Conroy (born January 30, 1964) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. In her career, she has released five studio albums, and one compilation album. She has also released 25 singles, including the ''RPM (magazine), RPM'' Country Tracks number o ...
,
Micky Dolenz George Michael Dolenz Jr. ( ; born March 8, 1945) is an American musician and actor. He was the drummer and one of two primary vocalists for the pop rock band the Monkees (1966–1970, and reunions until 2021), and a co-star of the TV series ''T ...
of
The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...
,
Terry Taylor Paul Worden Taylor III (born August 12, 1955) is an American retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Terry Taylor and for his time as an in-ring performer in National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and Wo ...
, Dug Pinnick, Glenn Spinner,
Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born April 9, 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician, and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and graduated from Taylor University in 1975. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been ...
and just about every musician who played on the tracks...
Produced and Engineered by:
Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born April 9, 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician, and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and graduated from Taylor University in 1975. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been ...

Additional Engineering: Glenn Spinner, David Harris, Nate Baldwin
Mix Engineer:
Todd Robbins Todd Robbins (born August 15, 1958) is an American magician, lecturer, actor, and author. Biography Todd Robbins was born in Long Beach, California, the son of a soap executive and a schoolteacher. At the age of 10, Robbins was introduced to ma ...

Mastering Engineer:
Richard Dodd Richard Dodd (born April 25, 1965) is an English cellist, recording artist and musician. He has appeared on numerous records beginning from The Three O'Clock's Album Sixteen Tambourines, and spanning different musical genres in Pop, with acts ...

Discography

Solo albums

* ''Carwreck Conversations'' (2004) * ''Carwreck Conversations'' Wildflower Records release in Europe (2007) * ''Rally at The Texas Hotel'' (2008) * ''Little Miracles'' (2010) * ''12 Hours'' (2011)

Compilation albums

* ''Winter in West Michigan: A Benefit for Heartside Community'' (song: "Light a Candle") (2002) * ''Standing Together: A Benefit for Public Schools'' ("Remember") (2003) * ''Paste Magazine Music Sampler No. 9'' ("Everybody but You") (2004) * ''One on One (One Songwriter, One Instrument)'' ("Remember") (2004) * ''Words'' ("Paper Moon") (2004) * ''Grand Rapids Compilation'' ("Velvet Elvis") (2005) * ''Standing Together 2: A Benefit for Public Schools'' ("Utah") (2009)

References

External links

Ralston Bowles official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowles, Ralston Songwriters from Michigan American rock musicians Musicians from Grand Rapids, Michigan Living people 1952 births