The Rowans, also known as The Rowan Brothers, are an American

country-rock Country rock is a music genre that fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal sty ...

group, originally formed by the brothers Chris Rowan and Lorin Rowan. They were joined by another brother, Peter Rowan, for their second, third and fourth album. Chris and Lorin were still playing together in 2019 at the Trident in Sausalito, CA.

Early years

Chris and Lorin were raised close to Boston, but in the beginning of 1970, they moved to the West Coast to pursue their music. In 1971, they opened for

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, Folk music, folk, country music, country, bluegrass music, bluegrass, roc ...

as their first gig in San Francisco. Their first album, ''The Rowan Brothers'', was issued on

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

. It was very well critically acclaimed, except by

Lester Bangs Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs (December 14, 1948 – April 30, 1982) was an American music journalist and critic. He wrote for ''Creem'' and ''Rolling Stone'' magazines and was also a performing musician. The music critic Jim DeRogatis called ...

who savaged the LP in a ''

Creem ''Creem'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American rock music magazine and entertainment company, founded in Detroit, whose initial print run lasted from 1969 to 1989. It was first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor ...

'' magazine review. The album included such guests as

Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician who was the lead guitarist and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 196 ...

and

Bill Kreutzmann William Kreutzmann Jr. ( ; born May 7, 1946) is an American drummer and founding member of the rock band Grateful Dead. He played with the band for its entire thirty-year career, usually alongside fellow drummer Mickey Hart, and has continued to ...

of Grateful Dead and was co-produced by David Grisman. Part of a 1971 rehearsal by the Rowan Brothers at the

Fillmore West The Fillmore West was a historic rock and roll music venue in San Francisco, California, US which became famous under the direction of concert promoter Bill Graham from 1968 to 1971. Named after The Fillmore at the intersection of Fillmore ...

auditorium is included in the documentary film '' Fillmore''.

Trio with Peter Rowan

The group had problems after the first record because their benefactor,

Clive Davis Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1 ...

, lost his job at Columbia. They were signed to Asylum Records as The Rowans and issued their next album in 1975, this time joined by their more famous brother, Peter Rowan, who brought in such hits as "Midnight Moonlight" and "Thunder on the Mountain". After releasing three albums as a trio, Peter left the group to pursue bluegrass music.

Duo again

Chris and Lorin have continued playing as a duo, with Peter joining them from time to time. Their project, ''Now and Then'', was issued in 2004 on BOS Music.Press release from their official website, September 2004
/ref> They also play regularly with David Gans in the

Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

tribute band Rubber Souldiers. In 2002, Chris and Lorin added harmonies on 9 cuts of Bay Area country rocker J.C. Flyer's album, Movin' On.

Discography

Chris and Lorin

* '' The Rowan Brothers'' (1972) * '' Livin' the Life'' (1980) * '' Now and Then'' (2004)

Chris, Lorin and Peter

* '' The Rowans'' (1975) * ''

Sibling Rivalry Sibling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among siblings, whether blood-related or not. In childhood, siblings generally spend more time together than they do with parents. Sibling bonds are influenced by factors such as parental ...

'' (1976) * ''

Jubilation Jubilation may refer to: * Jubilation!, a parade at Tokyo Disneyland * ''Jubilation'' (The Band album), 1998 * ''Jubilation'' (Randy Johnston album), 1994 * ''Jubilation'' (The Rowans album), 1977 * ''Jubilation'', a musical composition by Rich ...

'' (1977) * '' Crazy People'' (2002)

Peter Rowan & The Rowan Brothers

* '' Tree on a Hill'' (1993)

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowans Living people Musical groups from Boston Sibling musical trios American country rock groups Progressive bluegrass music groups American folk rock groups Year of birth missing (living people)