SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH BUTCH OWENS OF THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS QUARTET
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH BUTCH OWENS OF THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS
Once again, this interview shines the spotlight on an incredible bass singer, Butch Owens. Owens has sung with several groups over the years, but most notably has served as the bass singer for the legendary Blackwood Brothers since 2012. He comes from a great line of bass singers including his father Bidwell, and his son Ian Owens who currently sings bass for Soul’d Out Quartet. Owens has an unbelievable range and his distinctive low notes are crowd favorites. When I started this blog last month, Mr. Owens was one of the first people I contacted for an interview along with his son. He graciously agreed to this interview and I am thrilled to present it to you all now.
So without further ado!
J. Gilmore: Hello Mr. Owens! So, how did you get your start in Southern Gospel music?
B. Owens: Phillip Hughes called me just before my retirement to see if I would be interested in auditioning with the "Anchormen". I was, I did, and they offered me the position. I accepted, sang with them for a couple of weeks, and then, due to a glitch in a computer system, had to leave. By the time the glitch was fixed, they had filled the position. Phillip and I had formed a strong friendship as a result of the aforementioned interaction. In December, 2002, Phillip informed me that the "Stamps" quartet was auditioning for the bass vocal position. I auditioned on December 27th, and began work with them on February 1, 2003.
J. Gilmore: That’s fascinating! Who are your musical influences?
B. Owens: My mother and father. Mother played piano, and my father sings bass. I have tried not to let other's influence my style of singing simply because I wanted my singing to stand alone.
J. Gilmore: Well, I believe you have succeeded in terms of standalone singing style! You are a part of a great line of bass singers. Who is your favorite bass singer?
B. Owens: Of course my father would be my favorite bass singer; but because of the man he is as much, if not more, than his singing. Of those who have sung, or are still singing bass full time, my favorite is my son, Ian. (Soul'd Out) He has incredible range, great bottom end, and can solo as well as I've ever heard. More importantly, he is a man with high moral character, ethics, and more compassion than a room full of clergy.
J. Gilmore: Ian is an incredible bass and a great man of God. I have had the pleasure of meeting him while he was with Signature Sound and will never forget his kindness toward me and my family! What is the lowest bass note you can hit?
B. Owens: Consistently a low F. However, on a really good night, there is no telling.
J. Gilmore: Awesome!! Who are your favorite groups? Past or present
B. Owens: Cathedrals, Kingsmen, Gold City, (Jay, Jonathan, Mark, and Tim), and The Dixie Echoes.
J. Gilmore: Great list! Those groups are legendary! Speaking of legends, how did you come in contact with the Blackwood Brothers?
B. Owens: Billy Blackwood was given my name by a gentleman in California that thought I would be a good fit. Billy ran my contact info down and invited me to audition.
J. Gilmore: Wow! That must have been a thrill to audition! What has been the best part of traveling with the Blackwood Brothers?
B. Owens: The teamwork and lack of friction. The Blackwood Brothers, Billy, Mike, Wayne, and myself are as much a team during setup, tear down, and anything else we do, as we are on the platform singing.
J. Gilmore: Great! What is your favorite song to sing?
B. Owens: I Saw A Man
J. Gilmore: What is your favorite Scripture verse?
B. Owens: Psalms 46:10. Paraphrasing; Be still and KNOW that I AM GOD......... Covers any situation a man or woman could face.
J. Gilmore: What a great word!! What is something that people might not about you?
B. Owens: I'm an avid shooter, and love firearms. I shot on the pistol team in both the Military and the Police Department. I won my first rifle competition when I was eleven years old.
J. Gilmore: Wow! Thank you for your service to our country! What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your years of singing Gospel music?
B. Owens: When I was with the Stamps, we were touring for Elvis Presley Enterprises, doing the "Elvis In Concert" tour. We had several concerts in Australia. After doing the show in Sydney, a reporter for Sydney's largest paper, reported on the concert. In that report were these words; "Then the Stamps Quartet came forward to sing their A Cappella version of "Sweet Spirit". It was the only time the entire night that the building was silent except for those four voices. And even though I am an atheist, I felt a stirring I can't explain". Reading that article reaffirmed my belief that gospel music reaches people with a need to hear the Word, who may never darken the door of a church. There were tens of thousands of people in the arena that night.
J. Gilmore: What an incredible story! God Bless! Thank you for your time!
For more information on Butch and the Blackwood Brothers, visit their website: http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/index.html