Matt Bowlin, a Singer/Songwriter & Celebrity Co-Star on PBS – Reality TV Show “UTOPIA JOE”, is a music-driven nomad in pursuit of a dream. After serving six years in the Armed Forces (U.S.M.C), Matt left a promising career in the military to gamble on a different roll, one in the music business.
“I started writing lyrics about a year before my second enlistment was up,” Matt explained, “Until then, it was an undiscovered God given gift and I figured I’d better do something with it. I wanted to learn to play the guitar, study voice, learn to perform and I remembered a college where you could learn to do just that.”
Heading west into the sun and arriving on the Llano Estacado of west Texas, Matt enrolled in the commercial music program at South Plains College in Levelland. The college commercial music program is credited with alumnus such as, LeAnne Womack, Heath Wright (Richochet), Jedd Hughes, Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks), and many more.
Switching gears from guns to guitars, Matt studied Speech Level Singing (technique method by Seth Riggs) and performed with S.P.C.’s ‘Thursday Nite Live’, one of the college’s most prestigious audition ensembles. Somewhere between then and there, Matt broadened his performing style, and navigated towards Western Swing and was awarded S.P.C.’s 2004-2005 Male Vocalist of the Year in Country/Western Swing.
Accelerated under the influence by the late Waylon Jennings, American Icon, Willie Nelson, Texas balladeer George Strait and songwriters Jim Croce and Kris Kristopherson, Matt’s booming baritone voice fuses the sounds of traditional country, western swing, folk and southern rock. Bowlin’s versatility allows him to cover a range of classics and new-age as well as his own songs.
“I started singing more of my originals after a floor-thumping experience in Luckenbach, Texas, a town made famous by the 1977 number one hit,” Matt explains, “The bartender talked me into picking up the house guitar and singing a tune. It’s like a tradition down there to pass around the house guitar. Everyone plays.” The song Matt sang, “Honky Tonk Fate” (an original), revved up tourists and locals alike. “In a music mecca like Luckenbach, it was amazing to have people clapping, stomping, playing guitars and singing along on the chorus. It was a rush, Matt says.” I was thrilled they were into the song. It was about the best compliment I could have received.”
Since his experiences in Luckenbach and Levelland, Matt has rambled on to write and perform his music in traveling bands. He has been on the road consistently since the spring of 2006, performing in Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. He was a district finalist for Nashville Star in 2006, opened shows for Flynnville Train (ShowDogRecords) and Cody McCarver (PLC Records) in 2007, and legendary greats, B.J. Thomas and Billy Joe Royal.
“Opening a show like that was the privilege of a lifetime,” Bowlin said. Chips Moman handed him that opportunity after hearing Matt sing a few duets with another singer at the 2007 National Cornbread Festival. “We were having fun with some oldies and Chips happened to be there,” Bowlin recalled. “He asked Garrett Miles and I if we’d like to come down to La Grange and open for B.J. and Billy Joe with the Memphis Boys as the house band. Jumping at the opportunity, sharing the stage that night I thought, ‘wow, this is the life for me!”
“Matt is the Millenium Rendition of Elvis that women have been longing for in Country Music Television.” - Tiffany Bohrer, Co-Star on “Utopia Joe” TV Show- PBS “Bowlin’s bound for an outrageous success on Country Music Television!” -Lt. Col Jim Reilly, USMC “Matt’s the real deal and a blast on the show!” -Tommy Jett, DJ “Matt is the old Hank Williams with a new edge.” -Ferris Wheel Productions “Matt Bowlin is an original soul who breathes unique existence into every song he sings. His song is his journey. He’s not just singing for a living, but singing out of his living.”-Todd South, Chattanooga Press
HOOFERS – La Grange, Georgia (opened for B.J. Thomas & Billy Joe Royal)
COWYBOYS – Albuquerque, New Mexico (opened for Flynnville Train with ‘Ty One On’ band)
TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR AND GRILL – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR AND GRILL-Tulsa, Oklahoma
BOB WILLS DAY FESTIVAL – Turkey Texas
WAYLON JENNINGS FEST – Littlefield, Texas
THE STAGE – Monteagle, Tennessee (opened for Cody McCarver)
TAVERN IN THE GRUENE – Gruene, Texas
THE WORMY DOG SALOON – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
THE NATIONAL CORNBREAD FESTIVAL – South Pittsburg, Tennessee
COWBOYS – Casper, Wyoming
LA BONTE – Douglas, Wyoming
OUTLAW SALOON – Cheyenne, Wyoming
MONTANA CHADS – Billings, Montana
LONESOME DOVE – Mandan, North Dakota
SHOOTING STAR CASINO – Mahnomen, Minnesota
ROCKIN’ HORSE SALOON – Minot, North Dakota
THE MUSEUM CLUB – Flagstaff, Arizona
P.T.’s – Winslow, Arizona
THE WINDY MESA – Page, Arizona
WIN, PLACE AND SHOW – Ruidoso, New Mexico
SIVER SPUR/STEVENS INN – Carlsbad, New Mexico
THE OFFICE BAR – Farmington, New Mexico
STEVERINO’S – South Pittsburg, Tennessee
BASH RIPROCKS – Lubbock, Texas
THE WEST TEXAS ICEHOUSE – Lubbock, Texas
THE SPORTSMAN BAR – Quitoque, Texas
Bio
Matt Bowlin
Singer / Songwriter
Matt Bowlin, a Singer/Songwriter & Celebrity Co-Star on PBS – Reality TV Show “UTOPIA JOE”, is a music-driven nomad in pursuit of a dream. After serving six years in the Armed Forces (U.S.M.C), Matt left a promising career in the military to gamble on a different roll, one in the music business.
“I started writing lyrics about a year before my second enlistment was up,” Matt explained, “Until then, it was an undiscovered God given gift and I figured I’d better do something with it. I wanted to learn to play the guitar, study voice, learn to perform and I remembered a college where you could learn to do just that.”
Heading west into the sun and arriving on the Llano Estacado of west Texas, Matt enrolled in the commercial music program at South Plains College in Levelland. The college commercial music program is credited with alumnus such as, LeAnne Womack, Heath Wright (Richochet), Jedd Hughes, Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks), and many more.
Switching gears from guns to guitars, Matt studied Speech Level Singing (technique method by Seth Riggs) and performed with S.P.C.’s ‘Thursday Nite Live’, one of the college’s most prestigious audition ensembles. Somewhere between then and there, Matt broadened his performing style, and navigated towards Western Swing and was awarded S.P.C.’s 2004-2005 Male Vocalist of the Year in Country/Western Swing.
Accelerated under the influence by the late Waylon Jennings, American Icon, Willie Nelson, Texas balladeer George Strait and songwriters Jim Croce and Kris Kristopherson, Matt’s booming baritone voice fuses the sounds of traditional country, western swing, folk and southern rock. Bowlin’s versatility allows him to cover a range of classics and new-age as well as his own songs.
“I started singing more of my originals after a floor-thumping experience in Luckenbach, Texas, a town made famous by the 1977 number one hit,” Matt explains, “The bartender talked me into picking up the house guitar and singing a tune. It’s like a tradition down there to pass around the house guitar. Everyone plays.” The song Matt sang, “Honky Tonk Fate” (an original), revved up tourists and locals alike. “In a music mecca like Luckenbach, it was amazing to have people clapping, stomping, playing guitars and singing along on the chorus. It was a rush, Matt says.” I was thrilled they were into the song. It was about the best compliment I could have received.”
Since his experiences in Luckenbach and Levelland, Matt has rambled on to write and perform his music in traveling bands. He has been on the road consistently since the spring of 2006, performing in Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. He was a district finalist for Nashville Star in 2006, opened shows for Flynnville Train (ShowDogRecords) and Cody McCarver (PLC Records) in 2007, and legendary greats, B.J. Thomas and Billy Joe Royal.
“Opening a show like that was the privilege of a lifetime,” Bowlin said. Chips Moman handed him that opportunity after hearing Matt sing a few duets with another singer at the 2007 National Cornbread Festival. “We were having fun with some oldies and Chips happened to be there,” Bowlin recalled. “He asked Garrett Miles and I if we’d like to come down to La Grange and open for B.J. and Billy Joe with the Memphis Boys as the house band. Jumping at the opportunity, sharing the stage that night I thought, ‘wow, this is the life for me!”
“Matt is the Millenium Rendition of Elvis that women have been longing for in Country Music Television.” - Tiffany Bohrer, Co-Star on “Utopia Joe” TV Show- PBS
“Bowlin’s bound for an outrageous success on Country Music Television!” -Lt. Col Jim Reilly, USMC
“Matt’s the real deal and a blast on the show!” -Tommy Jett, DJ
“Matt is the old Hank Williams with a new edge.” -Ferris Wheel Productions
“Matt Bowlin is an original soul who breathes unique existence into every song he sings. His song is his journey. He’s not just singing for a living, but singing out of his living.” -Todd South, Chattanooga Press
Got a Venue? Book Matt
Venues Played
HOOFERS – La Grange, Georgia (opened for B.J. Thomas & Billy Joe Royal)
COWYBOYS – Albuquerque, New Mexico (opened for Flynnville Train with ‘Ty One On’ band)
TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR AND GRILL – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR AND GRILL-Tulsa, Oklahoma
BOB WILLS DAY FESTIVAL – Turkey Texas
WAYLON JENNINGS FEST – Littlefield, Texas
THE STAGE – Monteagle, Tennessee (opened for Cody McCarver)
TAVERN IN THE GRUENE – Gruene, Texas
THE WORMY DOG SALOON – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
THE NATIONAL CORNBREAD FESTIVAL – South Pittsburg, Tennessee
COWBOYS – Casper, Wyoming
LA BONTE – Douglas, Wyoming
OUTLAW SALOON – Cheyenne, Wyoming
MONTANA CHADS – Billings, Montana
LONESOME DOVE – Mandan, North Dakota
SHOOTING STAR CASINO – Mahnomen, Minnesota
ROCKIN’ HORSE SALOON – Minot, North Dakota
THE MUSEUM CLUB – Flagstaff, Arizona
P.T.’s – Winslow, Arizona
THE WINDY MESA – Page, Arizona
WIN, PLACE AND SHOW – Ruidoso, New Mexico
SIVER SPUR/STEVENS INN – Carlsbad, New Mexico
THE OFFICE BAR – Farmington, New Mexico
STEVERINO’S – South Pittsburg, Tennessee
BASH RIPROCKS – Lubbock, Texas
THE WEST TEXAS ICEHOUSE – Lubbock, Texas
THE SPORTSMAN BAR – Quitoque, Texas
FRIENDS – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
RHINESTONE COWBOY – Moore, Oklahoma
RODEO OPRY – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
MAMA ROJAS - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
GILLIGAN’S-Surf City, North Carolina
THE BRASS PELICAN - Surf City, North Carolina
CASTAWAYS – Surf City, North Carolina
MARGARITTA’S PUB – Surf City North Carolina