Description
Bryan Bowers – The View From Home – Vinyl Record
The View From Home is an album by Bryan Bowers, an accomplished autoharp player known for his mastery of the instrument and his contributions to American folk music. Released in 1986, this album highlights Bowers’ technical skill and deep emotional connection to traditional folk tunes, as well as his own original compositions.
The album likely features a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks, showcasing Bowers’ ability to blend complex autoharp techniques with heartfelt singing. His music often explores themes of home, family, and the natural beauty of the American landscape, delivered through both traditional songs and personal reflections.
Listeners can expect The View From Home to offer soothing, intricate melodies that resonate with the warmth and familiarity of folk music. Bryan Bowers’ work appeals to those who appreciate the artistry of traditional American music and the unique sounds of the autoharp. His albums, including “The View From Home,” are celebrated for their craftsmanship and the serene, engaging atmospheres they create.
Autoharpist Bryan Bowers was born in St. Petersburg, VA, on August 18, 1940. As a boy, he would often sing along with the call-and-response harmonies of the railroad workers. He enrolled at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, VA, where he eventually began playing the guitar. But an itinerant multi-instrumentalist turned him on to the autoharp, and he was immediately hooked. Bowers dropped out of school and in 1971 moved to Seattle.
While in Washington, Bowers busked on street corners and in barrooms, honing his autoharp performance skills. Then he made his way to Washington, D.C., where he was noticed by the Dillards during a performance at that city’s famed folk club The Cellar Door. He tagged along with the band to a bluegrass festival in Berryville, VA, and when they brought Bowers out for their final encore, he brought the house down. Bowers’ five-fingered picking of the instrument (rather than the traditional strum) was unique, and added resonance to his already dynamic performances.
In 1977, Bowers signed with the Flying Fish label, which released his debut in 1977. View from Home featured contributions from New Grass Revival members Sam Bush and Courtney Johnson. Released in 1980, Home, Home on the Road showcased not only Bowers’ astonishing autoharp technique, but his easygoing wit as well. Bowers was always as much a singer and storyteller as he was an instrumental virtuoso; the rich vocals and Celtic arrangements on his 1982 LP, For You, speak to this.
Despite these successful recordings, Bowers was always more comfortable as a live performer, and continued to appear at festivals and workshops throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Finally, in 2000, Bowers returned to wax with Friend for Life. He also released an instructional autoharp video intended for intermediate players interested in taking the next step toward advanced songs and styles.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
Flying Fish Records 1987 FF-037
Track Listing
Blackberry Blossom
St. Anne’s Reel
Golden Slippers
Black Jack Davey
Liberty
Satisfied Mind
Red Haired Boy
Walkin’ in Jerusalem
Rights of Man
Simple Gifts
Fisher’s Hornpipe
Gold Watch and Chain
The View from Home
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.