Leslie Bowe

Artist Information

Biography

Award-winning recording artist Leslie Bowe’s debut single "Hallelujah" was released to Hot AC national radio in June 2008. He has opened for Maxi Priest, Third World, The Wailers, UB 40 and, most recently, Patty Griffin.

Leslie was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Tunesmith Songwriting Contest in Nashville and the Grand Prize Winner of the Stagenoise 2007 International Songwriting Contest. He was also the 2008 Second Place Winner in the "Song of Peace Songwriting Competition" for the Tipperary Peace Convention held in Tipperary, Ireland. Leslie was also a Finalist for Heineken's 2008 Red Star Soul Independent Achiever Award for Chicago, IL.

A Pittsburgh Native, Leslie was a regular at the local clubs. "I loved playing at the Shadow Lounge in Pittsburgh because they respect and support the music and the artist. The vibe is the same whether you’re an unknown independent or known major act. It’s all about the music at the Shadow Lounge."

Bowe’s fans in Pittsburgh, where he started and is still a big favorite, are no strangers to his soulful style. After relocating to Chicago, a whole new audience was regularly astounded at the energy and insight he brought to the stage. He is having the same impact at shows in front of new fans in Philadelphia, New York, and Nashville.

As a child, he was drawn to the music his father and uncles - members of a group that sang acapella gospel and Sixties music. When they realized he could handle both melody and harmony with equal ease, he became part of the group. His influences include: Ben harper, Seal, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Bunny Ruggs and Third World.

Bowe produced two previous albums, "Gypsy" and "Through My Eyes", both of which are available on CD Baby. His new album, "Color of Sound" includes the tracks "Hallelujah" and the title song "Color of Sound" with lyrics that give us a clue about what really drives Leslie Bowe. "This is how I feel", he sings in the refrain to a driving, heart felt, message driven neo-soul flavor, "I’m crying from the bottom of my heart, something real – you cannot conceal… the color of sound."

It’s a message that resonates with all of his fans around the world and new fans in his new home town of Orlando, FL.

Fresh. Authentic. Soulful.

A portion of Leslie Bowe’s CD sales go directly to the World Food Program

Instrumentation

Solo:
Leslie Bowe - lead vocals, keys & acoustic guitar

Full Band includes the addition of:
Chizzy Chuck Kristan - drums
DonnieDread Cyrus - Bass, backing vocals
Drew Drauer - keys
Jared Greece - guitars, backing vocals
Cottrell – percussion

Discography

Songs can be streamed from lesliebowe.com -
myspace.com/lesliebowe
CDBaby.com/all/lesliebowe or digstation.com/lesliebowe

Links

• MySpace
• Leslie Bowe on TAXI
• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Jango

Audio

• Color of Sound
  Listen  
• Take Me There
  Listen  
• Hallelujah
  Listen  
• Gypsy
  Listen  
• This Time
  Listen  
• Fall
  Listen  
• Mr. Man
  Listen  
• It's Alright
  Listen  
• Home to Heaven
  Listen  
• Blind Love
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Color of Sound
• Take Me There
• Hallelujah
• Gypsy
• This Time
• Fall
• Mr. Man
• It's Alright
• Home To Heaven
• Blind Love

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• For booking or more info about LESLIE BOWE - Please contact:
  

  Lisa Vogl (231) 357-4907 e-mail: lisa@lesliebowe.com

• "Gypsy" Review - Dec, 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  If Donny Hathaway had played guitar rather than piano, he may have made music like this. Especially ...If Donny Hathaway had played guitar rather than piano, he may have made music like this. Especially on "Here With Me" Leslie Bowes channels a hint of Hathaway's soulful spirit. Others might likewise draw comparisons to Sam Cooke. "Gypsy" is Bowe's third singer-songwriter release, and is totally earnest and genuine.
  
  © Alan Fark
  
  
  

• Leslie Bowe – Gypsy / 2006 Arro / 10 Tracks / http://www.lesliebowe.com / Reviewed 08 November 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  The title track shows Leslie Bowe as a singer that is in the Edwin McCain style of indie rock. There...The title track shows Leslie Bowe as a singer that is in the Edwin McCain style of indie rock. There is a certain timeless nature to eir music that will increase listenership, for sure. However hopeful and smooth Bowe’s vocals are on this track, the fact remains that Bowe brings a delightful despair for anyone that is listening to the disc. This same soulful sound is present during “Fall”, which has more of a vocals on the vocals of Bowe than the instrumentation that plays an integral part in the background. The track positions itself in a smooth jazz meets adult contemporary vein, and even though the song is about six minutes, Bowe makes the time go by quickly.
  
  The more direct approach done by Bowe during “Mr. Man” keeps things interesting. The production of the disc allows for individuals that might pick up this album to go forth and stick this on a radio station or their iPod. There are a lot of individuals that are trying to do exactly what Leslie Bowe is doing on “Gypsy”, but Bowe surpasses all of them with a strong yet flexible approach to the creative process. One has to stick with the track for a few minutes, but “Mr. Man” has a shift in Bowe’s sound that allows for a layered vocal approach to really wow listeners.
  
  One should just keep listening to the entirety of “Gypsy”, starting at track one and listening to the rest of the disc. Each subsequent track on the disc is a stronger effort by Leslie Bowe, and ey just is more and more impressive with each minute that ticks by. There are few direct comparisons that one can make to other artists during the runtime of “Gypsy”. Individuals just need to listen in to the smooth pop, jazz, light rock approach of Bowe and be swept away for the better part of forty-five minutes. Hopefully the right people find this disc and can give Bowe the publicity that ey deserves. I know, after listening to this disc, that I will be paying much more attention to the travails of Leslie Bowe. Here’s to hoping that ey can cut a few more albums that share the same quality of “Gypsy”. The talent and skill is present, but success on Bowe’s part is dependent on whether ey can come up with the same inspired music that is created with every track on “Gypsy”.
  
  Top Tracks: It’s You, Mr. Man
  
  Rating: 7.3/10
  
  [JMcQ]
  
  

• Leslie Bowe - "Gypsy" Reviewed by Laura Turner Lynch [+ Show ]
  

  LESLIE BOWE – GYPSY: Leslie Bowe started singing both harmony and melody at an early age. In college...LESLIE BOWE – GYPSY: Leslie Bowe started singing both harmony and melody at an early age. In college, he learned piano and song craft. Today, Bowe is a performer, producer and writer.Gypsy is Leslie’s third release featuring ten soft rockers. His music is acoustic based in settings that are laid back and enhanced by potent piano parts. Bowe’s thoughtful lyrics are based on personal experiences adding to the sincerity of his songs. Leslie has a silky, soothing vocal style. Clearly, he is a soulful singer committed to his art. The CD as a whole is good but I particularly like the dramatic and sad ‘Fall’ and the piano and expressive vocals on ‘Borderline’. Gypsy is crisp and clean with no need of overdubs as Leslie’s voice and mellow music strikes just the right note!
  • Recommended Tracks: (2,8) [USA/IL 2006 - web]
  
  (Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)

• Leslie Bowe - "Through My Eyes" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Singer/keyboardist Leslie Bowe covers affairs of the heart on his full-length, Through My Eyes, with...Singer/keyboardist Leslie Bowe covers affairs of the heart on his full-length, Through My Eyes, with help from a top-notch back-up band. His soulful vocal style works well on the romantic pop of “It’s You” as well as the melancholy “I’ll Be Waiting.” The smooth jazz approach seems odd for the politically charged “Mr. Man,” so Bowe wisely added a more effective acoustic version featuring just himself and guitarist Dan Shields. (www.lesliebowe.com)
  
  – Terrence Flamm
  
  http://illinoisentertainer.com/2006/05/31/local-cd-reviews-7/
  
  

• CoffeehouseTour.com [+ Show ]
  

  Leslie Bowe - "Through My Eyes" - From the opening track of this 10 song CD, "Mr Man", I was incred...Leslie Bowe - "Through My Eyes" - From the opening track of this 10 song CD, "Mr Man", I was incredibly impressed with the soul and lyrical intelligence of Leslie Bowe's music. It's clear that the human condition drives the music in the project, and Leslie has become the very first Native American to arrive in my mail with a CD and WOW! As I listened further, I was absolutely entranced with his sensual, melodic vocal expression. The whole CD maintains an earthy, soulful, relaxing and enticing mood. This is a project of great taste and expertly engineered instrumentation. And, is clearly a production of great worth to the world...period. The cut "Freedom" was deliberately thought provoking..almost to tears, and I actually listened to it twice before proceeding through the remainder of the disc. Leslie Bowe is one of many passionate songwriters that attempt to speak to the heart, but one of even fewer that actually reach it. I want more.
  
  CHT pick: "Freedom" Reviewed By Annette Warner
  

• "Through My Eyes" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  "The first time I heard Leslie's music I knew it was something special. His vocals have so much emo..."The first time I heard Leslie's music I knew it was something special. His vocals have so much emotion you feel the words. And the music has a smooth groove that draws you into it. Leslie should be a star!"
  
  Greg Gillispie
  Program Director
  WWSW 94.5 FM & WBGG
  Clear Channel Communications, Inc.

• "Through My Eyes" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  "I like your songs and your style... it's certainly significantly better than much of the music I he..."I like your songs and your style... it's certainly significantly better than much of the music I hear at the AC format level."
  
  Mike McVay
  President
  McVay Media Radio Consulting
  

• CD Release Party Review [+ Show ]
  

  "If I had to sum up Leslie Bowe’s latest CD release party in one word it would have to be “Class”. T..."If I had to sum up Leslie Bowe’s latest CD release party in one word it would have to be “Class”. The band, the music and the performance that night were first class. It can’t get any better. Anyone who hasn’t seen Les perform has missed one of the best talents in Pittsburgh today.
  
  Les’s latest CD “Through My Eyes” is a powerful music journey filled with love, soul and emotion guiding you through each tune. Having known and worked with Les for a few years now I can say that both Les and his music are genuine and his songwriting comes straight from the soul.
  
  My hat goes off to Les for a magnificent job both with his powerful songwriting and musical arrangements."
  
  Van Stragand
  President
  Pittsburgh Songwriters Association
  

Setlist

Two 60-90 minute sets of original music

Basic Requirements

Calendar