Welcome !    

The fact that Jim Bowers learned to play guitar from a bona fide local legend may have something to do with who Jim Bowers turned out to be, and the nature of his words and music. But Jim’s mentor wasn’t the only one to have a hand in his formation. There was his grandfather, a union man who believed in Jesus, John L. Lewis, and his own secret recipe for moonshine. There were his parents, and the Central Illinois region in which he came up, not to mention the turbulent times of the 1960’s and 1970’s, when protest and guitar went hand in hand.

Jim's been playing guitar since he was around ten. He played solo and in small groups in his 20's, mostly doing covers of music that worked on him. He picked up writing seriously again back around the turn of the millenium. Jim is a political science professor in his day job. He tacks a Dr. at the front of his name when he’s playing that role. He has dabbled in the pond of professional politics, and managed to come out of it without too much slime on his back. Jim Bowers cares about things. Generally, he cares vehemently. He’s an outspoken sonofagun and one of the most loyal and persistent friends a body could hope to have. His music is his outlet for all of that.

Jim’s heroes have played a role in his sound; people as diverse as the Mike Nesmith (mostly post-Monkees), Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and  The Dady Brothers. There’s a tinge of hillbilly in the music, a little bit of folk, some down-home blues, and a quality that comes straight from the soul. Come on in and enjoy the website. Get excited about Jim’s causes and cussin’ points. And don’t forget to buy something, will ya?