Richard Bowden was born in Linden, Texas on September 30, 1945. In 1963 he put his own band together with some friends, Don Henley, Jerry Surratt, and Freddie Neese – the FOUR SPEEDS. Freddie Neese was replaced by Joey Brown and the band’s name changed to FELICITY. In 1969 Joey Brown left FELICITY, and Richard took over guitar duties. Mike Bowden, cousin of Richard, joined the band as their bass player. Jerry Surratt was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1970 and was replaced by Jim Ed Norman.

In 1969 FELICITY wanted to augment their line-up by adding another guitarist. When they attended a concert by a group called FOXX, they found the musician they were looking for – Al Perkins. The band changed its name to SHILOH. The band had met Kenny Rogers, who encouraged them to go to Los Angeles. Shiloh recorded an album, with Kenny Rogers as the producer. In April 1971 SHILOH disbanded. Al Perkins replaced Sneaky Pete Kleinow in the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS and Jim Ed Norman became a producer. Richard and Mike Bowden and Don Henley teamed with Glenn Frey from LONGBRANCH PENNYWHISTLE and Linda Ronstadt to form the LINDA RONSTADT BAND.

 When Don Henley and Glenn Frey left in September 1971 to form the EAGLES with Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, Richard Bowden stayed for the reformation of the LINDA RONSTADT BAND. The new drummer was Mickey McGee, and Ed Black (now deceased) joined as steel guitarist. This new band lasted until 1973 and was disbanded during the recording of Linda Ronstadt’s “Don’t Cry Now” album, when Ronstadt suddenly decided to take a sabbatical.

Later In 1973, Sneaky Pete Kleinow wanted to start his own band and he asked Richard Bowden to help him find the right musicians. Richard brought his Linden, Texas buddies together to form the band, COLD STEEL. Mike Bowden – bass, Richard – guitar, David Lovelace – keyboards, and Greg Attaway – drums. Gib Guilbeau occasionally sat in with COLD STEEL. (For a short period in 1974, the band changed their name to LONE STAR.)

In the summer of 1974 Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Gib Guilbeau came together with Gene Parsons, Joel Scott Hill and Chris Ethridge from the DOCKER HILL BOYS to reform the FLYING BURRITOBROTHERS. Richard Bowden, David Lovelace, and Greg Attaway joined Roger McGuinn and Stephen A. Love in the ROGER McGUINN BAND. Mike Bowden had decided to concentrate on session work and did not join the group. The band stayed together almost two years. In 1976 Roger McGuinn decided to break up the band, and he then joined Bob Dylan in the ROLLINGTHUNDER REVUE. Dan Fogelberg was looking for a guitarist and Richard Bowden got the job.

Richard wasn’t really satisfied with being a side-man, so he left Dan Fogelberg’s band. He broke his wrist on a dune buggy, and ended up taking a long vacation. For almost a year he did not play music. In 1978, Richard started a new band with Mickey McGee – BLUE STEEL. Leonard Arnold, Howard Burke, and Marc Durham joined the band. In 1980, Mickey McGee left the band and was replaced by Michael Huey. In 1980 BLUE STEEL was playing as the opening act on the EAGLES’ “Long Run Tour”. During this period, Infinity Records (the band’s label) folded. Marc Durham left the band and David Dickey of AMERICA joined them. They were able to secure a recording contract with Electra Records; however, after recording “Nothing but Time”, the band broke up. In September 1981, Gib Guilbeau called and asked Richard to play bass for some concerts of the BURRITO BROTHERS, which he did.

Richard was disillusioned with the L.A. band scene. He moved to Nashville, where he met up with his SHILOHbandmate – Jim Ed Norman. Norman introduced Richard to Sandy Pinkard. Norman made the proposal that the two musicians should combine their songwriting skills in a collaborative effort. They tried to write serious songs, but they always found things to laugh about. They soon started changing their own lyrics, as well as the lyrics of songs by other writers. These parodies caught on and developed a following. From there, Sandy Pinkard and Richard Bowden started to entertain people as the comedy duo - PINKARD & BOWDEN. In 1983 Robb Strandlund joined the duo and helped on their first two albums. They spent the next 16 years creating albums, appearing on radio and television shows, and making live comedy club audiences laugh. In the summer of 1998 the team broke up. Richard and his wife Karen returned home to Linden, Texas. In 2001 Richard formed his current band – MOON & THE STARZ. This band reunited him with COLD STEEL buddies David Lovelace and Greg Attaway. They were joined by HICKORY HILL’s leader and gifted songwriter – John Early, and Linden boyhood friend – Joe Hamilton. David Lovelace passed away in 2003 and was replaced by another Lindenite – Pat Roberson.

The band and friends formed a non-profit corporation, Music City Texas, Inc., which now has restored the historic Linden American Legion Hall into a quality theater. This theater is 420 seats and presents a very intimate setting. The Legion Hall was the birthplace of the music careers of both Richard Bowden and Don Henley. The organization is also developing a Texas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the catalyst for economic revitalization in the community. The theater has hosted the following acts since its opening in May 2003: T. Graham Brown, Jo-El Sonnier, Don Ross, Hickory Hill, Cadillac Sky, Tommy Cash, Glen Road, Joanna Jordon, Riders in the Sky, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Diddley Squat Band, Dana Cooper, Tommy Alverson, Jamie Richards, Jason Allen, The Crucigers, Lone Star Bluegrass Band, The Guppies from Outer Space, Back in Black, Kelly McGuire, and The Masat Family. The theater also showcases up & coming talent from northeast Texas during the first Saturday concerts which headlines Richard Bowden and the Moon & the Starz.

Richard Bowden is currently a third term councilman for the City of Linden, President of Music City Texas, Inc., and a Director for the Linden Economic Development Corporation. He and Karen organize the Lion Club’s Follies, which is presented at the Music City Texas Theater. They are members of the Linden Methodist Church choir. He is the city’s unofficial Ambassador, and is a leading force in heritage tourism development in Northeast Texas.

Credit:
www.starclustermusic.com (revised)

Links:
www.pinkardandbowden.com
www.musiccitytexas.org