We’re thrilled to announce that Jay McDowell will be a guest at the Nashville ROCKNPOD Expo!
Jay McDowell played bass in the “Mother of all Hillbilly bands,” BR5-49. In 1995, five young musicians signed a record deal with Arista Records based on their reputation of playing marathon sets for tips at Robert’s Western World in Nashville’s Lower Broad section of Honky-Tonks. The part of town had been on the decline ever since the Grand Ole Opry moved out of the Ryman Auditorium and took all of the tourists with it to the new Opryland location.
The movement that BR5-49 helped to create, led to a resurgence of the night-life in that little block of Broadway between 4th and 5th Avenues. The once vibrant part of Nashville had turned to peep shows and prostitutes. It took these five young musicians to come and show Nashvillians just how cool their musical past was. Traditional country music was not something to be ashamed of, it was something to be celebrated. BR5-49 did just that for five nights a week. The critically acclaimed act put out 7 albums and toured the world appearing on all of the major television shows and opening for acts as diverse as Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, George Jones, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, John Fogerty and Smashing Pumpkins.
McDowell grew up playing guitar, bass, drums and saxophone but switched to upright bass to join BR5-49. He immediately found that much work was to be had as an upright bass player and was in demand as a session musician as well as on the road. McDowell has appeared on stage and in recording sessions with Marty Stuart, Dierks Bentley, Levon Helm and Alan Jackson.
BR5-49 won a CMA Award in 1997 for “Best International Country Act” and were nominated for the “Best Performance by a Country band or duo” GRAMMY three times. Jay uses D’Addario strings and Ampeg Amplifiers. His main bass is a 1959 Kay C1. Jay is currently the Multimedia Archivist at The Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
Meet Jay McDowell at the Nashville ROCKNPOD Expo Saturday August 10th at the Nashville Airport Marriott!
Tickets available NOW at www.nashvillerocknpod.com/ticketing
