Biography

            Lorin was born and raised in the rural suburban New England town of Wayland, Massachusetts, 20 miles west of Boston, along with his two older brothers Peter and Chris.  On his Mother's side of the family, his Great-Grandmother, Nelly, sang opera in New York, Great-Uncle George played guitar, organ and accordion, and Uncle Jim played ukulele. 

His parents appreciated and enjoyed the popular music of their generation from the 30's, 40's, and 50's.  They both had good voices and could carry a tune.  His father sang in choir in college and later in Church and his mother could play some piano.  However, neither considered themselves to be musicians, so it was a surprise for them to find their three sons playing music.  Surely, they hoped their sons would all get real jobs one day! 

The Rowan brothers’ unabashed enthusiasm for playing guitars and singing (especially harmonies) started with Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and The Crickets, The Everly Brothers, The Kingston Trio and then especially for Lorin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Band.  Early on, Lorin especially liked the lead guitar styles of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, and Duanne Allman's slide guitar. He also picked up on ‘30’s & ‘40’s swing styles by  favorites Eddie Lang and Gjango Reinheardt .

Lorin started out on a Harmony tenor 4-string guitar before he learned how to play 6-string.  Influenced by brother Peter's interest in Bluegrass, Lorin started playing mandolin when he was twelve. Lorin loved John Duffy (the late mandolinist) and the Country Gentlemen and once persuaded his mother to take him to a Country Gentleman concert at a tiny club in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, an island off the New England coast where his family were on vacation.

Lorin started writing songs when he was about thirteen years old.  During his years in school, his first band consisted of him on electric rhythm guitar, a lead guitarist and a drummer. They called themselves "The Tresspassers".  They played songs by "The Ventures".  Lorin wanted very much to sing, but the rest of the band wasn’t sure if he could.  Lorin eventually sang two songs, "She's Not There" by The Zombies and "Tired of Waiting" by The Kinks.

His next group, featured his early original songs with a girl  back-up singer (Maddie MacNeil Sifantus), another guitarist who also switched on bass and a cello player. After that he formed a duo with a piano player, Bill Elliott. They called themselves "Boswell", named after Lorin’s beloved beagle/bassett hound. Today, Lorin still has continuing musical friendship with Bill and Maddie.

After graduating from high school in the early '70s, Lorin and brother Chris teamed up as a vocal/guitar pop duo with brother Peter's ex - "Earth Opera" partner, mandolinist David Grisman. Together they moved to Marin County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area where they met up with Grisman's old bluegrass friend, Jerry Garcia of the Greatful Dead. Garcia played steel guitar with the Rowans on some of their demos and gigs, as well as on their first record album on Columbia Records, titled "Rowan Brothers", produced by David “Diadem” Grisman. They were signed by Clive Davis. One of their first gigs was opening for The Greatful Dead to a packed house at the closing of the Fillmore West, an infamous music venue run by the late music impresario, Bill Graham.

            Lorin and Chris recorded their next three records with brother Peter as "The Rowans" on Warner/Asylum; ”The Rowans”, ”Sibling Rivalry” and “Jubilation” respectively. The country-rock arrangements featured their sterling three part harmonies. The Rowans once did a back-up vocal session for Terry Dolan (and The Pirates) with John Cipollina producing and playing guitar.

            In the 80's, Lorin formed a local San Francisco rock-reggae group called "The Edge".  They recorded several independent releases and packed the local club scene.  They often shared the bill with Huey Lewis and The News. Funkster Rick James (“Super Freak”) was a big fan.

            In 1994, the three Rowan Brothers reunited for a CD steeped in acoustic American-roots, titled  “Peter Rowan and The Rowan Brothers”, on the Sugar Hill label.

Lorin’s first American solo folk-rock CD, ”My Father’s Son” was released in 1996 on Black Dahlia Music, produced by Dick Olsher. It features a stellar band of musicians including Dave Jenkins (guitar,vocals), Doug Harman (cello), Kevin Wells and Jeff Myers (drums and percussion), Kincaid Miller (piano), Jerry Cortez (guitar) and his brothers Peter (mandola/vocals) and Chris (vocals). 

His next CD,”Lorin Rowan Trio-Live” features Lorin on 12 string/vocals, Doug Harman (cello,vocals) and Jeremy Cohen (violin/vocals). The CD was recorded live in Ukiah, CA.

Lorin’s latest and current CD, ”Rebel Sons”, is on the German/European label, Taxim. He produced and engineered it  himself at his home studio “Tower Hill”. He sings all the vocals and harmonies and also plays all the instruments (except where noted). The songs on this latest effort reflect Lorin’s finger-pickin' roots in folk and country along with his acoustic/electric slide and rock lead guitar. 

His songs have been covered by such diverse artists as rock pioneers Jefferson (Airplane) Starship and Bluegrass group, Northern Lights. Also, Lorin’s song “Soldier of the Cross” is the title cut of Ricky Skaggs new Gospel/Bluegrass CD.

In the works, a new acoustic swing /reggae-billy CD by all three Rowan brothers (tentative release 2001).

His instruments include:

Acoustic guitars:

'68 MartinD-28

'88 Shanti 12 String

'96 Santa Cruz 000-18

1920 Gibson "A" junior mandolin.

Electric guitars:

'88 Custom Fender Strat

'63 Fender Strat

'92 Telecaster

'86 Fender Precision bass. 

For more info and correspondence- email lorinrowan@mail.com