Music:
Member Since: 10/24/2006
Band Website: http://encorecreative.com
Influences:
From the March, 2008 issue of Phoenix MagazineDennis, Wowin' in Moscow!The film festival favorite Real Gone Cat starring Dennis Rowland!..
Dennis in Germany singing Baby I'm Yours
More Dennis in Germany!
Dennis, More Than You Know, from a few years back ;)In the studio- I Want Jesus to Walk With MeWere You There?- Dennis Rowland"...at once honest and liberating. What Mr. Rowland dispenses should be sold at drug stores"- Peter Watrous, The New York Times
Concord recording artist Dennis Rowland was Born and Raised in Detroit, Michigan, the R & B mecca of the United States and, naturally, the heart and soul of Motown played an important part in the developement of Dennis' signature sound. The comparisons have been many and run the gamut from Lou Rawls to Joe Williams. The influence is there, to be sure, and yet what Rowlands offers his audiences today is a unique and distinct sound all his own.
Dennis Rowland is still best-known for his association with the Count Basie Orchestra but he has been working hard building up his solo career. He remembers hearing Joe Williams' "Every Day" with Count Basie on record regularly when he was five or six and it made a strong impression. Rowland was in Williams' spot during the last seven years (1977-84) of Basie's life, touring the world with the classic orchestra. After that period ended, Dennis began working as an actor on stage and film, settled in Phoenix, Arizona and began recording as a leader for Concord in 1995. Trying to branch beyond the swing/blues/standards repertoire, Rowland's second Concord album (Get Here) had some R&B-ish numbers and selections open to the influences of pop and funk. His main strength, however, rests with his swinging style and appealing voice which is best displayed on his third Concord disc, a tribute to Miles Davis (Now Dig This).
On March 30th, 2007 Mr. Dennis Rowland was inducted into the Herberger Theater Performing and Broadcast Arts Hall of Fame. Joining such varied Arizona luminaries as Hugh Downs, Alice Cooper and Leslie Neilsen.
Bio courtesy of Scott Yanow for Barnes and Noble with editing and added material from Scott Hopkins.
Record Label: Concord
Type of Label: Major