Saturday, 2:00 adult - Autoharp Intermediate: "Proper Tuning for Success" - Bryan will teach his renowned system of autoharp tuning. Sunday, 11:45 adult - Autoharp Beginner/Intermediate: "Inspiring Gospel Songs" - Lyrics & chords of treasured gospel songs will be taught and shared. Video Sample Watch Video Segment from Bryan Bower's Concert Watch Video Segment from Bryan Bower's Gospel Set Requires Windows Media Player These clip were extracted from the 2005 CAG DVD available online The workshops are an attendee's favorite Bryan performing a decade (or so) ago Bryan Bowers and Ron Wall Photo by Gordon and Becky Blackley

Bryan Bowers Home: Sedro Wooley, Washington Web: http://bryanbowers.com/

With no exaggeration, Bryan Bowers has been called the Earl Scruggs of the Autoharp. Like the five-string banjo legend, Bryan found a new way of playing a humble folk instrument and caught the attention of every other player of that instrument as well as launched a generation of new players. If masterful playing weren’t enough, Bryan is also a fine showman, and a clever, dynamic solo artist who pulls his audiences into his performances. His towering six foot four inch frame can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like “Dixie” and five minutes later he can have the same audience singing, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in quiet reverence. His persona is enough to get anyone to want to play the autoharp!

Fortunately for us, Bryan found his way into the musical limelight back in his native Virginia in the early 1970's when the Dillards introduced him at bluegrass clubs and festivals. Bryan also retains some of the music he heard in his boyhood in the 1940's in Virginia, as he often tagged along with field workers and railroad hands. The “call-and-response” form of the work song is one of Bryan’s favorite ways to get an audience to sing. Frets Magazine included him in their “Gallery of Greats” after he won several reader polls, and in 1993 he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame.

Bryan’s famous “Old Yeller” truck – used to crisscross
the US playing festivals and gigs for many years.

Bryan has recently broadened his horizons into the storytelling circles, being accepted as a staff member at several storytelling festivals. Bryan is currently producing a new storytelling CD.

He will be working in our youth program teaching and facilitating a storytelling workshop as well as workshops with the adult participants.

We are delighted to welcome Bryan back for his fourth visit to the California Autoharp Gathering. Bryan has delighted our students, parents, and staff here at our festival, at the Mendota Unified School District, and with the Migrant Scholars Program with his performances in assemblies, classroom visits, and workshops.

Photo by John Evans