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Randle Chowning

Randle Lynn Chowning (born April 4, 1950) is an musician, , and songwriter best known as the founder, lead , and one of the lead vocalists of the country-rock band . Born in Mountain View, Missouri, near the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Chowning moved with his family to , in 1959, where he was immersed in the local music scene influenced by the nationally broadcast Ozark Jubilee television show featuring artists such as and . After graduating from Fair Grove High School in the early 1970s and attending Southwest Missouri State University (now ), he formed the Ozark Mountain Daredevils in 1972 as a songwriters' cooperative with fellow local musicians, including Larry Lee. The band signed with in 1973, releasing their debut album Ozark Mountain Daredevils that year, on which Chowning wrote and sang the single "Country Girl" and provided vocals for the hit "If You Wanna Get to Heaven," which reached number 25 on the . He also contributed to the band's signature hit "Jackie Blue," which peaked at number three on the in 1975. Chowning left in 1976 to pursue solo work, forming the Randle Chowning Band and releasing the album Hearts on Fire in 1978 on . He spent about nine years in Nashville focusing on songwriting and demos before returning to the area. In the 2000s, he collaborated with Lee (who died in 2025) in the band Beyond Reach, releasing three albums together, including Further in 2014, blending , and Ozark-themed storytelling. Chowning and Lee were inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame in 2015, each receiving the organization's for their songwriting contributions. As of 2025, Chowning, a lifelong resident of the Ozarks now based in Springfield, has released over a dozen albums under his own name and with various projects, including live compilations and story-driven songs like "Whippoorwill" and "My Old Band." He continues to perform selectively with assembled musicians preserving the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' catalog, such as "Chicken Train" and "Jackie Blue," while working on an autobiography and new material inspired by his rural upbringing, including the song "Tornado Alley" reflecting a childhood storm experience in Howell County.

Early Life and Education

Birth and Childhood

Randle Chowning was born on April 4, 1950, in Mountain View, Missouri, a small Ozark hamlet near the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. His family spent the first decade of his life in the rural Ozarks before relocating to Springfield, Missouri, in 1960. In , Chowning's father, a radio technician who had served in , , and , owned a radio and television repair shop that doubled as an informal hub for musical gear. The shop stocked electric guitars, amplifiers, steel guitars, and Hawaiian guitars alongside repair equipment, giving the young Chowning constant exposure to these instruments and allowing him to develop early technical skills like and maintaining volume controls. This setup, combined with access to radios, records, and local broadcasts such as the Ozark Jubilee television program—featuring prominent country and folk performers like Chet Atkins and Brenda Lee—sparked Chowning's initial interest in music during the vibrant 1950s Ozarks scene. His mother's frequent singing, delivered with near-perfect pitch, further enriched the home environment with melodic influences rooted in regional traditions. Chowning's early years were steeped in the ' folk music heritage, storytelling customs, and cultural rhythms, experienced through family life and community events in both Mountain View and , laying the groundwork for his lifelong connection to the region's sounds. His first hands-on musical encounters involved tinkering with simple instruments in his father's shop, transitioning later to more structured pursuits in high school.

High School and College Years

Chowning attended Glendale High School in , graduating in 1968. During his high school years in the late , he developed an interest in music and began performing as a and vocalist in local club settings. These early experiences allowed him to explore rock and folk styles amid the vibrant music scene, which included influences from the nearby Ozark Jubilee television program featuring artists like and . In the early 1970s, Chowning enrolled at Southwest Missouri State University (now ) in , where he pursued studies in while immersing himself in music-related activities. At the university, Chowning formed early garage and club bands with fellow students, honing his skills across , , and genres. These formative years were shaped by the movement and the distinctive Ozark regional sounds, which fueled Chowning's initial forays into songwriting. Drawing from Springfield's rich musical heritage and the broader cultural shifts of the era, he began composing original material that reflected personal and regional themes.

Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Formation and Early Success

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were formed in 1971 in , by Randle Chowning, who served as the band's founder, lead guitarist, and co-lead vocalist. The initial lineup included Chowning alongside Larry Lee on drums and guitar, on harmonica and vocals, Michael "Supe" Granda on bass, on guitar and vocals, and Buddy Brayfield on keyboards. Drawing from Chowning's earlier experiences in local high school bands, the group blended rock, folk, and country elements in their sound, quickly gaining traction through performances at regional venues like the Cowtown Ballroom in Kansas City. A demo tape reached producer David Anderle, leading to a contract in May 1973 after an audition performance impressed Anderle and producer . The band's self-titled debut album, , was recorded in under Johns' production and released in December 1973, peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard 200. A standout track was "If You Wanna Get to Heaven," co-written by Dillon and , with Chowning delivering the lead vocals; it became their first national hit, reaching No. 25 on the in 1974. Early success fueled regional popularity in the Midwest, where the band built a dedicated following through live tours emphasizing their harmonious, acoustic-driven style. Their follow-up album, It'll Shine When It Shines, arrived in October 1974, also produced by Johns and peaking at No. 19 on the 200. The record featured the hit "Jackie Blue," written by and with lead vocals by , which climbed to No. 3 on the in early 1975 and solidified the band's breakthrough. These releases marked the Daredevils' rapid ascent, establishing Chowning's foundational contributions to their early sound and commercial momentum.

Key Contributions and Departure

During his tenure with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Randle Chowning played a pivotal role as a founding member, lead , and key songwriter, infusing the band's music with Ozark-inspired narratives and elements. He composed "Country Girl," the lead single from the band's 1973 self-titled debut album, delivering both the lyrics and lead vocals to highlight themes of rural life. On subsequent releases, Chowning contributed tracks like from their 1974 follow-up album It'll Shine When It Shines and "Leatherwood" from The Car Over the Lake Album (1975), where he also co-wrote "Gypsy Forest" with , blending acoustic guitar riffs with storytelling lyrics that evoked the ' landscapes and . His guitar work, often featuring and accents, added a distinctive rustic texture to the band's sound across these mid-1970s recordings. Chowning's lead vocals shone on narrative-driven songs such as "Road to Glory," another debut album track he wrote and performed, which chronicled a journey of perseverance with haunting, folk-inflected melodies. In live performances, his contributions emphasized the Daredevils' Ozark storytelling tradition, as seen in renditions of these songs that connected with audiences through vivid regional imagery and acoustic intimacy, reinforcing the band's bohemian, roots-oriented identity during tours in the mid-1970s. By the mid-1970s, the band experienced internal strains from relentless touring schedules and evolving creative visions, which exacerbated fatigue among members rooted in a preference for shorter regional gigs over exhaustive national circuits. These pressures culminated in Chowning's abrupt departure in 1977, shortly after the release of Men from Earth (1976), as he sought to pursue a solo path unencumbered by . He was replaced by Rune Walle, a the band had encountered on tour, marking the end of Chowning's foundational era with the Daredevils.

Solo Career

Randle Chowning Band and Albums

Following his departure from in 1976, Randle Chowning formed the Randle Chowning Band the following year, emphasizing a fusion of rock and influences drawn from his Midwestern roots. The band's debut album, Hearts on Fire, appeared in 1978 on after Chowning signed a solo contract offered by label co-founder ; produced by , it showcased original compositions such as the title track, along with tracks like "Gettin' Higher" and "Outside the Law." The record captured a polished sound with undertones, reflecting Chowning's songwriting focused on themes of love, freedom, and personal reflection. Chowning's musical style gradually evolved in subsequent work toward more intimate, Ozark-inspired narratives, incorporating lyrics and expressive elements that evoked regional and life experiences. Later independent releases highlighted this development, including the 2007 album Nashville Years (digitally re-released in 2020), which drew on his time in Music City for introspective tracks like "." As of 2025, Chowning has released several additional solo s, including Got My Own Kick Goin', Out on the Countryside, and Venus Voodoo in 2023. After the promise of his A&M debut, Chowning faced limited major-label promotion and distribution, prompting a shift to self-produced independent ventures that afforded him fuller creative autonomy over his Ozark-flavored output.

Collaborations and Projects

In the early 1980s, Chowning relocated to , where he immersed himself in the city's songwriting community, engaging in collaborations within circles through session work and co-writing efforts. A significant collaboration came in 2005 when Chowning partnered with fellow co-founder Larry Lee to form Beyond Reach, releasing the album Beyond Reach on At Hand Records, featuring 14 original tracks co-written and performed by the duo. The pair continued with the 2011 EP Waiting on the Sun and the 2014 album Further, drawing on their shared history to produce collections of songs that extended their folk-rock influences. In 2014, Chowning co-released All Over the Place under the moniker R.C. and the Keys, a self-produced effort that showcased his evolving musical partnerships and incorporated elements alongside his guitar work. Chowning maintained ties to through contributions to band compilations and occasional guest appearances from the into the , including a brief return to the lineup in 1982–1983 and later sporadic performances with surviving members. Building on these connections, Chowning launched a campaign in December 2014 to fund his Ozark Joe project, which successfully raised over $10,500 and culminated in the 2015 release of the Bottle Tree, a 15-track collection of mostly original storytelling songs centered on rural life. Under the persona of Ozark Joe, the featured acoustic folk-rock arrangements that evoked Ozark cultural narratives, marking a return to his roots through crowd-supported collaboration.

Recent Work and Legacy

Writing and Autobiography

In 2023, Randle Chowning announced his intention to write an detailing his Ozark roots and career, as shared during an on OzarksFirst.com. The project reflects his shift toward literary pursuits, drawing on personal experiences from his early life in , and his founding role in . By 2024, Chowning described himself as "more or less retired from ," pivoting to reflective prose as a primary creative outlet, despite having produced over a dozen CDs and one live video compilation throughout his career. As of November 2025, the remains in progress with no release announced. Chowning has contributed to the "Poetry from Daily Life" column in the News-Leader, blending with song-like structures to explore everyday themes. In May 2024, he penned a piece on infusing with double meanings, using his tune "Hey Boys" as an example; the song's phrases, such as "cutting loose," carry dual interpretations of completing work or relaxing, highlighting songwriting's layered artistry. His April 2025 contribution, "A Song for Storm Season" (titled ""), recounts a childhood tornado encounter at age six in the , evoking the storm's destructive force through vivid imagery—like a barn vanishing and a house shifting four inches north—and a chorus underscoring nature's power across cities including Tulsa, Dallas, and Kansas City. These writings emphasize Ozark folklore, personal anecdotes from his formative years, and musical inspirations, such as his early songwriting starting at age 10. Chowning's prose often mirrors the storytelling of his songs, like favorites "Whippoorwill" and "My Old Band," while treating writing with reverence as a means to preserve history and evoke emotion. This literary focus marks a deliberate , allowing deeper reflection on his , life after decades in music.

Performances and Recognition

Following his departure from , Randle Chowning has maintained an active presence in the and broader music scene through solo and small-band performances since 2013, often blending elements of , , , , and . These intimate shows, typically held at local venues like the Fox Theatre, feature acoustic interpretations of his original songs and Daredevils classics, drawing on his roots in the region's musical traditions. For instance, in May 2017, Chowning joined fellow founding member Larry Lee and bluegrass musician David Wilson for a trio performance at the Fox Theatre in , highlighting their collaborative songwriting legacy. In recognition of his songwriting contributions, Chowning was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame in March 2015 alongside Larry Lee, receiving the organization's inaugural for songwriters—the first time the honor was bestowed on musicians rather than literary authors. This accolade celebrated their co-authored hits like "Jackie Blue" and enduring impact on American music, marking a significant validation of Chowning's role in shaping Ozark-influenced rock. Chowning's legacy remains intertwined with , even as he has pursued independent endeavors; the band's "When It Shines: The Final Tour" in 2024–2025 serves as a reflective capstone to over five decades of performances, though Chowning did not participate, underscoring his foundational influence on the group's sound and cultural footprint. The tour concludes with shows in on November 13–15, 2025. As of 2025, Chowning continues to engage fans through his official YouTube channel (@RandleChowning2023), where he shares original songs, live clips, and interviews reflecting on his career and Ozark heritage, amassing dozens of videos that preserve his musical output for a global audience.

References

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