Art Lown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
21 December 1949
Art Lown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ardis Leon Lown Jr. 21 December 1949 |
| Died | 8 February 1977 (aged 27) |
| Genres | Folk rock, soft rock, country pop, psychedelic pop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, musician, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar |
| Years active | 1965-1977 |
| Labels | United Music World, Anthology Recordings |
Ardis Leon "Art" Lown Jr. (December 21, 1949 – February 8, 1977) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for his sole studio album, Piper Oz the Hound (1976), a privately pressed folk-rock record that later achieved cult status among collectors and fans of obscure 1970s American music.[1]
Ardis Leon Lown Jr. was born on December 21, 1949, and raised in West Columbia, South Carolina. His family operated local businesses in the area, including grocery stores and a small shopping center known as Lown Town. Lown attended Airport High School, where he was an honor student and served as drum major during his final two years.[2]
After graduating from high school, Lown enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studied commercial art. During his teenage years, he began writing songs and performing music, forming an early band with his younger brother, a cousin, and a close friend. By the early 1970s, he was performing locally in the Columbia, South Carolina area.[2]
Music career
While still performing locally in venues around Columbia, South Carolina, Art Lown combined his interest in songwriting with work at United Music World, a small recording studio and label in West Columbia. Through this connection, Lown gained access to professional session players and studio equipment.[3]
In 1976, Lown recorded his only known full-length album, Piper Oz the Hound, at United Music World Recording Studio. The sessions were overseen by studio engineer and producer O.L. Atwood after a shift in the studio's personnel earlier that year. The musicians backing Lown were seasoned session players associated with the studio, including bassist Tony Smith, drummer Donnie Miller, steel guitarist Luke Watts, and lead guitarist Jerry Dooley, who had all previously played together. Lown himself contributed piano and rhythm guitar to the recordings.[1][3]
The album's sound blends elements of country, pop, and psych-inflected pop while focusing on original material written by Lown. Production was modest and the record was issued as a small private pressing, limiting its initial distribution and commercial exposure. Lown was credited as both writer and co-producer of the album alongside Atwood.[1]
Death
Lown died on February 8, 1977, at the age of 27, only months after the release of Piper Oz the Hound. Contemporary reporting and later research indicate that his death resulted from a single gunshot wound to the head.[citation needed] No widely available public records conclusively established whether the incident was accidental or self-inflicted, and details surrounding his death remain limited. Lown died in Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.[2][4][AI-retrieved source]
Personal life
Lown regularly attended St. David's Lutheran Church in South Carolina.[2]