It was at Sunday family barbecues where music notes first drifted into Damon Fowler’s ears and heart. Since getting his first guitar as a preteen, Fowler has built his empire from strumming around Tampa Bay-area bars to jamming alongside the likes of Grammy Award-winning producer Rick Derringer, Gregg Allman and B.B. King.
Now, he’s taking his talent to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. The Brandon native will be performing at Duke’s Brewhouse Saturday, Jan. 23.
“I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends,” Fowler said. “Every time I go to Duke’s it feels like home.
“I hope there’s going to be free beer,” he added.
ROOTS
Fowler grew up at his grandparents’ house, where they ran the family business, Fowler Septic Tank. His aunts and uncles worked for the business, and every Sunday they threw a barbecue. It was at those barbecues where Fowler listened to his uncles play guitar.
“Some people throw ball,” Fowler said. “We played guitar.”
An only child who suffered from asthma, Fowler took a liking to music.
When the family business had a good year, his grandparents bought Fowler’s uncles new guitars. Fowler got one too.
“In order to get me out of their hair, here’s a cheap acoustic guitar,” Fowler said. “Which was cool. I wanted one.”
At 14, Fowler picked up lap steel guitar. As he entered his years at Brandon High School, he began to play at bars. He never had a day job, but his gigs paved the way.
When he was 17, he met Rick Derringer at a show at Mr. Pub in Bellview, Florida. Derringer was a member of The McCoys and later went on to produce Weird Al Yankovic and Cyndi Lauper albums, among others. Fowler was added to that list when he was 18. Derringer produced Fowler’s first album, “Riverview Drive,” in 1999.
“Working with Rick was awesome,” Fowler said.
Since then, Fowler self released “Roots and Branches,” in 2000, and “Live at Skipper’s Smoke House,” in 2003.
But a serious car accident on a rainy interstate halted his momentum.
“It was a really scary time,” Fowler said. “I didn’t know if I would play or tour again.”
Still, he couldn’t stay away from the music scene.
BLIND PIG
After picking himself up, brushing himself off and touring a whole lot, Fowler was signed to Blind Pig Records, an American blues independent label, in 2007.
From there, he released three more records. The most recent is the 2014 “Sounds of Home.” Damon chose swamp blues master Tab Benoit to produce and record him at Benoit’s Louisiana home.
In 2011, Fowler had an impromptu jam session with musicians Victor Wainwright, J.P. Soars, Chuck Riley and Chris Peet. They later formed Southern Hospitality and have since toured eight countries.
IF YOU GO
Damon Fowler
WHEN: 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23
WHERE: Duke’s Brewhouse, 2212 James L. Redman Parkway
QUICK TIP
If you can’t make the Jan. 23 Plant City Show, check out the musician’s online schedule at DamonFowler.com.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.