– Keys – Vocals
Bill Owens grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas, banging on the old piano at his Granddad’s house. When he was five, his Aunt June showed him how to play church hymns. He had a few piano lessons between the ages of eight and ten years old, but it just wasn’t as fun as playing whatever he wanted.
As he listened to Johnny Cash, Eddie Arnold, Hank Williams on the family’s big cabinet stereo record player, he taught himself to play the popular music of the day.
“One Sunday night he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. My Dad told me to never be anything like that, but right then I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. Later a cousin gave me some records I got into, like “Time of the Season” by the Zombies and “Woodstock” by Crosbie, Stills, Nash, and Young. Then I got into In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, and Santana, especially all the cool keyboard parts,” said Owens.
He started jamming with his best friend Larry Barney when he was in 7th grade, and forming his first bands when he was 14. In the early days he had a group called Psychedelic Soul. His first legit band with Larry was called the All Fingers Band, which came together when he was 18.
They gained popularity in Commerce Texas, then the home of East Texas State University, and played every bar and community center in town. Their defining moment was playing after hours at Mother Blues in Dallas in the mid 70s, which opened the doors to signing with an agent who booked them at big venues from Texas to Oklahoma.
In the early 80s he and his band Lightning recorded with bassist Joe Schermie and percussionist Floyd Sneed of Three Dog Night at Michael Allsup’s studio. He has played for several rock bands, and has opened for Garth Brooks, Exile and other big names along with country artist Robert Joe Vandegriff. More recently his stage performances have been with a Styx Tribute called Renegade.
Owens was referred to Chicago Tribute Authority guitarist Marino Stathakis by his friend Thomas Chaney, former drummer for The All Fingers Band. After a few conversations and adjustments, he joined CTAT.
His first time to see Chicago perform was at the Dallas County Convention Center in the early 70s.