Introduction
Don Bowman (August 26, 1937 – June 5, 2013) was an American country music singer, songwriter, comedian and radio host. He recorded for RCA Victor between 1964 and 1970, charting in the Top 40 with the novelty hit single "Chit Akins, Make Me a Star". Bowman worked at several radio stations, including KRZK in Branson, Missouri.
Bowman was born in Lubbock, Texas, United States, and was the original host of the radio show American Country Countdown. He hosted the show from its inception on October 6, 1973, through April 1978, after which Bob Kingsley (who had been ACC's producer since 1974) took over as host.
In 1966, Bowman won Favorite Country Comedy Recording of the Year award from Billboard. In 1967, he was named Comedian of the Year by the Country Music Association.
Bowman's song "Wildwood Weed" later became a hit for Jim Stafford, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.
Bowman had been confined to a nursing facility since a stroke in 2008. He died from complications from a stroke on June 5, 2013, at the age of 75.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Our Man in Trouble | 14 | RCA |
| 1965 | Fresh from the Funny Farm | — | |
| 1966 | Funny Way to Make an Album | 14 | |
| 1967 | Don Bowman Recorded Almost Live | 36 | |
| From Mexico with Laughs featuring the Tijuana Drum and Bugle Corps | 42 | ||
| 1968 | Funny Folk Flops | — | |
| 1969 | Support Your Local Prison | — | |
| 1970 | Whispering Country | — | |
| 1972 | All New | — | Mega |
| 1979 | Still Fighting Mental Health | — | Lone Star |
| 1981 | On the Road Too Long | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1964 | "Chit Akins, Make Me a Star" | 14 | — | Our Man in Trouble |
| 1966 | "Giddyup Do-Nut" | 49 | — | single only |
| "Surely Not" | 73 | — | Don Bowman Recorded Almost Live | |
| 1968 | "Folsom Prison Blues #2" | 74 | — | Support Your Local Prison |
| 1969 | "Poor Old Ugly Gladys Jones" (with Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson) |
70 | — | |
| 1972 | "Hello D.J." | — | 44 | All New |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1966 | "For Loving You" | Skeeter Davis | 72 | 18 |
| 1967 | "Chet's Tune" | Some of Chet's Friends | 38 | — |