The Band
Jimmy Bowen
Jimmy Bowen is the leader of Santa Fe and is considered one of the finest high lead / tenor voices in the field of americana/country music today.
A native of Charlotte, NC, Jimmy is a multi-instrumentalist and has been performing since the age of eight.
After earning an accounting degree from The Citadel, Jimmy chose to pursue a career in music. In 1988, Jimmy attained an invitation to the join the legendary Country Gentlemen. Jimmy traveled the United States and Canada with the Country Gentlemen during his 7 year tenure.
The Country Gentlemen took him to diverse venues such as the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Now TV Show, and the White House. In 1995, after leaving the Country Gentlemen, Jimmy had the pleasure of being a member of Continental Divide.
Jimmy performed for almost 4 years with Continental Divide on such venues as Prime Time Country, TNN News, and was the recipient of the 1995 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award.
Jimmy now has his own touring band based out of Lubbock, Texas performing some of the best country music today that is offered in the industry.
Rick Briggs
Also, in Santa Fe is Rick Briggs on banjo. Rick Briggs was born in Huntersville, NC. He had a variety of musical influences as a child, most notably his father, Judd Briggs, who had his own 6-state radio show.
Rick began his own musical trek with the saxophone at 11, then guitar at the age of 13. In 1976 at the age of 15 the bluegrass fever struck and he took up the banjo. Though he made a lateral move into country music during the mid 90’s and worked professionally playing keyboards, the banjo remained his true love.
Rick has performed with several recording artists such as; Chubby Anthony, Dale Ann Bradley, Connie Smith, Lynn Anderson, Tommy Williams, and Southern Rail as well as to graduate from the National Radio Institute in Washington, DC for Electronic Music Technology.
He worked the Old Dominion Opry in Williamsburg, VA as keyboardists, banjoist and vocalist from 1991-97 and eventually became their Musical Director and Assistant General Manager.
Blake Bowen
Blake Bowen, was born into a musical family (the Bowens to be exact) and has been playing bass since the age of 7. His talents developed rapidly and expanded to the guitar and he even plays a bit of banjo as well.
Blake has performed with Jesse McReynolds and Amber Burks before joining Santa Fe full time. During his time off from school and the road, Blake is a active member and officer with the FFA and 4-H, he also enjoys hunting and fishing. Blake is 17 years old.
Bobby Nicholas
Bobby Nicholas is on guitar. Bobby is very versatile in vocals as well as his great lead guitar work. Bobby employs contemporary styles as well as traditional melody-based leads.
He is also a very accomplished songwriter and brings many new original tunes to the group. Bobby has his own publishing company and has traveled around the world with such artist as Patty Loveless and Terry Clark
Ollie O’ Shea
Ollie O’Shea (fiddle) is well educated in the field of American country music. He has been playing guitar and singing most of his life and has worked with some of the best country musicians Nashville has to offer.
Ollie has been recently signed as a songwriter to “Good Bit Music,” a publishing company owned by one of Nashville’s most successful songwriters, Jim Lauderdale.
Ollie has played fiddle with such artists as Hank Williams III, Gary Allan, George Ducas, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale. JB&SF are proud to have Ollie join the team.
Don Hamrick
Don started performing professionally at the age of 13 with his uncle Harold and “The Night Lifters”. He wrote his first song, “Eyes of Gypsy Brown” at age 16. At 17, Don was performing with Nashville Recording artist, Jerry Moore. At 18, Don formed the band “Truant” which later became “Fever” and was hired in 1973 by “The Clovers” who had hits such as “Love Potion #9” and “Blue Velvet”.
After stints with “The Georgia Prophets Band” and Rich Elder (formerly of “The Main Street Singers”), Don attended Winthrop University as a full time music major from 1979-1983 and earned a B.M.E. as a percussion major.
Don has performed with several acts locally and abroad to establish himself as a well known drummer, clinician, session player and instructor. After a stint with a new artist by the name of Barry Brown, Don decided to join Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe and is looking forward to a long lasting musical relationship.
Jordan
Coming Soon…
Steve Henson
Coming Soon…