Often called “Johnny C.” He is also known as the Voice of Newgrass.
Began his musical career playing bass in a high school rock band called Everyday People.
1974-1990, played bass and sang lead for the New Grass Revival.
1990-1997, joined Rusty Young and Bill Lloyd in a band called The Sky Kings (country-rock). Also worked with the Doobie Brothers (two years), the Sam Bush Band and in two blues bands: Duckbutter and Grooveyard.
1998, formed The John Cowan Band which has over the years included such musicians as Scott Vestal, Jim Hurst, Randy Kohrs, Jeff Autry, Luke Bulla, Noam Pikelny, John Frazier, others.
1998, released Soul’d Out (Sugar Hill), a blues album.
2012, began hosting his own radio show on WSM 650-AM called “I Believe to My Soul.”
2014, released Sixty (Compass Records), a retrospective of his career featuring a variety of musical genres and special guests. Produced by Doobie Brother John McFee.
2016, toured with Darin & Brooke Aldridge (during a break from the Doobie Brothers).