BIO

 

Born in Auburn, Alabama, Ernie Rowell grew up in the nearby small town of Loachapoka, Alabama, where he attended Elementary School before finishing high school back in Auburn.  Then, he attended Auburn University, where he received a B.S. in Education before moving directly to Nashville,

 

Ernie started singing with his father’s country band at age 12 and continued through his high school and college years, picking up playing bass at age 15, as well as song-writing.  He had already developed a deep love for county music when he first traveled to Nashville to do some recording at age 15.  That trip cemented his desires to live in Nashville and pursue music as a profession.

 

Ernie was in Nashville about 6 months before landing his first job in music, as bass player and singer with Grand Ole Opry legend Stonewall Jackson.  Over the next 15 years, Ernie would play in road bands with country greats Melba Montgomery, George Jones, Ray Price and Mel Tillis. 

 

After a few years in Nashville, Ernie’s songs began to be recorded by several country music stars, first Ray Pillow, then Kenny Rogers, George Jones, Gene Watson, Mel Tillis, Johnny Paycheck, Roy Clark, and Ricky van Shelton.  Two of his co-writes were top 10 hits for Gene Watson.

 

After his time on the road, Ernie was tapped to run Mel Tillis’ publishing companies, which he did for four and a half years, before Mel sold them to support his business interests in Branson, MO. 

 

Since then, Ernie has operated his own publishing entities, added studio ownership and production to his resume, and had several of his songs placed in movies and TV series.  Ernie has recorded and released two CD projects to Christian Country Radio, garnering 7 straight #1’s. 

 

Today, Ernie no longer owns a recording studio, but he continues to write and record, recently releasing a new single, “Waltz Over Alabama”, to Alabama and surrounding area radio.  Ernie wrote this song as an anthem to all Alabama has to offer as well as all the huge contributions it’s made to American music culture. 

 

So, take the music journey as we ‘Waltz Over Alabama”!