Jason Fowler, Henry County based singer/songwriter, is no stranger to hardship. 

  His life is a testament to the quintessential rocker lifestyle, going through many ups and downs before hitting rock bottom and rising once again. 

  Fowler grew up listening to The Allman Brothers Band and U2, spending time with his musically inclined family.

  “We would go to my grandmother’s house and we would all be playing on the piano, and singing songs, whether it was The Allman Brothers or a gospel tune,” said Fowler. “From a very early age, I just loved music.”  

  At age 16, he overheard someone playing “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on the guitar. Fowler bought his first guitar for $100, learned to play “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers Band and never looked back.

  “That’s kind of when it all started for me,” said Fowler. “I just loved music and I would spend hours sitting and learning other people’s songs.” 

  In his twenties, Fowler received a record deal with his band, Ultraphonic. Bryan Holmes, of The Producers, and Johnny Sandlin, who produced The Allman Brothers Band, were their producers.   

  “I felt like wow, this is it, I’ve made it big,” said Fowler. “Everything’s gonna be awesome.”

  Fowler and his band spent time at MS Sound in Muscle Shoals, Alabama recording their album before the record label was bought out by Microsoft and their album was set aside. 

  “Everything we had worked for, everything that I had put my hopes and dreams in had fallen,” said Fowler. 

  The band broke up and Fowler ended up landing a solo deal with Mil Cannon at Imagemil in Atlanta.

  However, that venture did not last long either. Dealing with substance abuse issues and rapidly spiraling out of control, Fowler was released from the label. 

  “I started drinking at an early age. Being in music in general, that was kind of what we did,” said Fowler. 

  After being released from the label and dealing with alcohol and drug abuse, Fowler became homeless, living on the streets of Atlanta. Realizing he needed help, he enrolled in a faith-based rehab facility called The Healing Place in Athens, Georgia, where he remained for a little more than a year in recovery. 

  “I packed up what little I had and I just went up there and started a new life. I worked with them through Celebrate Recovery and developed not only a relationship with God but also a relationship with myself,” said Fowler. “I tell people it’s like a country song backwards. Instead of losing everything, I started getting everything back.”

  Once back on his feet, he released his first faith-based solo album called Letters from the Inside with Black Cat Records in 2014. In 2016, Fowler released his second album called I Fall In with Rcity Records. 

  Fowler is now 14 years sober and is set to release his third solo album in 2020 with producers Ian Eskelin and Barry Weeks.

  Fowler’s music has become a testament to the life he’s lived and the hardships that he has experienced and overcome.

  “I see what I need to be doing and that’s loving God and loving people. I do that through music these days. It’s taken me to bigger platforms than I’ve ever played on in my entire life,” said Fowler. “I was so lost and I thought I was so gone but I’ll never be too gone for God to give me redemption.”

  Now, during the developments of COVID-19, Fowler is utilizing new ways to connect with his fans. Using the Facebook Live platform, Fowler focuses on providing “ music, fellowship, and social connection.”

  “We really need each other. Social distancing doesn’t mean that we have to not socially connect,” said Fowler. “With Facebook Live events, I’ve been able to connect with people that have never heard my music, never heard the message. I’ve been able to connect with fans that I normally wouldn’t be able to connect with, other than going to a festival.”

  To those that might be experiencing hardships during this time, Fowler emphasizes reaching out to someone close for prayer and encouragement.

  “Don’t isolate. We are never meant to do life alone and we need each other. Reach out and help by just giving a call or a word of encouragement,” said Fowler. “Listen to each other and also pray.”

  For more information about Jason Fowler, visit www.jasonfowlermusic.com or follow him on Facebook at Jason Fowler.