Blue Owens – The Real Deal. I still smile as I remember the seven plus years I was the drummer for Blue Owens. It was a blast gigging with him those years. Off stage Blue is a quiet dude however, his energy on stage is infectious. He is constantly moving, dancing, always emotionally connected to the song, often chattering to band mates to “bring it” pushing and pulling “more” out of the musicians sharing his stage. Sometimes he will even bust into the Michael Jackson 'moon-walk' while playing. His back story is cool and definitely deeply rooted in blues music and tough times. This man has been blowing the harmonica since the day he was given a harmonica while hitchhiking across the United States as a teenager. Maybe I should mention Blue’s real name is Chris Owens. He received the name 'BLUE' back in the 80's when he was the opening act, by himself on harmonica, on a big stage at USC in Pasadena, California opening for the band Azteca. It was that performance, on the big stage by himself as the opening act that earned him the name ‘Blue’.
Blue heard that Eugene was, in his words, ‘poppin’. So he hitchhiked from LA to Eugene. Before he decided to settle in Eugene he hitchhiked to Austin, Texas. Blue spent some years in Austin hanging out with his friends, blues greats James Cotton and Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It was with Cotton and Wilson that Blue perfected his craft. While in Austin, Blue was quickly invited to join the famous Rhythm Rats. After the Rhythm Rats, Blue decided to hitchhike back to Eugene and call it home. He has lived here for around forty years. Blue has also played with Robert Cray, Curtis Salgado, and Elvin Bishop. Blue's style is very distinctive, a Chicago-style saxophone-like tone.