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Zach Fowler is an example that hard work and talent remain consistent and beneficial factors in the ever-changing music industry.  A bassist and musician who brings an old-school creative mentality to a new musical environment, Zach Fowler is the complete package…a knowledgeable, groove-oriented bassist with a deep pocket, amazing technical ability, uncanny stage presence, and a soulful solidity.

 

Born into a family that had a wide variety of tastes in music, Zach was exposed to countless genres of music growing up, allowing him to attain a natural sense of groove when he first started playing bass at the age of 14.  Less than a year after picking up the instrument, Zach was playing professionally, and was a standout jazz musician on both electric and upright bass, earning several soloist awards in high school.  Years later, Zach’s natural groove ability combined with his years of professional study both in the classroom and on the stage make him one of the most in-demand and highly respected bassists in the country.

 

Zach studied several areas of music throughout high school and college.  He was a member of several jazz and classical ensembles at the University of New Mexico, where he earned two music scholarships and graduated with a minor in music.  Zach excelled in improvisation and ear training, earning him a place on the nationally recognized University of New Mexico Jazz Orchestra.  During his time at UNM, Zach also studied with noted classical bassist Mark Tatum, former Maynard Ferguson musical director Glenn Kostur, world-renowned fusion bassist Gary Willis, and solo bassist Trip Wamsley.  Zach had the opportunity to perform with legendary jazz artist Benny Golson, along with renowned jazz educators Tim Ishii, Randy Hamm, and Ed Peterson.  Additionally, Zach also played in numerous bands and projects of different genres, which eventually lead to touring.

 

Zach spent eleven years as bassist and musical director for The James Douglas Show, whose debut album, Garden City Music, garnered acclaim thanks in part to two songs written and arranged by Zach Fowler.  “Words,” a track that Zach co-wrote with guitarist and producer Pocket Honore (Erykah Badu, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Morris Day and The Time), is The James Douglas Show’s featured single on The After After Party music sampler released by McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in 2008.  In addition, Zach was given the “Best Bass Award” by GarageBand.com for his work on the live version of “Forever.”  In November of 2008, The JDS released The New Black via iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody. “Downtown Playground,” a song that Zach composed for the album, became the third most downloaded song in the band’s history, as well as the theme song for "The After After Party with Steven Michael Quezada," a regional late-night talk show.  In 2009, The New Black was put on the official Grammy ballot as a consideration for seven Grammy nominations in six categories including Best New Artist.

As a session and studio bassist, Zach has worked with some of the biggest producers and artists in the business, including recent projects with Marc M. Doc Williams (the producer behind the hits “Runaway” by Janet Jackson, “Take A Bow” by Madonna, and Top 40 hits by Mint Condition, Sounds of Blackness, CeCe Peniston, and many others), Hector Delgado (Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Andre Crouch, Angie Stone, D12, and many others), and Mike Cee (Jennifer Lopez, Wendy and Lisa, Mystikal, Baby Bash, and many others).  Zach’s recent work also includes Japan's #1-selling pop artist B. Howard, renown vocalist and vocal coach from “The Voice” Romeo Johnson, Universal Japan recording artist Davion Farris, "So You Think You Can Dance" alumnus Kamilah Barrett, award-winning folk trio hONEyhoUSe, and countless others.  Zach also worked with a then=unknown vocalist by the name of Cassandra Batie, now known as international superstar soul/jazz vocalist and Golden Globe Award-winning actress, Andra Day.  Zach has also shared the stage with The Whispers, Debbie Smith, Stokley Williams (from Mint Condition), and many others.

 

Zach is currently based in Nashville, TN, and serves as bass player and bandleader for Wheelhouse Records/BBR Music Group country duo, LOCASH.  Formerly known as the LoCash Cowboys, during which they had a string of charting singles which included "C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.," "Keep In Mind," and "Best Seat in the House," Chris Lucas and Preston Brust also contributed as songwriters to a #1 hit by Keith Urban ("You Gonna Fly") and a Top 10 hit for Tim McGraw ("Truck Yeah").  Their first single as LOCASH, "I Love This Life," climbed to #2 on Billboard's Hot Country chart, and became the most-played song at country radio for 2016, and was named by Mediabase as one of the Top 100 Country Songs of the Decade (#28).  The music video for "I Love This Life" (which includes Fowler and the rest of the LOCASH band) has surpassed 15 million views on YouTube.  The band's second single, "I Know Somebody," became the band's first #1 single on Billboard's Country Airplay chart, and became LOCASH's second straight #1 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart.  In 2017, LOCASH received their first ever ACM and CMA nominations, and both "I Love This Life" and "I Know Somebody" became RIAA-certified gold singles.  Other charting singles include "Ring on Every Finger" (co-written by country superstar Thomas Rhett), "Don't Get Better Than That," "Feels Like a Party" (co-written by Tyler Hubbard from Florida Georgia Line), the #1 single "One Big Country Song," and "Beers to Catch Up On."  LOCASH's tour schedule easily surpasses 200 dates per year, including international dates.  Zach has also appeared with LOCASH on The Today Show (NBC), Good Morning America (ABC), The Talk (CBS), Fox & Friends (Fox News), Megan Kelly Today (NBC), and Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC). 

 

In addition to LOCASH, Zach has also performed with chart-topping country artists such as Craig Campbell, The Swon Brothers, Josh Thompson, and Josh Gracin, and has also shared the stage or studio with Sasha McVeigh, Ross Coppley, Will Garrett, Jesse Keith Whitley, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Trig County, Cody Purvis, Dusty Hundley, Blake Hall, and others.  Prior to joining LOCASH, Zach was the bass player for Elektra/Warner Music Nashville artist Dean Alexander, whose first single, "Live a Little," charted in the Billboard Top 50.  When not on the road, Zach enjoys performing on Nashville's famous Broadway strip, while maintaining a steady studio and session schedule in Music City.

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Zach Fowler was selected as Bass Player Magazine's October 2023 cover artist.

 

Zach Fowler uses and exclusively endorses Ernie Ball Strings, Music-Man Basses, Lakland Basses, Lectrosonics Inc., NS Design, Gallien-Krueger, Reunion Blues Gig Bags, Pig Hog Cables, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Hercules Stands, Lanikai Ukuleles, Westone Audio, and Radial Engineering.

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