From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sun Jun 23, 2002 2:13 am - UPDATED 6 JANUARY 2004 Subject: Born To Be With You : Sammy Gowans SAMMY GOWANS Born Cole Ghoens, 23 June 1937, Hartsville, South Carolina Died 15 November 2003, Laurel, MD Singer / pianist / guitarist. Inspired chiefly by Ray Price, Gowans set out for Washington, D.C., in 1957. A flourishing club scene promised plenty of work for white Southerners from rural areas. He played piano for Patsy Cline and sat in with other musicians at hillbilly dives all over the city. He appeared with Link Wray, Bobby Poe and Big Al Downing, until he was spotted by a United Artists producer and taken to New York for his first record. A cover of "Kissin' At The Drive-In" (first done by Gary Shelton aka Troy Shondell) was intended to be the A-side, but the other side, the explosive "Rockin' By Myself", was even better. The song was written by Sammy himself and had jazzmeister Kenny Burrell on lead guitar. It wasn't a hit, but has been reissued on several compilations. In the 60s, Gowans changed his name to Danny Denver and recorded for Go-Go (his own label), Chancellor and Deville. During much of the sixties, he worked with Roy Buchanan ("the best guitarist in the world", according to Sammy). A C&W album, "The Best Of Denver with Roy Buchanan" came out on Wrayco Records. In 1986, Gowans suffered a major stroke which affected his speech and mobility, leaving him paralysed on his left side and unable to sing or play. "Rockin' By Myself" is available on vol. 12 of "That'll Flat Git It" (Bear Family BCD 16102).