Founding member, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for the group Alabama who was born in Fort Payne, Alabama .
He played lead guitar and keyboards in bands since the age of 13 and three days after his 14th birthday he secured a broadcasting license to work as a disc jockey in a local radio station.
He received a degree in electronic technology from Gadsden State Community College and was named the outstanding alumni by the American Association of Community Colleges.
In the late 60s he teamed up with his distant cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry to form Wildcountry which was later to become Alabama. Several of his compositions appear on the band’s albums. In 1985 he was named one of the top three guitarists by Guitar Player’s Magazine. He played with the band until their Farewell Concerts in 2003/4.
He owned his own radio and TV station which he sold, had his own restaurant, marketed his own sauce and was involved with the Del Chouch Music Education Foundation.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018 and was inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. He toured with Alabama in 2022 for their 50th Anniversary tour.
He died from Parkinson’s disease in Destin, Florida in November 2022 when he was 73 years old.
Alabama Recordings
I’m Stoned (Randy Owen/Teddy Gentry )
RCA PB-12169-B (US 45)
Old Flame (Donny R Lowery/Mac McAnally )
RCA PB-12169-A (US 45)
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