Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?

Subject: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: 14fret
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 03:09 AM

Excellent banjo & dobro player. Last heard of around Blackpool area.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 03:14 AM

Try Tom Travis - Go to British Bluegrass Music Association webpage and take it from there. I'll bet he can assist.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: VIN
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 03:59 AM

Tom & Smiley, remember them from yonks ago. Used to have an album of theres which i think called 'The Bluegrass Sound of Tom & Smiley', good stuff.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: bluenose
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 04:43 AM

Yes i remember booking them at Hindley folk club about 1970.
They were excellent

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,BRIAN GIBBS
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 11:14 AM

TOM & SMILEYS SOUND OF BLUEGRASS WAS AMAZING WHY DON'T WE HEAR IT OCCASIONALLY ON THE AIR?

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,David Hilton
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 09:41 AM

I have a copy of 'Country Style' Tom and Smiley on Saga Records from 1969 on LP and would love to find some CD or MP3s of their material - it woke me up to bluegrass as a kid - and remains some of the best of its kind i ever heard.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 11:38 AM

Tom (Smiley) Bowker and Tom Travis split up as a duo in the 70's when Smiley went to play with P J Proby following which he went on to play with Frank Yonko and the Everglades. My understanding also was that he was living in the Blackpool/Preston area but that was some considerable time ago.

Smiley came out of retirement around 30 years ago and re-formed with Tom for a one off gig in memory of the late Tony Hardman. From what I remember, he hadn't played banjo for some years. Tom Travis is still going and would be your best bet - you'll find his current band here - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=400654

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: Paul Reade
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:20 PM

I remember Tom & Smiley from the Manchester folk scene in the 60's & 70's.

In an earlier thread Manchester Sports Guild Folk Club guest Helen Howard (ne Walker) reported that in September 2009 she had seen Smiley in Spain, where he and Norma have lived for 5 years.

You could also try Marie Little, as she was in a duo with Smiley for a number of years.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Tom Travis
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 07:33 AM

I'm still in regular contact with Smiley Bowker. He moved to Cornwall, where he stayed for a number of years before moving to Spain, where he still resides. If you contact me through my SoundClick site I will let you have his telephone number. I am also on facebook. Many thanks for all the kind comments about the recordings that Smiley and I made together, they are really appreciated.

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 01:12 PM

Have you been googling yourself then Tom?

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,LES SPEAR
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 06:59 AM

I have been trying to get back in touch with Smiley Bowker for years now . He played with me in my band while he was living in Cornwall and we did some recording together.    I lost touch with him since splitting from my then relationship. Apparrantly he left a contact phone and address but it was never forwarded to me. I would love to get back in touch with him. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Les Spear

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 11:48 AM

Why don't you take up Tom's offer Les? - see http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=400654

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,LES SPEAR
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 05:59 AM

Thanks Ray, I've made the effort and signed up to soundclick. Should be able to contact Tom Travis very soon, ceers, Les

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 11 - 05:43 PM

I just had dinner with him today!! While I was playing a gig in a beautiful beach bar in Spain!! Sarah Howard!!

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 12 - 06:06 PM

if you get a chance,could you pass on my email add? i would love to get back in touch with norma,and tom... they helped me so much,and love them both,my email is gruffpixie @yahoo.co .uk,please pass it on,if you say its giles,theyll know who you mean!!

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Aug 20 - 03:28 PM

I'm Dave Bowker, Smileys Younger brother. Tom(Smiley ) Bowker lives in Malaga Spain he moved from Blackpool area to Cornwall (Penzance area) for many years. He uprooted and moved to Spain also many years ago(how time flies )I have his contact info . He does not do computers cellphones or even carrier pigeons so hes not easy even for me, to get a hold of .He stopped playing and dismantled his studio in Spain and sold all the guitars etc,he has acute tinnutis and can barely speak on phone for very long its that painful. I live in Denver Colorado and still play full time, tho' the pandemic is about to kill me, if things don't buck up' a bit.My email is [e-mail] I was in a band signed to Warner Bros late 80's and I have been known as David Booker professionally ever since.I have a website www.mrdavidbooker.com very Best to all. P.S . I have several homemade Cds that he did in his studio stored in my archive in the basement if anyone is interested in hearing them , its all original , but very C&W /Rock not acoustic bluegrass . He is a big fan of the Byrds' Clarence White and he tried to emulate that when he was recording this stuff .

Subject: RE: Whereabouts of Smiley Bowker?
From: GUEST,Richard F Thompson
Date: 01 Feb 21 - 08:14 AM

In August 2020 he was living in Spain. As he suffers with tinnitus he doesn't play any more.