GREG ROWLES

Greg was born into a musical family in Fredericksburg, VA.  At the age of 4 Greg received his first guitar and amplifier giving him a glimpse into his life as an entertainer.  Greg’s Dad, Lewis, played in many bands and the big treat for Greg was going to hear him on stage in many clubs around the Washington, DC area.  Greg recalls watching his Dad one time at the age of 6 and proclaiming to his Mom, Alice, I want to be just like him.  Fast forward just a few years later his Dad, Mom, brother Jeff, Aunt Joyce, cousin Troy and he began a family band called “The Nashville Connection”.  They rehearsed for a couple years in the family basement honing their skills before taking the act out and performing at local dance halls and, what Greg affectionately refers to as, the animal circuit, “The Elks Lodge, The Eagles Lodge and The Moose Lodge.”  From this point for the next dozen years Greg honed his craft on bass guitar, rhythm guitar and his favorite instrument, pedal-steel guitar.  The family band performed countless shows preparing Greg for his next step in show-business…Nashville.

This next step meant relocation to Music City which was perpetuated from encouragement from his then girlfriend and now wife, Brandee.  She persuaded Greg to audition at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for Opryland USA, a theme park in Nashville specializing in professional live stage shows.  After 7 hours, 700 participants and two call backs Greg was offered a job in the theme parks cornerstone show, Country Music USA.  It was there for three years that Greg impersonated stars ranging from George Strait to Ernest Tubb to Jim Reeves to Johnny Cash and Billy Ray Cyrus just to name a few.  Six days a week, five shows a day in front of thousands daily.  What an education in the world of musical production and entertainment.

During this time at Opryland Greg also had the opportunity to make the first of many appearances on the world famous Grand Ole Opry.  He recalls sneaking into the Opry many times to just walk out on the stage to feel what it would be like to perform on that coveted circle for aspiring artists.  Greg says “to have some of the greatest names in country music introduce me on that stage were moments I’ll never forget.”

It was also during this period that Ed McMahon’s Star Search came calling to find talent in Nashville.  After what Greg considered a failed audition for the show, he received a call from Burbank to inform him that he had been selected to appear on the nationally televised show.  A moment in history for him he recalls, one appearance led to nine and the title of “1994  Star Search Male Vocalist of the Year.”   Plot twist – Never underestimate the power and medium of television as Elvis Presley’s long-time manager, Colonel Tom Parker was watching every one of Greg’s appearances.  Concluding the season finale Mr. Parker invited Greg and bride Brandee to Las Vegas for lunch.  That meal resulted in a five-hour meeting at the Las Vegas Hilton over Matza Ball soup (The Colonels favorite) and an eventual booking agency deal with Buddy Lee Attractions, who, at the time, was the second largest booking agency in the country.  Greg found himself on the roster with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Milsap, Bill Monroe, Lorrie Morgan, and other country legends.  This same deal led to many years on the road performing at casinos, fairs, and festivals across the country.

In 2000 Greg & Brandee made a prayerful decision to relocate their then young family to Myrtle Beach, SC and a residency at The Alabama Theatre where he has been bestowed the title “Good Will Ambassador”.  In ironic fashion Greg was part of the original marketing campaign for the theatre that opened in 1993.  These two worlds collided in the most beautiful way and a door was opened via Opryland to The Alabama Theatre all due to his past relationships with Opryland. This incredible team that brought Greg to Opryland also produced the show in Myrtle Beach and still does to this day.

As old relationships always seem to come and go in one’s life, by the recommendation of Ed McMahon, Greg was invited to appear for three years consecutively for James Nicholson, the Ambassador to the Holy See in Rome, Italy.  Entertaining at The Vatican for the Pope and all the dignitaries was one of Greg’s most memorable backdrops for what he refers to as a small Italian back-yard barbeque .

Greg, not letting grass grow under his feet at the beach began appearing in front of a camera for The Tourist Television Network producing and hosting segments which aired in all their markets.  After a couple of successful years in broadcasting, local Fox affiliate WFXB recognized larger potential for Greg and invited him to read for a new pilot production, “Not the News”, a comedy parody program that took off faster than anticipated growing from 1 night a week to 5 nights a week.  Almost fifteen years and going strong Greg has really immersed himself in his television career by adding many hosting duties to his roster including, “Fox Racin’ News”, “Fox Football News”, “Fox Midday News” and currently the most popular of them all, a morning lifestyle show, “Carolina am”.

In 2020 Greg’s career was marked with many new milestones. In January of that year, he was inducted into The South Carolina Entertainment & Music Hall of Fame and received “The Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Carolina Country Music Association.

Over the years Greg has worked closely with corporate sponsors, Wrangler, Elixir Strings, Steve Clayton Custom Picks, Holt Custom Guitars and J. Chisholm Boots.  Greg is also the spokesman for Beach Automotive Group representing Ford, Lincoln, Mazda and Volvo, as well as Parkway Ford and Parkway Lincoln of Lexington, NC. He is so grateful for the partnerships and integrity of these companies.

Greg is very approachable when it comes to offering his time and talent to charity, church and community both near and far.  It’s his love of community and helping others that has opened opportunities to serve over the years with The American Cancer Society, Champions Autism Network, The Claude Pardue Foundation, The American Red Cross, The March of Dimes and The Gideons just to name a few.

After thirty years together Greg still affectionately refers to Brandee as his bride and attributes his success from her love, (tolerance) and encouragement.  Over two decades she has become  successful in her own right as a real estate broker on The Grand Strand and is passionate about faith family and friends.

Greg and Brandee have been together for nearly 30 years and feel so fortunate to have called Myrtle Beach home where they have raised Courtney, Grayson, & Ashton.   His “Papa” title is reserved to four rescue fur babies, Jovie, Nala, Presley, and Stitch.