music

Vernon was born & raised in Leslie County in southeastern Kentucky. He was one of 10 children. His parents, Ott Bowling & Rachel Johnson Bowling, raised their family on coon creek. The family lived in a 4 room log cabin that Ott and his older sons had built. Ott was a carpenter by trade and a gunsmith by hobby. He & his wife raised their family on a small, 1 mule mountain farm. There was no electricity and the boys developed an early interest in bluegrass and traditional country music by listening to the Grand Ole Opery on the battery radio. Their relaxation after a long day of working in a hot cornfield was to build and play the guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. This was a way of life for the whole family. Ott was a singing school teacher and most of the family had a real talent for singing. While bluegrass music remained a hobby for a few of the other 9 children, it begame a profession for Vernon. He moved to Connersville, Indiana in the late 1960's. There he perfected his skills played music, mainly the mandolin, with many professional musicians such as Bill Monroe. He played with some of the best at the Bean Blossom bluegrass festival in southern Indiana and other area attractions. He became a christian early on and he & his family have devoted their talents to spreading the
gospel of christ and
maintaining the Bluegrass
tradition through christian
music ever since.