Since the 1980s, Mystic Bowie has been keeping the art of music alive – entertaining audiences from New York to Japan with his vibrant music and high-energy performances. From humble beginnings in Jamaica, Mystic has become one of Reggae’s hardest working independent artists, compared to musical legends Jimmy Cliff, Lucky Dube and Toots and the Maytals.
Mystic’s career to date can only be described as an impressive musical journey. In 2009 alone, he averaged 217 performances, which included headliner appearances at the Tribal Funk Fest (BC, Canada), the New Haven Arts and Ideas Festival (CT, USA), SoNo Arts Festival and the MIMA Music Festival (Brazil).
Bowie has independently released three studio albums – his first, “Funky Reggae” (1992), which was followed by “Rebirth” (2002) and his latest, “Nevah Kiss & Tell” (2009) released on his label, Funky Ska Music. “16 Dimples” from “Rebirth” was well received and received heavy radio rotation while the title track “Nevah Kiss & Tell” from his latest album was nominated for an award by the Okanagan International Film Fest in Canada. Mystic’s signature style has also been featured on several compilation albums including, “Sharin’ in the Groove: Celebrating the Music of Phish” (2000), and “Creole Bred: Tribute to Creole & Zydeco” (2004).
He has performed with a variety of funk and rock units including the B-52s, Trey Anastasio (Phish) and Widespread Panic. His work has also crossed over into film, having been featured on the Tom Tom Club’s remake of the Jimmy Cliff classic, “Many Rivers to Cross” for the movie The Long Kiss Good Night and “Who’s Feelin It” (from “The Good The Bad and the Funky”) featured on the soundtrack for the urban thriller American Psycho. A testament to his drive to bridge the gap between genres, Mystic has enjoyed the fruits of countless collaborations far beyond his Reggae roots. Since 1992, he has toured extensively with the legendary Tom Tom Club; his highly engaging performances captured on their “Live At The Clubhouse” CD (2002), “Time to Bounce,” and “In a Bootleg Style” DVDs.
Bowie has been committed to sharing the art of music beyond the stage, establishing the Mystic Bowie Cultural Center in 1991 dedicated to enriching the lives of the children of the parish of St. Elizabeth in Jamaica through multi-cultural programs. In 2010, Mystic secured a one-year endorsement deal with the internationally recognized brand – Red Stripe Beer. The brand acknowledged Mystic’s efforts to keep the art of music alive through positive music and community outreach. Mystic is currently touring multi-nationally to promote “Neva Kiss & Tell” with the support of Red Stripe and in 2011 is expected to expand his tour schedule to include several dates across Europe.
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