About Smilin' Jay McDowell
My earliest memories involve music. I began playing guitar at age five. I joined the school band playing alto saxophone and then used paper route money to buy a drum set. After moving to Nashville in 1992, I bought an upright bass to join a band. We signed a record deal and traveled the world. On 9/11/2001, we were scheduled to play in Annapolis, MD. Our hotel was less than two miles from The Pentagon. It was that day I decided to leave the band and start a family. I have three wonderful children now and work at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
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