Interview: Jake Owen

"This is still a young man's game." That’s something Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder has said.

Pearl Jam's singer-songwriter is correct. The peak for many singer-songwriter's is during their salad days. However, there are exceptions, and one such example is Jake Owen, who is having a career renaissance at mid-life.

Owen, 44, who will showcase tracks from his latest album, "Dreams to Dream" on tour, has reinvented himself. "Dreams to Dream" is filled with songs that are deep, traditional and possess a timeless quality.

It's obvious that Owen received an assist from producer Shooter Jennings, who has been a difference maker with an array of recording artists, such as Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker. Not only does Jennings guide Owen to new territory, one of the best songs on the album is a cover of Waylon Jenning's deep cut, "Them Old Songs," with Savannah Conley.

The cover, a lovely duet with harmonica and steel pedal guitar, and the album are a far cry from Owen's party anthems. Owen hit the top of the country charts with such breezy songs as "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," "Alone with You," and "Anywhere with You."

Credit Owen for taking a step away from his playful, wistful songs in favor of more substantial tunes.

"Hopefully you grow up and mature," Owen said while calling from Nashville. "I don't want to record the same kind of songs album after album. It makes it interesting to do different things. I think I've evolved as a recording artist and I've been fortunate since my fans have come along with me."

"Dreams to Dream" is another chapter in Owen's fascinating story considering he was a jock as opposed to a musician while growing up in Winter Haven, Florida.

Owen is so proficient on the links that he was on a path as a professional golf career. Owen earned a golf scholarship at Florida State University when he was just 15.

"I put everything I had into golf," Owen said. "That looked like it was going to be my future."

Like many kids who excel as young athletes, injury extinguished the dream. While in college Owen suffered a traumatic shoulder injury while wake boarding and was forced to quit golf.

"It was devastating," Owens said. "My life changed dramatically."

After undergoing reconstructive surgery Owen picked up a guitar and found that music was his true calling. After relocating to Nashville, Owen told a bank teller that he was a singer-songwriter. He gave her a tape and she sent it to Warner/Chappell Music.

A deal wasn't signed, but contacts were made and Owen eventually scored a deal with RCA Nashville in 2005. The following year Owen had his first hit single, the anthemic "Yee Haw."

"That was the start of something," Owen said. "The amazing thing is that I ended up where I needed to be. I love making records and going on tour."

What Owen desires most is to have a long career.

"It's been a great run so far but I hope I can do this for many more years," Owen said. "I look at people like Kenny Chesney and what's remarkable to me is that he's been at a high level for so many years. I hope to be doing this 20 years from now. I just want to grow and keep getting better at this craft. I'm thankful that I ended up on this path and I want to work as hard as I can to be the best that I can be."

It's interesting that Owen mentioned Chesney since the country icon played some baseball growing up and is a grass is greener on the other side of the performance fence type of person.

Chesney and other entertainers, such as actor Charlie Sheen, have spoken about their passion for baseball and wish they could have at least had an opportunity to perform on the diamond as opposed to the stage.

However, Owen isn't the same way. He doesn't long to play professionally as a golfer. No injury is a blessing, but after Owen suffered his wake board mishap, it all fell into place for him.

"It's hard to imagine what would have happened if I didn't pick up that guitar then," Owen said. "What would have happened? Would I have ever ended up in music? Maybe things happen for a reason. But it shows you just because something terrible happens, that there are other things you can do in life."