Fowler Black

iList Paducah loves a man in uniform!

Fourth-generation Paducahan Fowler Black, 28, lives in a hip downtown loft and promotes Paducah through destination marketing. Join him Friday, March 20, for the Market House Theatre Curtain Call fundraiser and also at Maiden Alley Cinema's Oscar Party on Sunday, February 22.

iList Paducah: Fowler Black, you are just cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. What's up with your cute self?
Fowler Black: Mary, it's about time someone turned the ‘cute, cute, cute' back around on you. You deserve it.

Now Fowler, your people are from here. Ray Black & Son – those are your people, right?
Yes, Ray Black was my great-grandfather. He and my grandfather Bill Black Sr. were general contractors together in Paducah for several decades. My father, Bill Black Jr., specialized in historic preservation for the company and continues to serve the community in that regard. Uncles & a brother work there, too. Nancy Black is my mom. I'm her biggest fan! Her father, Dr. Merle Fowler, was one of the first general surgeons at Western Baptist Hospital. I was named after him. My grandparents provided the most excellent examples of how to live life.

Fowler with his middle brother David Black and uncles, Chris Black & Rick Coltharp.

And here you are, a young person returning from Ole Miss to make your home in Paducah. That just rocks.
I knew that I wanted to come back to Paducah because of my family. After four years of undergrad and two years of recruiting for the University of Mississippi, I felt like I had done my time in Oxford. So I came back and worked for Ray Black & Son, and then joined the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in 2004. The CVB does destination marketing for Paducah, and it's a way to put my passion for my hometown to good use. And now, one of my favorite past times is being an uncle to two nephews and now a niece!

On Halloween, uncle fireman (Fowler) playfully rescued nephew giraffe (Liam).

Well Fowler, you are most definitely cute. And when you sing! Oy vey. I heard you sing Amazing Grace. I'll just be honest. It was a little sexy.
Um...

Oh, sorry. I'm embarrassing you.
You have a knack for that, Ms. Mary. Well, I didn't exactly intend for Amazing Grace to be sexy, but maybe I should take it where I can get it.

You probably can't help it, Fowler. When did you realize you could sing?
My brothers played a big part in that, not to mention my life in general. They both sang in various acappella groups. My oldest brother was a member of the Princeton Nassoons. My middle brother helped start the Prime Rib acappella group at Tilghman in 1994. Being the youngest of the three boys, of course I wanted to be just like my older brothers. I soon realized that this vocal ensemble thing was a passion I could call my own - there's nothing like well-tuned, all-male harmony. My dream job is to be a member of America's premier vocal ensemble, Chanticleer. I went out to San Francisco as a finalist for a 3-day audition in 2002. But with the enjoyment of being with my family, I never got back to the point where I wanted to re-audition. Makes for a good daydream though. Check them out at chanticleer.org.

With good buddy, Chuck Tate

So you won the Paducah Idol contest here in 2005. What did you sing in the competition?
Despite the fact I sang some choir-dork Scottish ballad in the first round of the audition, I got through to the end by singing Michael Buble's version of Feeling Good, and Van Morrison's Moondance.

So what is your main artistic outlet here in Paducah now?
The Market House Theatre. I have tons of respect for the MHT organization and its network of volunteers. Paducah is lucky to have such an asset in both MHT's mission and the building in which it resides. If you are interested in supporting MHT, come out Friday, March 20 to witness a live auction for the roles of the Wicked Witch, Glenda the Good Witch, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard in this summer's performance in The Wizard of Oz.

Also, the choir at Grace Episcopal Church satisfies the choral ensemble void. And I'm addicted to my Macintosh, which has allowed me to create choral music by myself through the GarageBand application. I can layer many different tracks of my own voice singing soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. It's strange to hear my voice in 8-part harmony with itself, but its the best option I've got at the moment.

Playing the representation of a young Frank Sinatra in MHT's "My Way".

Aren't you part of the cast in The Wizard of Oz?
I will be playing Scarecrow. Although I won't have a brain, I will have to have limberness. My body really wants to know why I tried a front and back walkover at last week's first conditioning practice. It could be a long Spring.

So Fowler, what do you like to do on a first date?
I'm all about trying to be comfortable on a first date. If it's easily comfortable for the girl, I really enjoy dancing to a good beat, or doing something creative and out of the ordinary – like dressing up as a Navy officer for Maiden Alley Cinema's Chic Flicks. Is it weird that my enjoyment of board games has been resurrected? Here in Paducah, the historic downtown is first choice when it comes to environment.

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