Caleb Owens, raised in rural Missouri on a steady diet of country and gospel sounds, first picked up the guitar at age ten and soon absorbed bluegrass, folk, and rock influences. By thirteen he was already composing original material, and he continued performing in bands through high school and college. One of those groups secured him a publishing contract with EMI, prompting his move to Nashville in 2005.
After spending nine years as a working songwriter and musician in Music City, Owens began issuing his own recordings under the name Bones Owens. His debut EP, Hurt No One, appeared in 2014 and featured contributions from Butch Walker, Matt Thiessen of Relient K, and Russ Pollard of Sebadoh and Everest. A second EP, Make Me No King, followed in early 2017. During the same period he co-wrote every track except one on Yelawolf’s album Trial by Fire, among them the Kid Rock collaboration “Get Mine.”
Alongside these projects, Owens maintained an active sideman career, serving as session and touring guitarist for Bon Jovi, Mikky Ekko, and Yelawolf while playing his own songs in local clubs. In March 2018 he issued the single “Keep It Close,” which surpassed one million streams before year’s end. He also contributed to Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty and joined Reignwolf on tour. In 2021 he released his first full-length album, the bluesy and nostalgic Bones Owens, showcasing an eclectic blend of alternative roots rock shaped by his wide-ranging experience.
