Image credit: Owepar
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Louis Lindberg Owens (August 17, 1933 – April 2, 2014) was a singer, songwriter, musician, and music producer. He was the sixth of eight children born to Rev. Jake Owens and his wife Rena. He started performing alongside his brothers John Henry and Bill in the late 1940s. During 1958 and 1959, he performed on the Goldband label singles of his relatives and his niece Dolly Parton's very first single, "Puppy Love". Following his service in the U.S. Army, he resumed making music with his brother Bill and supporting Dolly during live performances. Throughout the 1960s, he recorded several singles under his own name.
In 1967, Louis became a partner at Owepar Publishing with Dolly and his brother Bill, where he handled the business while also supervising the construction of the original Fireside Studios. After departing from Owepar in 1975, Louis managed the independent label Royal American Records and established Louis Owens Enterprises, the first Nashville-based firm to produce and sell tour merchandise for country artists. He appeared in Dolly's 1984 movie, Rhinestone, as part of the band Wild Possum. Louis left the music industry in the mid-1980s, but continued to perform with his siblings at Dollywood as The Kinfolks. Louis' wife Colleen was Dolly's hairdresser for many years. Louis and Colleen had two sons, Jeffrey and Richie. 
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Studio albums
Album cover. The Kinfolks (3651) (1989) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography
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Appalachian Memories: A Tribute to Dolly is an album by The Kinfolks. It was released independently in 1989 on cassette. The lineup of the group featured on this album includes Louis Owens, his son Richie Owens, Dorothy Jo Owens, and her son Dwight Puckett. The album was likely only sold at Dollywood when the group performed at the park.
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Track listing
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Personnel
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Album cover. Kinfolks Music Group (KMG 101) (c. 1992) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography
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The Kinfolks Band is a studio album by The Kinfolks. It was released by Kinfolks Music Group around 1992 on cassette. The lineup of the band includes siblings Louis and Dorothy Jo Owens, and Dorothy Jo's children: Dale, Dwight, and Debbie Jo Puckett. Louis and Debbie Jo's niece Stella Parton is featured on "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)". The album was likely only sold at Dollywood when the group performed.
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Track listing
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Personnel and credits
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Live albums
Album cover. (c. late 1980s)
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The Kinfolks' Tribute to Dolly: Live at Dollywood / The Other Side of the Kinfolks is a live album by The Kinfolks. It was released in the late 1980s on cassette. The lineup of the band includes siblings Louis Owens and Dorothy Jo Owens, and Dorothy Jo's son Dwight Puckett.
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Track listing
- When Possession Gets Too Strong Louis Owens
- Applejack Dwight Puckett
- Coat of Many Colors Dorothy Jo Owens
- Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man The Kinfolks
- In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) Dwight Puckett
- Dr. Robert F. Thomas
- My Tennessee Mountain Home
- I've Been Around Long Enough to Know
- Take Me Home, Country Roads
- I Can Only Be Me Dorothy Jo Owens
- He's Leaving Me a Little at a Time Dorothy Jo Owens
- He's Everything I Wanted You to Be Dorothy Jo Owens
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Kinfolks at Dollywood: A Musical Tribute to Dolly by Her Family is a live album by Louis Owens, Dwight Puckett, Dorothy Jo Owens, Debbie Jo Puckett, and Dale Puckett. It was released in 2011 by Porchpickin' Productions.
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Track listing
- My Tennessee Mountain Home Louis Owens (Dolly Parton)
- When Possession Gets Too Strong Louis Owens (Dolly Parton, Louis Owens)
- There'll Always Be Music Louis Owens (Dolly Parton)
- Those Memories of You Dwight Puckett (Alan O'Bryant)
- Applejack Dwight Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) Dwight Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Tennessee Homesick Blues Dwight Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Kentucky Gambler Dwight Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That Dwight Puckett (Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas)
- Coat of Many Colors Dorothy Jo Owens (Dolly Parton)
- Jolene Debbie Jo Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Smoky Mountain Memories Debbie Jo Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- 9 to 5 Dale Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Orange Blossom Special Dale Puckett (Ervin R. Rouse)
- When the Saints Go Marching In Dale Puckett (Traditional)
Compilation albums
Album cover. (SMt 101) (c. late 1980s) / Placeholder artwork edit by The Dolly Parton Discography
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Smoky Mtn. Gospel is a compilation album by The Kinfolks. It was released in the late 1980s on cassette. The lineup of the group featured on this album includes Rev. Jake Owens and his son Louis Owens. The album was likely only sold at Dollywood when the group performed at the park.
Track listing
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Album cover. (SMt 130) (c. late 1980s) / Remastered artwork by The Dolly Parton Discography
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The Kinfolks at Dollywood is a compilation album by The Kinfolks. It was released in the late 1980s on cassette. The lineup of the group featured on this album includes Louis Owens, his son Richie Owens, Dorothy Jo Owens, and her children Dale, Dwight, and Debbie Jo Puckett. The album was likely only sold at Dollywood when the group performed at the park.
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Track listing
- My Tennessee Mountain Home Kinfolks Group (Dolly Parton)
- Applejack Louis Owens and Group (Dolly Parton)
- Coat of Many Colors Dorothy Jo Owens and Group (Dolly Parton)
- Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man Dorothy Jo Owens, Louis Owens, and Group (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Owens)
- I Will Always Love You Debbie Jo Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- Old Black Kettle (Dolly Parton)
- Those Memories of You Louis Owens and Group (Alan O'Bryant)
- When Possession Gets Too Strong Louis Owens (Dolly Parton, Louis Owens)
- In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) Dwight Puckett (Dolly Parton)
- 9 to 5 Dale Puckett (Dolly Parton)
Album cover. KlearTone (KLR-0028) (2004)
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Daddy Was an Old Preacher Man and Other Gospel Favorites is a compilation album by The Kinfolks. It was released in 2004 by KlearTone Records. The album features performances by Rev. Jake Owens, Dorothy Jo Owens, Louis Owens, Dale Puckett, and Dwight Puckett.
Note: The back cover, spine, and disc show an abbreviated title of Kinfolks Gospel Favorites. |
Track listing
- Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man The Kinfolks
- Singing His Praise The Kinfolks
- Lost Sheep on the Mountain Rev. Jake Owens and the Kinfolks
- Gospel Medley: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms / Power in the Blood / I'll Fly Away / Singing His Praise / There'll Always Be Music The Kinfolks
- God Is Living in Our Time Dwight Puckett
- When the Saints Go Marching In (Instrumental) Dale Puckett
- It Is No Secret Louis Owens
- Amazing Grace Louis Owens
- Working on a Building Dale Puckett
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken The Kinfolks
Album cover. Owens Music & Real Estate Group.
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Kinfolks at Dollywood is a compilation album featuring Bill Owens, Louis Owens, Dwight Puckett, Dale Puckett, and Rev. Jake Owens. It was released in the late 1990s or early 2000s by Owens Music & Real Estate Group. Dorothy Jo Owens is featured on the tracks credited to The Kinfolks, although she is not mentioned in the album's liner notes.
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Track listing
- Dreams Do Come True Bill Owens and Dolly Parton (Bill Owens)
- Welfare Blues Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Put It Off Until Tomorrow Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Don't Let It Trouble Your Mind Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Fell Off the Wagon Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Brand New Man Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- My Mind's Been Cheating on You Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Honky Tonk Bars Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Lord Help Me Bill Owens (Bill Owens)
- Don't You Ever Get Tired Louis Owens
- Somewhere Between Louis Owens
- Working Man Blues Louis Owens
- Those Memories of You Dwight Puckett (Alan O'Bryant)
- Orange Blossom Special Instrumental
- 9 to 5 Instrumental (Dolly Parton)
- Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man The Kinfolks (Dolly Parton, Dorothy Jo Owens)
- Amazing Grace Louis Owens
- Gospel Medley: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms / Power in the Blood / I'll Fly Away / Singing His Praise / There'll Always Be Music The Kinfolks
- Lost Sheep on the Mountain Rev. Jake Owens and the Kinfolks
- Singing His Praise The Kinfolks
Extended plays
EP cover. Circle-B (101) (1970)
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Dolly Parton Presents Billy Earl and the Kinfolks is an extended play by Billy Earl and the Kinfolks. It was released in summer 1967 by Circle-B Records. The group consisted of brothers Bill and Louis Owens, and their nephew, Dwight Puckett. They toured with Dolly in the summer and fall of 1967 and the EP was sold at their performances. Dolly is featured on background vocals on three tracks: "Tomorrow's Tears Today", "Would You Believe", and "I'll Introduce You".
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Track listing
- Tomorrow's Tears Today
- Would You Believe
- The Right Kind of Girl
- I'll Introduce You
- Thanks to You
- Before It's Too Late
Singles
A-SIDE / B-SIDE (LABEL; CATALOG #; RELEASE DATE)
Robert Owens and the Nite Twisters (Bill and Louis Owens):
- Wrapped Around Your Finger / Never Had the Blues (Folk-Star; F-1111/F-1112; 1954)
- I'm Too Tired to Rock / Father (Goldband; 45-1069; 1958)
- Wish I Had My Troubles Back / Begging for More (Little Pigeon; 45-101; 1966)
- What Am I Doing Here / Honey You're Not Fooling Me (Nashville; NV 5262; 1966)
- Got to Pull Myself Together / Home Cooking (REM; 45-410; 1967)
- I've Gotta Stay High / Practice What You Preach (Great Record Co.; 1160; 1968)
Other album appearances
TITLE / ARTIST / ALBUM / YEAR
- It Is No Secret / Louis Owens / The Old Time Preacher Man / c. 1990
- Rye Whiskey / Richie Owens and Todd Wright* / Hillbilly Recital / 1996
- Shine On / Dolly Parton* / Hungry Again / 1998
- Shade of the Family Tree / Margo O'Donnell and Louis Owens / The Highway of My Life: Shade of the Family Tree / 1998
- Power in the Blood / Dolly Parton** / Precious Memories / 1999
- Keep on the Firing Line / Dolly Parton** / Precious Memories / 1999
- When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder / Dolly Parton** / Precious Memories / 1999
- When Possession Gets Too Strong / Louis Owens and Dolly Parton / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
* Louis provided backing vocals on "Shine On" as a member of The House of Prayer Congregation.
** Louis provided backing vocals on these tracks as a member of The Kinfolks.