See also, The Kinfolks discography.
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Image credit: Kinfolks Music Group
Reverend Jacob Robert "Jake" Owens (July 25, 1899 – May 13, 1992) was a preacher, musician, teacher, and patriarch of a musical family. Born in Waynesville, North Carolina, he later moved to Sevierville, Tennessee, where he became a prominent figure in his community.

As a preacher, Jake Owens was deeply rooted in his faith and served as a spiritual leader. Beyond his religious duties, he was a talented musician, proficient in playing the fiddle, guitar, and piano. His musical talents extended to songwriting, and he was instrumental in fostering a musical legacy within his family. This legacy includes his daughter Avie Lee Owens Parton, who married Lee Parton and became the mother of twelve children, including Dolly Parton, a renowned singer and songwriter.
​In 1918, Jake Owens acquired a fiddle that had belonged to his great-granduncle, Henry Grooms, a local fiddle player executed during the Civil War. This fiddle became central to his musical endeavors and is a cherished artifact in his family's history.

He never pursued a music career, but did release a few commercial recordings. He sang and played fiddle on the 1967 album, Songs of the Smokie Mountains, by Bill Owens and the Kinfolk (a group consisting of Rev. Jake and his children, Bill and Dorothy Jo Owens). Jake contributed vocals to four tracks on The Kinfolks' Smoky Mountain Gospel album. These tracks were later included on the posthumous compilation, The Old Time Preacher Man, alongside six songs performed by Jake's children and grandchildren.

Reverend Jake Owens' influence extended beyond his immediate family, as he was known for his contributions to the musical culture of East Tennessee. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 92, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

Compilation albums

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Album cover. Kinfolks Music Group (KMG 201) (c. 1993)
The Old Time Preacher Man is a posthumous compilation album by Rev. Jake Owens. It was released on cassette by Kinfolks Music Group around 1993. It features vocals by his children and grandchildren.

Track listing

  1. Singing His Praise    Dorothy Jo Owens, Rev. Jake Owens, and the Kinfolks (Jake R. Owens) 2:55
  2. The Book of Life    Dorothy Jo Owens, Rev. Jake Owens, and the Kinfolks (Jake R. Owens) 2:10
  3. Where the Soul Never Dies    Rev. Jake Owens and the Kinfolks (William M. Golden) 2:37
  4. Lost Sheep on the Mountain    Rev. Jake Owens and the Kinfolks (William J. Kilpatrick) 2:24
  5. House of Gold    Bill Owens, Kim Owens, and Tammy Owens (Hank Williams) 2:51
  6. It Is No Secret    Louis Owens (Stuart Hamblen) 3:29
  7. Gettin' Even with the Devil    Dorothy Jo Owens (Dorothy Jo Owens)
  8. Bought with a Price    Debbie Jo Puckett (C. Austin Miles) 3:26
  9. Working on a Building    Dale Puckett (Traditional)
  10. God Is Living in Our Time    Dwight Puckett

Notes:
  • Tracks 1-6 and 8 are taken from The Kinfolks' c. 1990 compilation, Smoky Mountain Gospel.
  • Tracks 7, 9, and 10 are previously unreleased.

Credits

  • Mastered and compiled at Mountain Star Studio, Sevierville, Tennessee.

Other album appearances

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