Underground Country Traditionalist Owen Mays Passes Away
This story has been updated.
32-year-old Owen Mays, known as the staunch country traditionalist of the underground country and roots movement, has died. Known for his blistering and honest songwriting, he reportedly passed away in his sleep in the early Wednesday morning hours (7-22).
Owen was born and raised in south central Wisconsin in the small town of Cambria where he began playing guitar at the age of 16. In 2009, Owen released the EP Red Wine and White Lines. Owen played a show that same year with J.B. Beverley and the Wayward Drifters at a campground in Cambria where he worked, and later joined Beverley on the road for numerous dates. Afterwards Owen became a well known singer and songwriter throughout the underground scene, touring regularly, including in Europe, and playing numerous festivals.
In October of 2010, Mays flew down to Richmond, Virginia to record his first album with J.B. Beverley—backed by Beverley’s band along with fellow songwriter and guitar player James Hunnicutt. Dubbed Owen Mays and the 80 Proof Boys, they released Nobody Loves You When You’re Down in 2012. Mays also released another album called Hateful Blues in 2014.
Mays’ latest band was called Owen Mays & The Last Calls and were working on an album to hopefully be released in 2015.
Owen was also a big fan of professional wrestling, and even tried his hand in the business at one point.
“Tragically, we were informed that early this morning on July 22, 2015 Owen Mays had passed away,” said friend Michael Smith. “Owen was more than my friend. Owen was a brother to me for over two decades. We grew up together, sharing our love of music, traveling, food, wrestling, fishing/hunting, and general rabble-rousery. We always knew we could be ourselves around each other, and I know that’s how he made most people around him feel. In that sense, he was everyone’s charming, smart-ass, and often foul ‘little’ brother.”
UPDATE (7-23-15 3:00 PM CDT): Saturday August 1st 9am -1pm will be visitation and service at Smith Funeral Home in Rio, WI. Internment will follow at Cambria Cemetary and food/fellowship will be at the Cambria Conservation Club.
This story will be updated if/when more information becomes available.
July 22, 2015 @ 5:33 pm
Wonder what was wrong. No one just passes away naturally at 32
July 22, 2015 @ 5:42 pm
I’m guessing, and that is all, just guessing here, but I would venture that say it was along the same lines as belushi, candy, and Farley. Too big, too much bad stuff. Awful shame and my condolences got out to friends and family. He was a great artist.
July 22, 2015 @ 6:20 pm
Could be as simple as sleep apnea. You just never know. Said either way.
July 23, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
Sleep Apnea was my first thought as well. Reggie White, Jerry Garcia… people don’t just “die peacefully” in their sleep… their effing heart explodes from the struggles of the apnea.
July 22, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
You post on a mixed martial arts forum that I visit
Love your insight
July 23, 2015 @ 8:31 am
I knew him well ya he was a big boy but never did drugs.My uncle has sleep ap & can die from it so yes i can beleave that happen but still really sucks my prayers to his family.So don’t talk ill of someone you don’t know!
July 24, 2015 @ 1:47 pm
Seriously. Thanks, John. Attributing a man’s passing largely to drug abuse without knowing fuck-all is presumptuous and offensive.
July 23, 2015 @ 4:03 pm
My dad died in his sleep without explanation when he was in his 50’s. In his case the probable cause was cardiac arrhythmia.
July 22, 2015 @ 6:07 pm
ok first off, R.I.P. didn’t know you and never got too see you play, and man it looks like i missed out on a hell of a good time. you’re gone but never forgotten. and second, people need to keep their ignorant opinions to themselves, don’t always assume it’s drugs and the such, because people do just pass away at 32, there’s all kinds of strange medical illnesses that we have yet to fully understand and discover
July 22, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
I agree it doesn’t do anyone any good to speculate on how Owen died at this point. If or when that information is made available to the public, we’ll learn that soon enough.
July 22, 2015 @ 6:26 pm
The world has lost a truly unique individual, a one of a kind soul that will be missed not only for his music but for his remarkable personality. Owen was quite a character, a rare bird with a singular brand of humor that we will miss terribly! This news is just still so hard to comprehend…absolutely heartbreaking…
July 22, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
Owen, my brother, you are loved and missed. You were truly one of a kind. We’ll get fucked up and play them jams loud for you. Hails! from me, the wife, MHH and everybody near The Haute…
July 22, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
I’m utterly shocked… not only have we lost a great artist but we lost the coolest arm tattoo in the music industry… Seriously though, Owen Mays was one of a kind.
July 22, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
It is sad news when a young person with a unique character and sense of humor and talent passes away suddenly. So many useless, evil, worthless people haunt this earth and the good ones go away instead of the garbage….
July 22, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
I honestly can’t believe it. I’ve been a fan of his for years, got an Owen Mays & The 80 Proof Boys patch on my vest and everything. Man, this is horrible. Rest easy, sir.
July 22, 2015 @ 7:25 pm
Thanks for the writeup, Trigger.
July 22, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
Not only was Owen a great singer/songwriter he was a great guy and I am proud to call him a friend. Anyone who ever met him would say the same. He was truly one of a kind. Today is a sad day and the music industry lost a very talented man and a lot of us lost a great friend. RIP Owen you will be missed thank you for the great music and shows.
July 22, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
Owen and I were chatting at little past 1AM last night. He was totally coherent and normal. I was not under the impression for ONE SECOND that he was high on anything or drunk.. I was likely the last person to chat with him, and if anyone wants to speculate on whether drugs or alcohol were a factor, you heard it from me.
Owen had bad sleep apnea.. and what I have been told leads me to believe that is the culprit. So take the Farley / Belushi theories, and bury them.
July 22, 2015 @ 8:16 pm
Well said. R.I.P. Owen
July 22, 2015 @ 8:17 pm
I toured with him for 30-some days last March-April, and I can report the same….sleep apnea, bad. That said, best road buddy a guy could hope to have. Owen was a champ on the road, a music historian, a hilarious prick, and the default master of ceremonies when it comes to old country jams. I’m never gonna let Owen Mays go to sleep….I’m gonna keep his ass up all damn night playing every old country song I know……….
July 22, 2015 @ 8:53 pm
Did he use a cpap mask when sleeping to help him breath better?
July 22, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
I apologize for the soapbox rant here, and to reiterate, we don’t know if Owen died of sleep apnea. But a lot of the folks who really need cpap machines unfortunately cannot get them because for many you need a prescription to purchase one. And to get a prescription you need insurance, and some insurance companies don’t cover them, and other insurance companies or doctors require sleep tests and other expensive stuff before they will prescribe one. And meanwhile there are folks that have to go to sleep at night and worry they might not wake up the next day. It’s easy for a guy like me who weighs 155 lbs soaking wet to look at someone like Owen and say he needs to lose the weight, but these guys go through struggles many of us will never know. Sleep apnea can cause significant weight gain in itself, and then the weight gain exacerbates the apnea. Meanwhile there’s a machine out there that can potentially change their life, and they’re very difficult to obtain. I’ve known a couple of people who have struggled with this very scenario. Nobody’s going to overdose on a cpap machine. Nobody is going to use it for harm. So let these folks be able to purchase them affordably if it’s going to help save and improve lives.
Some men and women do have access to cpap machines but don’t want to wear them because they’re embarrassed. But access should never be an issue. Again I have no idea if any of this pertains to Owen’s passing, but it does to others.
Sorry for the tangent.
July 23, 2015 @ 12:04 am
Dude, I agree with you 100%! Even with insurance it’s ridiculous. I had to jump through SOOOOO many hoops to get my cpap.
RIP Owen, you deserve it.
July 23, 2015 @ 4:36 am
I need this machine too really bad.. They don’t make it easy. Fuck this sucks to many people dying lately….From Blood to dust ain’t very far….. R.i.p Owen
July 23, 2015 @ 5:04 am
Well said Trigger. I actually take care of sleep apnea patients for a living. I agree with the accuracy of your assessment. Its sad and tragic that people who suffer from Sleep Apnea have to suffer that way. Even with weight loss does not guarantee obstruction would be lessened. It decreases oxygen when sleeping to the heart which leads to chronic heart problems. Poor Owen. He was such a beloved person.
July 23, 2015 @ 6:27 am
Hey Trigger please post follow up when the autopsy is made available. I have a couple of friends who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and utilizing their CPAP machine is so crucial that you really cannot overstate how devastating sleep apnea can be to one’s health. Truly sad to hear about Owen’s passing and thank you so much for honoring his contribution to music.
July 23, 2015 @ 5:00 pm
Bob,
I think you guys all crashed at my place in Vegas when you guys were out. I am blessed to have met such a talented group of musicians. I’m lucky to have met him and have him/ all of you as guests. I’ll always remember him. RIP to a forever legend.:,(
July 23, 2015 @ 9:15 pm
I went too long undiagnosed with sleep apnea and when I went in for the sleep study ($2,500) It was discovered that I quit breathing avg. 90 times/hour! I had developed a conduction problem with my heart due to the constant oxygen deprivation during that time. I was lucky that my insurance covered everything from study to cpap therapy equipment and replacements. I cannot imagine having to pay out of pocket for any of this. I mean the machine alone is $1,000 not to mention the components, like the mask for $160 and filters, hoses, humidifiers, cleaners etc. all of which needs to be replaced every few months, except the machine every 3-4 years. Sleep apnea is a much worse problem and wide spread than spoken about. This problem needs to be addressed and covered with less hoops to jump through just to be able to breathe for fucks sake! Mine became so bad that I felt better not going to sleep than suffocating every night. Became so weak I could barely walk into the sleep study. IF YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA, GET HELP IF POSSIBLE. Fuck this system of “health care”. But like said, we don’t know the cause of Owen’s death, but it sure has brought some things out of the woodwork to think about. R.I.P Owen Mays.
July 23, 2015 @ 3:59 am
Owen & I spent alot of time at my BBQ trailer at Muddy Roots. I showed him how to Smoke Pork, Make a version of my Buffalo Eggs, & Gave him all my recipes for my home made Rub & Sauces 🙂 His beautiful heart made me tell him
July 23, 2015 @ 4:12 am
No cause of death is relevant!!! Owen is gone and the physical world lost a Wonderful, Talented, Man. Prayers for Peace and Comfort for all his family and friends
July 23, 2015 @ 4:17 pm
Owen literally was just talking about you when he made pork a few weeks ago. He loved you!
July 23, 2015 @ 12:18 pm
Thank you for posting this. People need not speculate. I’ve seen him perform with madpolecats and he’s truly a legend. God bless him and those that loved him I am so sorry for their loss.
Sleep apnea is real and it is deadly, to insinuate drug use is beyond disrespectful.
I hope he’s upstairs playing music with the best of them. God bless Owen it was a pleasure to have had the opportunity to see you jam.
July 22, 2015 @ 8:35 pm
never heard of this guy until now but it’s always sad when somebody passes away especially when that somebody knows traditional country! R.I.P. I’m also ashamed to admit that I only discovered Vern Gosdin upon his passing but I’ve been a huge fan ever since!
July 22, 2015 @ 9:05 pm
This is awful news. We were just chatting the other night… So surreal.. I met him a few years ago now and we always had a good time BS’ing about stuff on FB. He was a really genuine person, big smile, big heart, great musician. Rest in peace, Owen.
July 22, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
I don’t think I ever had the privilege of meeting Owen, but know many people who were close to him. His friends painted a picture of a larger than life character who was always the light of every situation. Sounds like he was a huge part of the community and I’m certain that he will be missed and remembered fondly. Rip
July 22, 2015 @ 9:17 pm
I can say the same. I never saw Owen do cocaine or any hard drugs. You could often catch him with a PBR or a whiskey handy. Don’t speculate if you don’t know him. We loved him so much. He was a wild, weird and wonderful human being. The world has lost an amazing person. He was one of those that his eyes would almost pop out of his head when he saw something that excited him. He loved music more than anything. Such a great loss!
July 23, 2015 @ 12:09 am
Very shocking and sad. May he rest in peace.
July 23, 2015 @ 2:39 am
Had a friend of a friend of mine pass away in her sleep at the age of 29 a couple months ago, there’s either something in the air or water making young people die off in their sleep around here.
July 23, 2015 @ 4:17 am
Owen was my friend. A mountain of a man with a heart to match. So saddened…. You will be missed big guy….
July 23, 2015 @ 4:18 am
Goodbye dear friend,
we never forget your Muddy Roots Europe 2015 show….. R.I.P
July 23, 2015 @ 4:37 am
Very sad. I saw him a year and a half ago in Wisconsin. He came on between Nelly Wilson and Bob Wayne. When he wasn’t playing he was hanging with the rest of us enjoying a beer. I had never heard of him till that day but his music was great.
July 23, 2015 @ 7:38 am
Owen, we never got a chance a
to write that song, so I will write one in your honor. Rest in peace. â¤
July 23, 2015 @ 7:49 am
Very sad to hear, as someone who really only discovered the independent scene last year, I can’t say I’m familiar with any of his music, but I will surely change that. From what I can gather from the article and the comments, he was a great guy and musician. Rest in peace Owen!
July 23, 2015 @ 8:25 am
RIP Owen… 🙁
July 23, 2015 @ 9:20 am
I had the pleasure of playing with Owen last year when he came through town. Dude was friendly as could be, generous as hell and didn’t complain one bit when the only people at the Sunday night show were the booker, the bartender, my buddy and I. We took the show out onto the sidewalk and drew our own crowd. You’ll be missed, Owen.
July 23, 2015 @ 9:27 am
This is a terrible loss of a human being and of a true free-thinking artist.
I get so tired of debating whether someone who made his (it’s usually a guy) living playing for Music Row big labels subsequently decry the dilution of quality in country music after his career fades.
These types may or may not have had an epiphany as to what is real and bona fide country music.
But for every former star who now claims to see the light, there are artists like this who carry the torch for the music which has grabbed me from the time I first listened to Jerry Jeff’s Viva Terlingua in 1973 and has had me coming back ever since.
What saves country music in large part (including this site, I might add) is musicians like this who play their hearts out in clubs, bars and small venues.
July 23, 2015 @ 9:27 am
I knew the fella before he had success in the underground. Haven’t seen Owen in about 7 years, but he and some of my friends all had a few crazy times together. Amazing to see how his music evolved. Sad to see him go.
July 23, 2015 @ 9:40 am
I didn’t know his music, but remember that I enjoyed reading his fairly regular comments here when I first starting reading this site. He was much younger than I would have guessed from just from reading his comments. Old soul, I guess.
Clint Black Signs with Thirty Tigers; Nashville’s Top Power Players; Buddy Cannon’s Mom Goes Viral | Country California
July 23, 2015 @ 10:00 am
[…] Underground country artist Owen Mays passed away at 32. […]
July 23, 2015 @ 10:57 am
A friend, a fellow artist, a “Lifer”, a wrestler, an all around good ol boy. Playing bass and being an “80 proof boy” even if it was just for a day was an amazing experience, he was a friend and my world is darker without him in it. Rest easy big guy, we’re going to sing your songs and remember who you were until we join you in the great Honky Tonk in the sky.
July 23, 2015 @ 11:06 am
A fine example of a young man who pursued his dream, a dream that meant everything to him, a dream that became a reality for him. Life unfortunately holds no guarantees, and you have to get what you believe is important to you by going after it. Time is not on our side in life. Owen Mays went for his goal, achieved it as far as time would allow him to go with it, and unfortunately was reaching the prize for his efforts. God bless you, Owen, for you sent a message to all hopeful artists out there by living out YOUR dream. Life is too short to JUST dream; you have to make it a reality. And you did that, buddy. Say hi to your Dad, and God keep you happy.
July 23, 2015 @ 3:26 pm
You will be missed big guy.Way too soon.Enjoyed you and your music while in Bozeman,Mt,also sharing a few cocktails together at the Cannery.Rip brother.
July 23, 2015 @ 5:11 pm
Owen you were always so nice to me. Thanks for being a real pal. I hope your new journey is as colorful as this one was. Stay Sweet! Love -Szan
July 23, 2015 @ 9:23 pm
Thank you for sharing your heart and soul. RIP, Owen!
July 23, 2015 @ 11:56 pm
I am thinking about you Owen. I saw you grow up in front of me as a student and I would like to say as a friend. I always enjoyed your candor and your honesty and your ambitions. It was kids like you who made my stay Cambria a very memorable event. I particularly enjoyed the times when you would keep my wife company add professional wrestling events showing on TV while I was at school board meetings I was thought that was a true sign of an individual who reached out to others.
I’m very sad to read this about you. I am more than sure that you have a grip on your guitar you are saying to all of those in heaven and all those people are indeed enjoying every single note.
Someday I will join you have the pleasure of hearing you.
Jeff Walker
July 24, 2015 @ 1:19 pm
Saw Owen taking his mom out for lunch a few months ago and talked to both of them for a bit. He talked so humbly about his music and his band. I could hear and feel how much he was enjoying the road he was traveling on and the really cool things he was experiencing along the way. He was a guy with a huge heart and still is. Thank you for being exactly who you were at all times. Thank you for sharing your music to the world. God bless you Owen, you’re singing with the angels now.
Jocelyn
July 29, 2015 @ 10:11 pm
I first met Owen many years back when I tried my hand at band promoting. I was fortunate enough to have Graham Lindsey & Owen Mays grace the stage at my very first show. Owen had driven through a hail storm to get to my show & his car had the dents to prove it. I was pretty impressed already 🙂 He played his set & afterwards I told him that I would love to sit in on the harmonica with him sometime on “Keep The Jackals At Bay” (my favorite) next time he rolled through my town. He was kind enough to say “Hell yeah” & would love to. He was a very kind, witty,intelligent, funny & all around cool fella who was so very talented. I am so very proud & honored to have met Owen Mays & will never forget the man or his music. I am deeply saddened & will miss him. My deepest sympathies to his family,friends & fans.
August 1, 2015 @ 6:48 am
Owen is a cousin and he passed away in his sleep from an enlarged heart which was a birth defect. Others in the family died from the same thing. He will be missed.
January 17, 2019 @ 8:39 pm
Sometimes you just got to get the hell out of the way and let folks do what they do. Years ago I had the opportunity to cook for Owen and his best friend at a place called South Point. Who knew? I passed up my chance to meet him personally, kick myself to this day.