The ancestors of Jean Marlowe, (Jeanette Stearns Keim) came to Texas in a covered wagon before the Civil War. She was born and raised in Fort Worth where she grew up with the ringing of cowbells and traditional Texas music. She completed two degrees at the University of Texas at Austin. Her career includes performing as a symphony musician, church musician, recording artist, solo entertainer, writer, arranger, and teacher.
1982, she entertained the locals, the cowboys, the visitors, and international guests as the Stockyard’s signature saloon piano player in the hotel’s Booger Red Saloon.
1990 she founded the Cowtown Opry, a nonprofit organization to preserve, promote, and perform the Texas traditional music. Weekly cowboy concerts have been offered free to the public in the Stockyards since its beginning. At every Cowtown Opry performance you will see a number of children on stage singing, picking, yodeling, and performing the great songs of the Texas tradition. They are members of the Buckaroo program, where young folks of all ages are mentored by the adult Opry volunteer musicians. Many talented young folks have started out at an early age as Buckaroos and gone on to professional levels, including country music star Kacey Musgraves and recently seen on American Idol, Kristyn Harris. Also, Jess Meador who now plays fiddle with award winning musician, Jake Hooker and the Outsiders. Also, Brook Wallace who plays fiddle with many bands and played at the Inaugural Ball for President Trump.
Through Jean’s standards of mission, the Cowtown Opry and its Buckaroo program have kept alive the great traditions of Texas music, the cowboy way, and best of all, they share the spirit of Texas.