The Journey

The many steps of affirmation along the way to reaching my songwriting dreams....One blessing at a time...

 NSAI = Nashville Songwriters Association International
 EWP = Beaird Music Group's "Evening With A Publisher"
 P4P  = Brent Baxter - Songwriting Pro's "Play For Publisher"
P4PW= Barbara Cloyd's - "Play For Publisher Workshop"
GSC = Global Songwriter's Connection - "Publisher Online Pitch"

 

**SO excited about how my songwriting journey has progressed after moving down here to Nashville. I've decided to keep everything offline for a while. Can't wait to share what's been going on**

 

  • October, 2017 to Present: SongTown Staff Writer group working with Nashville Songplugger/Publisher Ronna Reeves @ Showbiz-Ro Music.

 

  • December, 2017: NSAI Top 40 Song - Selects "Paint By Number" (L. Bowe/D. Hill/J. Roe) to be included in it's Winter 2017-2018 Top 40 list of songs chart.

 

  • October, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "What Could Go Right" (L. Bowe/J. Sachs) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • October, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "What Could Go Right" (L. Bowe/J. Sachs) Recommended as a writer "One To Watch".

 

  • October, 2017: Selected to SongTown's Staff Writer Club Working with Nashville Songplugger Ronna Reeves.

 

  • October, 2017: SongTown Featured Songwriter - Chosen for "Most Wanted List".

 

  • September, 2017: SongTown Featured Songwriter - Chosen for "Most Wanted List".

 

  • September, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Nice & Slow" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) Recommended as a writer "One To Watch".

 

  • June, 2017: NSAI Top 40 Song - Selects "I Could Be That Guy" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) to be included in it's 3rd Quarter 2017 Top 40 list of songs chart.

 

  • June, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Fall Backwards" (L. Bowe/J. Sachs) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • April, 2017: Beaird Music Group's EWP - Brad Kennard, Razor & Tie Music Publishing selects "Spell" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) for further consideration.

 

  • April, 2017: GSC Publisher Online Pitch - Lauren Funk, Big Yellow Dog Music Publishing selects  "I Could Be That Guy" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) for further consideration.

 

  • April, 2017: NSAI selects - Song, "I Could Be That Guy" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) for its Spring 2017 Publisher Luncheon Compilation CD to 50+ Nashville Music Row Publishers.

 

  • April, 2017: NSAI Pitch to Publisher - Lee Krabel, SMACKSONGS Music Publishing selects       "I Could Be That Guy" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) for further consideration.

 

  • April, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "I Could Be That Guy" (L. Bowe/J. Roe) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • March, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Spell" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • January, 2017: NSAI Top 40 Song - Selects "Drink You Up" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) to be included in it's 2nd Quarter 2017 Top 40 list of songs chart.

 

  • January, 2017: Barbara Cloyd's invitation as One of 16 Writers to Participate in her P4PW with 6 Music Row Publishers: Chris Oglesby - BMG Chrysalis, Rusty Gaston - This Music, Woody Bomar - Green Hills Music, Janie West - Janie West Music, Keithan Melton - Hori Pro, and Bobby Rymer – Writers Den.

 

  • January, 2017: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Recommended as a writer "One To Watch".

 

  • December, 2016: NSAI Pitch to Publisher - Joe Salvo, BMG Music Publishing selects "Drink You Up" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) for further consideration.

 

  • December, 2016: Songwriting Pro's Brent Baxter selects "Drink You Up" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) as a "Top 10" song (out of 200+ submissions) for his web P4P event with Tim Hunze of Parallel Music Publishing.

 

  • December, 2016: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Drink You Up" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • October, 2016: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Drink You Up" (L. Bowe/K. Kiley) Recommended as a writer "One To Watch".

 

  • September, 2016: Beaird Music Group's EWP - Daniel Lee, BMG Music Publishing selects "What's Wrong With This Picture" (L. Bowe/J. Roe/S. Zeleznik) for further consideration.

 

  • July, 2016: Beaird Music Group's EWP - Eric Gallimore, Red Vinyl Music Publishing selects "She Danced" (L. Bowe/B. Baker/K. Kiley) & "Gone Ain't Really Gone" (L. Bowe/M. Moseley) for further consideration.

 

  • July, 2016: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "He's All Mine" (L. Bowe/M. Moseley) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • June, 2016: NSAI Pitch to Publisher - Danny Berrios/Natalie Osborne, Downtown Music Publishing select "She Danced" (L. Bowe/B. Baker/K. Kiley) for further consideration.

 

  • May, 2016: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Your Time To Shine" (L. Bowe/M. Dodson/K. Kirk) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • January, 2016: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Heart Wants What It Wants" (L. Bowe/C. Mills/M. Dolciamore) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • February, 2015: Beaird Music Group's EWP - Daniel Lee, BMG Music Publishing selects "One Girl Town" (L. Bowe/K. Jackson) for further consideration.

 

  • February, 2015: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Kickin' Boots" (L. Bowe) Recommended as a writer "One To Watch".

 

  • January, 2015: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "Your Heart" (L. Bowe/J. Challandes) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

 

  • November, 2014: NSAI EARS Featured Songwriter - Song, "One Girl Town" (L. Bowe/K. Jackson) Recommended for Consideration to Publisher Luncheon.

My Story

A Pittsburgh, PA native now living in Nashville, Leslie was drawn to the a cappella gospel and ’60s music his father and uncle sang while he was growing up. When they realized he could handle both melody and harmony with equal ease, he became part of the group. Those Christian and soulful roots shaped who he is as a person and continue to influence his music today.

Throughout his musical journey, Leslie has drawn inspiration from artists and songwriters including Ben Harper, Zac Brown, Seal, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Bunny Rugs, Billy Joel and Elton John.

As an artist, Leslie Bowe has released four independent CDs: “Wings of Your Dreams,” “Through My Eyes,” “Gypsy,” and “Color of Sound.” Over the years, he has opened for or shared the stage with artists including Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, Maxi Priest, Third World, The Wailers and UB40. For many years, Leslie performed reggae music in his hometown of Pittsburgh, playing keyboards and singing with The Flow Band and The Freedom Band. During those years, his bands earned multiple honors for Best Reggae Band, and Leslie later helped co-write the songs on The Freedom Band’s album “Higher.”

As a songwriter, Leslie was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Tunesmith Songwriting Contest in Nashville for “Livin’ Large in a Small Town,” co-written with Scott Sanford and Linda M., and the Grand Prize Winner of the 2007 Stagenoise International Songwriting Contest for “Here I Am,” co-written with Nancy Vogl.

In 2008, Leslie’s song “If Only for Today,” co-written with Geoff Thurman and Nancy Vogl, earned Second Place in the Song of Peace songwriting competition presented by the Tipperary Peace Convention in Tipperary, Ireland. That recognition would become the beginning of a story that came full circle eighteen years later.

In 2026, Leslie returned to Ireland as a finalist in the Tipperary International Song of Peace with “Imagine If,” co-written with fellow Nashville songwriters Scott Voelkerding and Steve Smentek. Leslie performed the song live at Templeneiry Old Church in Bansha, County Tipperary, where “Imagine If” was selected as the 2026 winner of the Tipperary International Song of Peace and received the Joe Quinn Award.

Eighteen years after finishing second, Leslie returned to Tipperary and brought home the top prize — a milestone that represents one of the most meaningful moments of his songwriting journey.

Leslie was also a finalist for Heineken’s 2008 Red Star Soul Independent Achiever Award in Chicago. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, his song “Step to the Challenge” was chosen as the official Pennsylvania state theme song for the Special Olympics during his senior year. Leslie has also performed multiple shows in the Sunday Writer’s Night series at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe and has sung the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Pirates for many years.

Leslie continues to pursue his professional songwriting career in Nashville, where his love of Country music and passion for the craft of songwriting have become the heart of his musical journey. For Leslie, songwriting is a second voice — a way to turn life, faith, hope and human experience into music that can reach beyond borders and connect people.

Leslie Bowe...Fresh. Authentic. Original.