Fourth-generation Paducahan Fowler Black, 27, lives in a hip downtown loft, works for the CVB and is involved in starting up the 20s/30s Group. He won the Paducah Idol contest in 2005, and just last September auditioned for American Idol. He may not have made the ultimate cut, but he sure makes our list of top super-cute single folks. We thought it only proper to kick off our new iDate of the Week column with a few questions for Fowler:
iList Paducah: Fowler Black, you are just cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. What’s up with your cute self?
Fowler Black: Ha! Who’s paying you to say that?
IL: It’s totally voluntary. Now Fowler, your people are from here. Ray Black & Son – those are your people, right?
FB: Yes, Ray Black was my great-grandfather. He and my grandfather Bill Black Sr. were general contractors together in Paducah for several decades. My father, Bill Black Jr., specializes in historic preservation for the company. Several other family members work there, too. Nancy Black is my mom. I’m her biggest fan! Her father, Dr. Merle Fowler, was one of the first general surgeons at Western Baptist Hospital. I was named after him.
IL: And here you are, a young person returning from Ole Miss to make your home in Paducah. That just rocks. Paducah can always use more cute people.
FB: I knew that I wanted to come back to Paducah because of my family. After four years of undergrad and two years of recruiting for the University of Mississippi, I felt like I had done my time in Oxford. So I came back and worked for Ray Black & Son, and then joined the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in 2004. The CVB does destination marketing for Paducah, and it’s a way to put my passion for my hometown to good use.
IL: Speaking of needs – tell us about this new 20s/30s Group y'all have started.
FB: Our demographic of 20s and 30s is very important to Paducah’s continued growth. Paducah has a lot to offer young adults – and we have a lot to offer Paducah. We've created the group primarily to stimulate professional networking among ourselves, along with fostering community involvement and social opportunities. Forming the group will help us stay involved and informed – and ensure that we have a voice in continuing to shape the city.
IL: How do folks join?
FB: It’s very informal. We communicate over email, and we're starting a Web site. Folks who want to join can just send me an email and we'll add them to our list and invite them to our Fridays @ Five happy hours!
IL: Do you have to be cute to be a member?
FB: No, actually, this is a very non-exclusive kind of a group, other than the fact it caters to the 20- and 30-somethings.
IL: Well Fowler, you are most definitely cute. And when you sing! Oy vey. I heard you sing Amazing Grace at the Evening of Performance in May. I'll just be honest. It was a little sexy.
FB: Um...
IL: Oh, sorry. I'm embarrassing you.
FB: You're good at that. Well, I just didn't intend for Amazing Grace to be sexy.
IL: You probably can't help it, Fowler. When did you realize you could sing?
FB: My brothers played a big part in that, not to mention my life in general. They both sang in various acappella groups. My oldest brother was a member of the Princeton Nassoons. My middle brother helped start the Prime Rib acappella group at Tilghman. Then I got involved in that. I soon realized there’s nothing like well-tuned, all-male harmony. With acappella music, meaning no instruments, you can take it anywhere – from a private gathering to a stage in a performing arts center.
IL: So you won the Paducah Idol contest here in 2005, and then went on to American Idol last September. Did you sing in front of Simon Cowell?
FB: Well, first of all, I was surprised to win Paducah Idol because it was really my first venture as a soloist in pop music, despite the fact I sang some choir-dork Scottish ballad in the first round of the audition! And then, yes, last September, I – and 16,000 other auditionees – stood in line at the FedEx Forum starting at 4 a.m. I waited 12 hours to sing for one minute. The way they pick is random and immeasurable. There were excellent voices that didn't get through and terrible ones that did. They were turning away 300 people every 10 minutes in cattle-call style. Simon, Randy and Paula don't get involved until many audition rounds later.
IL: What did you sing?
FB: Michael Buble’s version of Feeling Good.
IL: Good one. And were you feeling good about Feeling Good?
FB: Yes, I was pleased with my performance, and it was a lot of fun. But I don't know if I would go through all that again. I might consider it again if auditions are held in a city I'd enjoy visiting anyway.
IL: So Fowler, describe for us your idea of an awesome date in Paducah.
FB: Well, we'd probably meet in LowerTown for coffee with another couple and enjoy a game of Spades. Then we'd get cleaned up and meet back on the Market House Square for dinner, probably at Max’s. After dinner, we'd stroll to the Carson Center or the Market House Theater for an evening of entertainment. We'd cap off the evening with a band and a drink on the patio of Fat Moe’s.
IL: Oh la la! Any chance that you'd get up and sing with the band?
FB: Only if I'm invited by the band, and if they could play some Mustang Sally or Moondance. iList, are you into serenades?
IL: Oh, Fowler, you can serenade us anytime! Thank you. That’s a wrap.
