Richard Gowen

Richard Gowen is a Los Angeles–based drummer with more than three decades of experience and a formal background in jazz and classical percussion, earning his Jazz Studies degree from the University of North Florida. After building a wide-ranging career performing and recording with artists across the rock, folk, and indie scenes—including Jonathan Wilson, Nick Waterhouse, Vetiver, Sonny and the Sunsets, and members of the greater L.A. music community—Richard became a longtime collaborator with Southern California band The Growlers. From 2016 through 2020 he toured the world and recorded extensively with The Growlers, developing a close musical partnership with frontman Brooks Nielsen. When Brooks launched his solo career in 2020, Richard continued with him, performing live, contributing to his recordings, and helping shape the sound of the project over the next several years. Now in 2026, Richard and Brooks have reunited to relaunch The Growlers, beginning with their new Feel My Funk EP and a renewed commitment to touring and recording. Drawing on deep experience in jazz, classical, and multi-percussion traditions, Richard brings musicality, adaptability, and a distinctive creative voice to every project he’s part of.