[2] He was influenced by musicians such as the Lilly Brothers and Tex Logan at the Hillbilly Ranch,[3] and formed his first rockabilly band the Cupids 1956.

[4] Accompanied by Keith, Rowan went to Nashville and was hired in 1964[6] as songwriter, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.

[8] Rowan teamed up with David Grisman in 1967 forming the band Earth Opera which frequently opened for The Doors.

[9] In 1973, Rowan, together with Richard Greene, Grisman, Bill Keith, and Clarence White, formed the bluegrass band Muleskinner.

Rowan joined The Mother Bay State Entertainers in 1963 and played mandolin on the three tracks the group contributed to the 1965 various artist record The String Band Project.

He has composed songs performed by New Riders of the Purple Sage, including "Panama Red", "Midnight Moonlight" and "Lonesome L.A.

[14] In 1997 Rowan received a Grammy Award for his contributions to the bluegrass compilation True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe.

“When the two harmonized together, they were said to reach ‘heavenly heights.’"[18] Rowan co-wrote ‘Walls Of Time’ with Monroe, which has since become a bluegrass standard.

Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band consists of Blaine Sprouse on fiddle, Christopher Henry on mandolin, Paul Knight on bass, Patrick Sauber on banjo, Jamie Oldaker on drums.

Drummers Larry Attamanuik and Ken Owen and banjo player Jeff Mosier also appear with Rowan's Big Twang Theory when their schedules permit.

"I have always wanted a band that was rooted in bluegrass, but could add the twang of Hank Williams, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly.

The band features Rowan on electric guitar and vocals, Blaine Sprouse on fiddle, Mike Morgan on bass, and drummer, Jamie Oldaker.