Swampland:Bo Bice: Six Degrees of Swampland

Bo Bice: Six Degrees of Swampland

"He’s a really nice guy, and I think his affection for that great old music is very sincere and respectful. I consider Bo an apostle of that music. For that I am thankful. He’s a really, really nice young man. He’s a great singer.- Henry Paul, The Outlaws/Blackhawk

Harold Elwin "Bo" Bice, Jr. was born on November 1, 1975 in Huntsville, Alabama. Bo first gained national popularity as runner-up in the fourth season of the American Idol TV show. Bice was nicknamed "Bogart" as a newborn by his grandmother ("Granny Madge") because she thought he had "Humphrey Bogart eyes." When Bice was in kindergarten he shortened it to "Bo" because he didn't think Bogart was cool. He first made his mark at the age of 13, when he won a local school competition.

Bice grew up with his mother and stepfather, Nancy and Earle Downes, sisters, Jenny and Sharan Downes, and brother, Jon Cochran. The family moved around the South frequently. They lived in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, including the metro area of Atlanta. In 1990 when Bice was 15 years old they moved to England, as part of his father's European assignment with Coca-Cola in London. Bice spent his teenage years living in the suburbs of Gerrards Cross and Seer Green. The family were neighbors of Ozzy Osbourne.

Bice attended London Central High School, a Department of Defense school primarily for children whose parents served in the military or worked at the U.S. Embassy. In high school, he was found carrying his guitar everywhere, played football, attended proms, and had several girlfriends. It was around this time when Bice worked with some English alternative rock musicians. He formed his first band, Spinning Jenny, while living there.

Bice would have graduated in 1994, but in the fall of 1993, Bice dropped out of high school just before turning 18 to move back to Alabama, where he earned his GED and attended classes at Calhoun Community College from November 1996 to May 1997. Upon graduating Calhoun and spending a semester at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Bice turned professional and performed in shows all across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe. He is a veteran of the nightclub circuit, having performed solo and in rock groups such as Purge, Blue Sued Nickel (sic), and his pre-Idol band SugarMoney. Among his credits are opening for Blackfoot and Warrant as well as performing live and recording with Johnny Neal, formerly of The Allman Brothers Band. Bice had recorded albums prior to his stint on American Idol, which included "Ex Gratia" (1999) with his band Purge, and "Recipe for Flavor" (2000) by Bo Bice & SugarMoney.

After two years of dating, Bice married Caroline Merrin Fisher (1980) on June 15, 2005 in Helena, Alabama. They met in Hoover, Alabama when he was a guitar store clerk and Caroline was a waitress. Fisher had son Aidan Michael Bice on September 24, 2005. Second son Caleb James was born on born August 5, 2008. They reside in Nashville.

A BO BICE CHRISTMAS TREAT