Gospel music is known for songs of faith, annual singings, artists whose voices transcend the genre, and its bass singers. Ian Owens of Tribute Quartet may be one of the most notable voices in Gospel music to date. His voice not only rounds out the legendary Tribute Quartet, but he can hit notes that are beyond the reach of many. As we continue through 2026, Ian is reaching a milestone of his own in Gospel music, and we are all here to celebrate it with him.
To know Ian is to be his friend, and through his journey—on and off the platform—this has connected well with audiences as he continues to share about a loving Savior who is not just a word in a song, but truly a God who walks with us every day. So jump into Ian Owens’ story and discover the bass singer we all know for those classic low notes.
Music was never the plan. “Growing up, I never actually wanted to be a singer. This was not something I ever set out to do,” states Ian Owens. Ian was raised in the church by a family passionate about Jesus and Gospel music. As a child, Ian recalls his grandparents having a quartet called the Deacon Quartet—four men who were deacons in the church he grew up in.
As Ian got older, his dad had local groups where he sang bass, and his mom also had a gospel trio. Gospel music began to sneak into Ian’s life. The classic song “Daddy Sang Bass” was the theme of the Owens household, as Ian’s dad was a bass singer and his mom sang alto—or, as the song says, “tenor.” But even as his parents continued in Gospel ministry, Ian still hadn’t felt the call to be in Gospel music.
At nine years old, he began playing the violin and eventually added more and more instruments. By the time he was 15, his dad came to him and said they were looking for a bass guitar player for the quartet his dad was in. “A fact people may or may not know about me is that I actually went to college to be a band director. I was majoring in classical brass and music education. Long story short, God had other plans,” Ian states.
So how exactly did Ian end up in Gospel music? At just 18 years old, Ian began his journey through an interaction with a local group called Revelations, and then went on to sing with another local group called New Wine. During this time, Ian was balancing college and singing.
Eventually, he received the call that would change his story. Ian auditioned for a group called the Cumberland Boys, which became his first professional job in the early 2000s. The group took on the demanding task of performing at Silver Dollar City—five shows a day, six days a week.
Many people know Ian from Tribute Quartet, but he had several adventures before joining one of Gospel music’s favorite quartets. After spending nine months with the Cumberland Boys, he went on to take the place of Armond Morales in The Imperials, where he spent around eight years.
Another notable chapter includes his time with Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. During that season, he traveled to 42 countries and every U.S. state. The group sang for Billy and Franklin Graham, even performing at Easterfest in Brisbane, Australia—one of the largest Christian music festivals in the world.
Ian then spent nine years with the Soul’d Out Quartet, and as of January 1, 2021, he officially joined Tribute Quartet.
“The guys of Tribute Quartet are my family,” states Ian. “For about 15 years, I believed God was telling me that Tribute was supposed to be my home one day and that I was meant to sing in that group. I even told Gary and Josh this,” Ian recalls. “Being able to journey the road we are on with each of these guys is a true honor and a highlight of my career.”
Within the Gospel music industry, there are so many talented artists rising up and many seeking advice. With that in mind, Ian offers this wisdom: “Don’t take people for granted and make yourself available.” He explains that if you’re not in it for the ministry—if you don’t feel a calling and are doing it just to be seen or to make a name for yourself—you should take time to evaluate if this is truly your path. Stay humble, stay available, be willing to listen, and keep a smile on your face. Simply put: love people and be Jesus to them.
“Being able to journey the road we are on with each of these guys is a true honor and a highlight of my career.”
From this series, you as the reader can see that we have some incredible artists in Gospel music—people who have seen God do amazing things in their lives as they’ve remained available to His call. Looking back on Ian’s story and career, one thing he wishes he had known at the beginning is the importance of daily bread. God will always see you through, and you will make it to the other side.
“I wish I would have known in advance how difficult the hard times could be, but also to know that God will always get me through.”
That’s advice we can all live by in a chaotic and ever-changing world. God truly is our daily bread.
