He was born on December 2, 1890, in Talbotton, Georgia, the son of Thomas and Sally Owens. In his youth he moved to Alabama. His detailed location is presumed to be Mobile. He played the banjo in Mobile, and during World War I he went to Jefferson County to pick up the guitar. He took care of his nephew while he was growing up. He is believed to be the composer of "Red Cross Blues", composed in 1917.
Then, around January 1932 or before November 22, 1931, he recorded two solos in Grafton, Wisconsin. Around the same time, he collaborated with Ben Curry and recorded two songs, which were released, but the album has not been found to date.
He used electric guitar after World War II, and is said to have played periodically in the 1950s. Later, when his health deteriorated significantly due to a cerebrovascular attack, his nephew, who raised him, sent him to a private nursing home in Ruby Hill. He died on May 1, 1974 in Bessemer, Georgia. After his death, he was buried in Wood Lawn Cemetery.