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Most people who know my name (Rowell conveniently rhymes with "role") know me for the characters I can play, both straight and comic.
But with the trend away from character voices, I've developed an additional persona which producers find just as appealing: "Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice" TM.
It's heard now in projects for banks, medical and business training, neighborly dialogues, and heartfelt first-person storytelling. Of course, I'm still ready to voice a germ, a freudian shrink, a nerdy robot, or a set of toes. Happy clients include Disney World, Carquest, GlaxoSmithKline, LEGO, New Balance, Citibank, Meijer, The Hartford, PGA Tour, and NASA.
My 30+ years of experience in voice acting, copywriting, and audio producdtion has given me skills that make life easier for the nice people who hire me. And most of them are kind enough to mention how much fun they're having along the way.
In fact, "fun" is a big part of any project I'm part of, whether behind the mic, onstage, or in front of the camera (see stories of my days as a TV kiddie show puppeteer, improv-murder mystery detective, my two movies with Jim Henson's Muppets, and others below).
As of this writing, I'm ready to embark on my 6th Childhood. Most poor suckers are lucky to have even one. |
Working
with Jim Henson's Muppets
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With
Kevin Clash, trying to resist the urge to tickle Elmo. And
getting a biiiiiig Grouchy hug from Oscar and his creator,
Caroll Spinney, who also does Big Bird.
Click
on pictures for larger versions
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I was one of a dozen additional
puppeteers recruited by Jim Henson Productions for
"Muppets From
Space" and "Elmo in Grouchland"
While we didn't get to
do any voiceover work, (mostly Muppet crowd scenes),
each of us has
a few "freeze-frame" moments we can point to on the DVD.
(Gee, wasn't that a masterful singing garbage bag just to
the right of Vanessa Williams during her big entrance!)
TV
Spots Before Your Eyes
When you need a large
white guy, I'm perfect for TV spots.
Of course, you can opt to
have a voice to go with the face, or use me in pantomime.
I've done
some physical comedy...and have the bruises to show for it!
Corporate
Video Shill (and Proud of It!)
Corporate Video producers
love to use me as their competition's sales rep or other comic relief.
But occasionally someone will surprise me with a role as a doctor,
a daddy, an attorney or pharmacist.
"He Walks, He Talks...He Writes!"
 
When needed, I've helped my clients with concept work, script and copywriting services,
sound design, and recording/editing audio for their multi-media, e-learning and web-based projects.
Of course, these talents come in handy for live events and broadcast spots as well.
Radio
Days with Zoot and "fbi"
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A
lot of my performance and production skills were honed back
in my Radio Days, as a copywriter/production manager. The National
ADDY Award I snagged during my 9 years with WRAL 101FM was particularly
satisfying. And for years, I continued the tradition of Edgar
Bergen's Charlie McCarthy, with my own puppet character on the
radio. Zoot developed into a popular sidekick to then top-rated
morning host "famous bob inskeep". |
Real
Radio: Tapping Into the Golden Age
Major influences in my voiceover style
come from vintage cartoons, Stan Freberg records, and all those
Old Radio Shows I started collecting in college. I still love
to mix the Imagination of "those thrilling days of Yesteryear"
with modern recording techniques. |
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with
Kent Dove in
"Greater Tuna" |
Ham
on Stage
I once met Red Skelton and introduced myself
as a fellow "Ham", but he corrected me, saying "No, hams can
be cured!" I got bit by the Community Theatre Bug in the 70s
as...what else...a character actor. What I learned there still
helps when I host live shows for corporate events. |
Last
of the Live Kiddie Show
TV Co-Hosts?
"Time for Uncle
Paul"
As you can tell from all that hair, this was awhile
ago. But I learned to perform in front of the tv camera live
with
no net, no script, no rehearsal...and no budget...under the wing of
the master.
"Uncle" Paul
Montgomery had one of the longest-running local kiddie shows in the
Southeast.
I was his puppeteer, partner, and on-camera cartoonist
for the last three of his 23 seasons.
Paul also taught me most of
what I know and love about jazz and classical music.
While
most of my on-camera or on-stage work is done close to home,
I'm not
above a little business travel if the project is right.
Making
Faces Since 1951
Getting Paid For
It Since 1969
Voice Talent
/ Animation Links
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VO-BB-
Great discussion boards, script library, resources.
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Hobby Pages |
