Joe McGowan Music Joe McGowan Charleston Joe McGowan is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist whose music draws from many genres, including classical, jazz, bluegrass, gospel, R&B and country. He began playing piano by ear at age 2 and began formal lessons at age 6. McGowan attended the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts in piano performance during high school. He began writing music at a very young age, but most of his early works were based heavily in piano improvisation.