Harold Elwin Bice, Jr was born November 1975 in Huntsville, Alabama. His grandmother nicknamed him Bogart and that stuck until he entered school and shortened it to Bo. His parents divorced and his mother, Nancy, remarried a Coca Cola executive named Earle Downes. The family lived in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and finally in England. Bo attended high school in London, finished with a GED in Alabama, Graduated from Community College in Calhoun and had a semester at the University of Northen Alabama before music drew him away.
Bo's first success in music was winning a school competition.
His first band, Spinning Jenny, was formed while he lived in London and he went on to work with many other youthful bands. He gained experience working the nightclub circuit and performing all over the United States. With some of the bands he toured Europe and the United Kingdom. Bo plays many instruments besides the guitar, namely the mandolin, harmonica, piano and saxophone. He is also a talented songwriter.
In 2004, on a dare from his mother, Bo tried out for American Idol. He and Constantine Maroulis were the oldest contestants to audition and be accepted. Bo was still 28 and just made the age limit. His style, Southern Rocker, put him in a class by himself and the judges loved his appeal. He varied his performances, once singing acappella and another time playing one of his own compositions while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Bo finished the 2005 Idol season as runner up to Carrie Underwood, but came out of it a winner.
Bo is married, has two sons and has created a spot for himself in the music world. He worked benefits for Katrina victims and housed one displaced family in his own home. He has entertained U.S. troops in Kuwait and Afghanistan. He has won music and humanitarian awards, written and recorded his own songs and hosted TV shows, continuing the climb to success.
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