Chris Owens

Daughter of Fred Moore Shaw Sr. (1898-1977) and Thelma Leona Martin (1906-1998). Grew up on a cotton farm and went to Texas Weslyn College to be a nurse. Moved to New Orleans, LA to be with her sister while continuing her passion for music. Met and married a Chevrolet car salesman Sol R. Owens in 1956 (no children). Started the 809 club that year and then expanded to another building in 1968 which is the Chris Owens Club on Bourbon Street. People confuse her with a stripper but she did not remove her clothes. Instead she danced and sang Latin music until Castro took over Cuba then her music styles changed. At age 81 (born October 5, 1932 in Avoca, TX she does not perform daily any longer and the nights she doesn't the club is a disco. But she remains a vision of loveliness with a drop dead figure to this day. Sadly her love of her life and dance partner Sol passed away in 1979 (much older he was born 1915 in Mississippi)and she also took on the management role with some help. A statue in was erected in 2006 of Chris Owens at the New Orleans Musical Legends Park.