Jack Owens, born L. F. Nelson on November 17, 1904, in Bentonia, Mississippi, was an influential American blues singer and guitarist known for his contributions to the Delta blues genre. Raised by his maternal grandfather after his father abandoned the family, Owens learned to play the guitar, fife, fiddle, and piano at a young age, though he favored the guitar throughout his life. Despite his musical talents, Owens did not pursue a professional recording career; instead, he farmed, sold bootleg liquor, and operated a weekend juke joint in Bentonia.

Owens's musical style was part of the Bentonia School, characterized by a unique guitar style and open D-minor tuning, though he also experimented with his own tunings. Unlike his peer Skip James, Owens preferred to stay in his hometown, performing on his front porch rather than seeking fame. He was rediscovered during the blues revival of the 1960s by musicologist David Evans, who recorded Owens's music, leading to his first album, "Goin' Up the Country," in 1966.

In his later years, Owens performed at music festivals in the U.S. and Europe, often accompanied by harmonica player Bud Spires. He participated in notable events, including a tribute to Chess Records at the Long Beach Blues Festival in 1994. Owens received a National Heritage Fellowship in 1993 for his contributions to American musical heritage. He passed away on February 9, 1997, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, at the age of 92.