Jon Bauman - Biography

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" (sometimes called "Bowzer J. Bowzer" and sometimes "Choo Wate"), was a gangly, slender-armed greaser in a muscle shirt.

Biography

Bauman started attending The Juilliard School at age 12 and is a 1964 graduate of Martin Van Buren H.S. in Queens Village, NY. After his heyday with Sha Na Na, Bauman was a VJ on the music channel VH-1 during its first two years. He has appeared on several television series, such as Miami Vice, and has also done voiceovers for animated series, such as Animaniacs, and animated feature films, including My Little Pony: The Movie and The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. He also hosted the Hollywood Squares half of the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. In addition, Bauman hosted The Pop 'N Rocker Game, a weekly syndicated rock 'n' roll game show, which launched a few weeks before the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour premiered.

Jon Bauman Productions produced The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll, a ten-hour series for the A&E network.

Bauman currently tours extensively with his Bowzer and the Stingrays group at fairs, amusement parks, cruise ships, malt shoppes and conventions all over the world. They currently headline "Bowzer's Ultimate Milkshake Party".

Bauman lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mary. Their two children, Nora and Eli, are recent graduates of Columbia University.

Bauman has spoken on behalf of musicians who are upset about contemporary groups who use classic groups' names even though none of the members performed on any of the albums. Supporters include Charlie Thomas of The Drifters, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, and Carl Gardner of The Coasters. Before his death, Drifter Bill Pinkney was also a supporter. Bauman has also helped pass legislation that would compel any group using the name of a classic group to have at least one of the original members. The measure is known as the Truth in Music Act.

Bauman continues to appear with Julie Lancaster in an infomercial for Time Life's Oldies But Goodies collection of CDs.

Bauman is referenced in the The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler.

External links

• http://truthinmusic.org/tim_msnbc.htm
• http://www.bowzerparty.com/bio.htm
• http://www.classicsquares.com/sequelsii.html
• http://www.celebritynooz.com/watn/bowzer.html
• http://www.vocalgrouphalloffame.com/truth.htm