Jon "Bowzer" Bauman in 2000.

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 greaser in a muscle shirt.

[edit] Biography

Bauman started attending The Juilliard School at age 12 and is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University. 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, 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, and conventions all over the world. They currently headline "Bowzer's Ultimate Doo-Wop Party".

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

Bauman has also spoken on behalf of musicians who are upset about contemporary groups who use classic groups' names even though none of the original members are in the former's lineups. 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 create laws stating that any group using the name of a classic group must have at least one of the original members.

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

[edit] External links

• Jon Bauman at the Internet Movie Database
• 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