Jon Bauman
| Jon "Bowzer" Bauman | |
|---|---|
 Bauman with Peggy "Sue" Papadonski, 2000 | |
| Born |
Jon Bauman September 14, 1947 Brooklyn, New York City, New York |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, game show host, political spokesman |
| Years active | 1969–present |
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947) 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", was a gangly, slender-armed greaser in a muscle shirt.
Biography
Born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, Bauman started attending The Juilliard School at age 12 and is a 1964 graduate of Martin Van Buren H.S. in Queens Village, Queens. 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 tours extensively with his Bowzer and the Stingrays group at fairs, amusement parks, cruise ships, malt shoppes and conventions all over the world. They headline "Bowzer's Ultimate Milkshake Party ".
Bauman lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mary. Their two children, Nora and Eli, are graduates of Columbia University. His cousin is Eric C. Bauman, chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.
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 and Mary Wilson of The Supremes; before their deaths, Carl Gardner of The Coasters and original Drifter Bill Pinkney were also supporters. 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 regularly campaigns for Democrats in special elections, including Mark Critz in 2010, Kathy Hochul in 2011, David Weprin in 2011 and Elizabeth Colbert Busch in 2013. He endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008.[1] He has also worked as a spokesman for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and recorded wake-up calls for employees of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[2] He is also a cofounder of the group Senior Votes Count, which is a political action committee designed to elect leaders to protect and advance the rights of Older Americans.[3] In the 2016 presidential election Bauman endorsed Hillary Clinton campaigning for her across the country, including in Iowa and Ohio.[4]
Bauman is referenced in "The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler, and "Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
References
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.vocalgrouphalloffame.com/truth.htm
| Preceded by Peter Marshall 1966–81 |
Jon Bauman — Host of The Hollywood Squares 1983–84 |
Succeeded by John Davidson 1986–89 |