Celebrity Nooz: jon bowzer bauman

Jon Bauman (Singer) as Bowzer - Sha Na Na

Updated: 05/22/2005

Name: Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman

Born: September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York

Claim To Fame: As the greaser singer, Bowzer in the band Sha Na Na.

Family Life: Married to wife Mary for more than 30 years. Two children, Nora and Eli.

Info: He started "Sha Na Na" in 1969 with a bunch of friends from Columbia University. He stayed with the group until the mid-80's, when he tried a shot at hosting the game show "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour".

He became a "VJ" for VH1 for 2 years .

As the co-leader of Sha Na Na for l4 years, Bowzer led his group to such success that its TV series, at its peak, was the No. 1 syndicated show in America. Sha Na Na also was seen in 32 countries.

Jon is nothing like the Bowzer character he created. In fact he was something of a child prodigy at the piano, and started classical music training at the age of 7 and attended the prestigious Juilliard School five years later. He ended up at Columbia University in New York, where Jon graduated magna cum laude.

Trivia: When Bowzer first started Sha Na Na, he used to wear a complete baseball uniform on stage, and it took four or five months to get him into full greaser garb.

His character Bowzer has been likened to "Hee Haw" covered with Brylcreem.

Performed at Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na

He left the group in 1983

He will forever be remembered as Jewish thanks to Adam Sandler's 'Hanukkah Song'

His catchphrase was 'Grease for Peace'

Jon on the character he created, "The Bowzer character was that kind of greasy, but intensely vulnerable character that really did exist in the ‘60s and in the ‘50s."

Where Are They Now: He is still very active touring all over the world under the name of 'Bowzer's Rock N' Roll Party Bowzer's Ultimate Doo-Wop Party.'

In fact don't be surprised if you book a cruise and he's on it... he has been booked for several cruises. He had a successful run in Atlantic City where he broke some
records for the venue he appeared at.

He briefly co-hosted a morning show in L.A.

Write To Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman:
Jon Bowzer Bauman
15760 Ventura Blvd. #2011
Encino, CA. 91436

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