Education

BA, MFA (York), PhD (Memphis)

Biography

Professor Bowman pioneered popular music studies at York University. He lectures, publishes and broadcasts in many areas of popular music, from country, R & B and gospel to reggae, rap and funk. He has written liner notes for dozens of recordings and regularly authors, produces and advises on major documentary and CD reissue projects for record companies in Europe and North America. His many broadcast credits include a five-part radio series on the history of Canadian popular music and frequent guest spots on CBC Radio's Definitely Not the Opera.

Rob Bowman's work as an interpreter and documentarian of historical recordings of popular music has been recognized internationally. A six-time Grammy Award nominee, he won a Grammy in 1996 for Best Album Notes for his 47,000 word monograph accompanying the 10-CD boxed set of The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975, which he co-produced. His nominations include Best Album Notes for the 4 CD box set The Stax Story, Best Album Notes for The Malaco Records Story: The Last Soul Company and The Complete Stax Singles, Vol. 1 1959-1968, and Best Historical Reissue for The Otis Redding Story. He received his sixth Grammy nomination in December 2018, for Best Historical Album for Jackie Shane: Any Other Way.

Professor Bowman's book, Soulsville, U.S.A. - The Story of Stax Records (1997), a definitive history of the legendary Memphis-based record label, has garnered numerous honours, including winner of the 1998 ASCAP-Deems Taylor and ARSC Awards for Excellence in Music Research. In 2013 Soulsville U.S.A. was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis.

Publications

Books:

Head Arrangement and Improvisation in King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Graz, Austria: Jazzforschung [forthcoming]

Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records, New York: Prentice-Hall, 1997

Chapters in Books:

"Soul" and "Rockabilly" in Memphis Music, D. Evans ed. Chattanooga: University of Tennessee Press [at press]

"Meaning in Performance" in A. Moore, Innovative Approaches to Musicological Analysis of Popular Music, Cambridge University Press [at press]

"The Story of P-Funk" in The Best of George Clinton: Masters of Funk,  New York: JPMC Books, 1998

"A Conversation with B.B. King" in B.B. King Companion, Kostelanetz, ed. New York: Schirmer Books,1997

"The Rattling of the Drums: Political Expression in World Music" in Sounding Off: Music as Subversion, Resistance, Revolution, Ron Sakolsky and Fred Weihan Ho, eds. Brooklyn: Autonomedia,1996

Parliament/Funkadelic: Entropy as a Deviant Career Tool and Ideological Signifier", Not a Kid Anymore: Canadian Youth, Crime and Subcultures, G. O'Bireck, ed. Toronto: Nelson Books, 1996

"Funny How Time Slips Away (The Peacock Soul Years)" Duke/Peacock Records, G. Gart and R. C.Ames, Milford N.H.: Big Nickel Publications, 1990

Liner Notes:

Fall 1989 Rockin' My Life Away, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tomato Records 2696 612

Fall 1989 Heartbreak, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tomato Records 2696 672

Fall 1989 Rocket ‘88, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tomato Records 2696 732

Fall 1989 The Complete Palomino Club Recordings, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tomato Records R2 70385

Fall 1989 Antoine "Fats" Domino, Tomato Records 2696 632

Fall 1989 Make Place For The Youth, Andrew Tosh, Tomato Records 2696 722

Summer 1990 Classic Recordings 1956-1960, Billy Lee Riley, Bear Family Records BCD 15444

Fall 1990 Sam & Dave: An Anthology of the Stax Years: 1965 to 1968, Atlantic CD 914

Fall 1990 Greatest Hits, Honey Cone, Fantasy Records HCD 3902-2

Fall 1990 Greatest Hits, Freda Payne, Fantasy Records HCD 3905-2

Fall 1990 Greatest Hits, One Hundred Proof Aged In Soul, Fantasy Records HCD 3904-2

January 1991 The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble In Concert, Arcadia Records 1991-2

April 1991 9 CD box set on The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959-1968, Atlantic Records 7-82218-2

September 1991 A Little Something Extra, William Bell, Ace Records CDSXD 037

September 1991 Stax Revue: Live At The 5/4 Ballroom, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 040

November 1991 Can't Get Away From This Dog, Rufus Thomas, Ace Records CDSXD 039

November 1991 Hidden Gems, Carla Thomas, Ace Records CDSXD 038

December 1991 The Great Rhythm and Blues Sessions, Ike and Tina Turner, Tomato Records 700712

January 1992 It's Not Just Sentimental, Otis Redding, Ace Records CDSXD 041

March 1992 The Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Europe, Ace Records CDSXD 044

June 1992 Free At Last, The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, Arcadia Records ARC 1995-2

October 1992 Stay Out Of The Kitchen, Mable John, Ace Records CDSXD 048

November 1992 Music For Your Mother, Funkadelic, Ace Records CDSEW2 55

February 1993 The Soulful Sounds of Stax, Various Artists, Malaco Records MCD 2011

May 1993 A Retrospective, The Guess Who, BMG Germany 74321-133612

May 1993 A Retrospective, Lou Reed, BMG Germany 74321- 133632

June 1993 The Best Of, Flaming Ember, Fantasy Records HCD-3906

June 1993 The Best Of, Glass House, Fantasy Records HCD-3908

June 1993 The Best Of, 8th Day, Fantasy Records HCD 3910

August 1993 Big Chief, Professor Longhair, Tomato Records R2 71446

August 1993 Rum and Coke, Professor Longhair, Tomato Records R2 71447

September 1993 You Thrill My Soul, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 088

November 1993 The Best of Rufus Thomas: The Singles, Rufus Thomas, Ace Records CDSXD 094

December 1993 New Orleans Piano Rhythms, Various Artists, Tomato Records. R2 71568

July 1994 Dedicated to the One I Love, the Temprees, Fantasy Records Stax SCD- 88017

July 1994 Damifiknow/Memphis Experience, the Mar-Keys, Fantasy Records Stax SCD-88021

July 1994 Stormy/Feel the Warm, Billy Eckstine, Fantasy Records Stax SCD- 88020

September 1994 A Whole Nother Radio Active Thang, Fuzzy Haskins, Ace Records CDSEWD 099

November 1994 The Great Recordings, Chuck Jackson, Rhino Records R2 71655

December 1994 The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1972-75, Various Artists, Fantasy 10SCD-4415-2

December 1994 Greatest Hits, Maxine Brown, Rhino Records R2 71740

February 1995 Done Crossed Every River, Opera Ebony, Arcadia Records ARC 2004

March 1995 Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth, 24-Carat Black, Fantasy Records SCD- 8591

March 1995 Victim of the Joke?--An Opera, David Porter, Fantasy Records SCD 8592

April 1995 21 Karat Fatback--The Best of the Fatback Band, The Fatback Band, Ace Records CDSEWD 101

May 1995 Play the Hip Hits, Booker T. and the MG’s, Ace Records CDSXD 065

June 1995 4000 Volts of Stax and Satellite, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 107

July 1995 Senior Soul/If She Walked Into My Life, Billy Eckstine, Fantasy Records SCD-88023

July 1995 Soul Children/Best of Two Worlds, Soul Children, Fantasy Records SCD-88024

July 1995 Love Maze, the Temprees, Fantasy Records SCD 88025

July 1995 Did You Heard Me?/Crown Prince of Dance, Rufus Thomas, Fantasy Records SCD-88026

August 1995 Don’t Have to Shop Around, the Mad Lads, Fantasy Records SCD-8593

August 1995 Presenting, Isaac Hayes, Fantasy Records, SCD-8596

September 1995 Grayfolded, John Oswald, Swell Records S/A 1969-1996

March 1996 California Girl/Down to Earth, Eddie Floyd, Fantasy Records, SCD 88027

March 1996 Do You See What I See?, The Bar-Kays, Fantasy Records, SCD-88028

March 1996 So I Can Love You/Untouched, The Emotions, Fantasy Records, SCD- 88029

March 1996 City In the Sky, The Staple Singers, Fantasy Records, SCD-88030

May 1996 Live: Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan 12th September 1971, Funkadelic, Ace Records, CDSEWD 108.

July 1996 Best of Volume 2, the Bar-Kays, Polygram 314 532 407.

September 1996 Sweet Soul from Memphis, The Astors Meet the Newcomers, Fantasy Records, SCD-8597

September 1996 One Step Beyond, Johnnie Taylor, Fantasy Records, SCD-8578

January 1997 Rhythms, Riffs and Rhymes, Various Artists, York Fine Arts YFA 00496

April 1997 Stax Funx, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 110.

May 1997 Free At Last: Gospel Quartets From Stax Records' Chalice Label, Various Artists, Fantasy records SPCD-7067.

May 1997 Hard Goin' Up, Little Sonny, Fantasy records SCD-8600.

June 1997 "Roots Natty Roots: An interview with Bob Marley," The Beat, Volume 16, No. 3. pp.46-50

June 1997 The Complete Early Volt Recordings, the Mad Lads, Ace Records CDSXD 111

June 1997 Love Means/Memphis Queen, Carla Thomas, Fantasy Records SCD 88033

December 1997 Hold On, I'm Coming, The Soul Children, Fantasy Records SCD-88034

December 1997 Soul Street, Eddie Floyd, Fantasy Records SCD-88035

December 1997 Funky Chicken, Rufus Thomas, Fantasy Records SCD-88036

June 1998 Sing and Make Melody Unto the Lord, The Harps of Melody, High Water 6510

June 1998 Crossing the Great Divide, The Band, Genuine 98-08-1010

August 1998 5000 Volts of Stax, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 116

September 1998  Time is Tight, Booker T and the MGs -- three CD box set, Fantasy Records Stax 3SCD-4424

October 1998  926 East McLemore: Vol. 1, Various Artists, High Stacks Records HS 9801

November 1998 Steve Cropper's Classic Soul Guitar: Play It, Steve!, Steve Cropper. Play It, Steve Records CD-1115

December 1998 Chocolate Chip, Isaac Hayes, Fantasy Records SCD-8601-2

February 1999 Stax Funx 2, Various Artists, Ace Records CDSXD 128

March 1999 The Last Soul Company: Malaco: A Thirty-Year Retrospective, Malaco Records MCD 0030

May 1999 The Travellers 1960-1966: This Land is Your Land, The Travellers, Sony Records ZK 80388

July 1999 Talking to the People, Black Nasty, Fantasy Records SCD 8602

November 1999 Phases of Reality/Relating, William Bell, Fantasy Records SCD 88037

November 1999 Genesis/Friction, The Soul Children, Fantasy Records SCD 88038

November 1999 Makes a New Impression/Phase II, Margie Joseph, Fantasy Records, SCD 88039

November 1999  The Melvin Van Peebles Collections, Melvin Van Peebles, Fantasy Records, SCD 88040

July 2000 Sad and Beautiful World: 1975-1999, Colin Linden, Sony Records CK 80522

Monographs:

The Malaco Records Story: The Last Soul Company, Jackson, MS: Malaco Records, 1999

Booker T. and the MGs: Time is Tight, Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1998

The Complete Stax Singles: 1972-1975, Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1994

The Complete Stax Singles: 1968-1971, Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1993

Lou Reed: Between Thought and Expression, New York: BMG Records, 1992

The Complete Stax Singles: 1959-1968, New York: Atlantic Records, 1991

Sam and Dave: An Anthology of the Stax Years -- 1965-68, Toronto: WEA Records, 1990

The Band: To Kingdom Come, Los Angeles: Capitol Records, 1989

The Otis Redding Story, New York: Atlantic Records, 1986

Recordings Produced:

Sad and Beautiful World: 1975-1999, Colin Linden, Sony Records, 2000

The Travellers 1960-1966: This Land is Your Land, the Travellers, Sony Records, 1999

The Last Soul Company: Malaco: A Thirty-Year Retrospective, Malaco Records, 1999

The Harps of Melody: Sing and Make Melody Unto the Lord. Memphis: High Water Records,1998

Booker T. and the MG's box set. Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1997

The Complete Stax Singles: 1972-1975, Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1994

The Complete Stax Singles: 1968-1971, Berkeley, CA: Fantasy Records, 1993

Lou Reed: Between Thought and Expression, New York: BMG Records, 1992

The Complete Stax Singles: 1959-1968, New York: Atlantic Records, 1991

Sam and Dave: An Anthology of the Stax Years -- 1965-1968.Toronto: WEA Records, 1990

The Band: To Kingdom Come. Los Angeles: Capitol Records, 1989

The Otis Redding Story. New York: Atlantic Records, 1986

Awards

2018 - Nominee, Grammy Award, Best Historical Album
2001 - Nominee, Grammy Award, Best Album Notes
2000 - Nominee, Grammy Award, Best Album Notes
1999 - Association for Independent Music Awards, Liner Notes and Historical Reissue
1998 - ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award
1998 - Sweet Soul Music Award, Poretta Soul Festival, Italy
1996 - Memphis Players Award, Best Album Notes
1995 - Grammy Award, Best Album Notes
1995 - Nominee, NAIRD Award, Liner Notes
1994 - Nominee, NAIRD Award, Liner Notes
1992 - Nominee, Grammy Award, Best Album Notes
1990 - Nominee, Ralph G. Gleason Award, Music Research
1990 - Nominee, ARSC Award, Best Research in Recorded Rock, Rhythm and Blues and Soul
1988 - Nominee, Grammy Award, Best Historical Release
1985 - Beale Street Music Preservation Scholarship
1985 - Beale Street Music Preservation Scholarship