Raymond D. Bowman(1917-2001)
- Actor
Raymond DeArmond Bowman was a classical, jazz and world music critic, concert promoter and writer. He was born in Virginia but arrived in Long Beach, California with his family at the age of 3, He was a prodigy violinist, encouraged by his mother Vesta V. Bowman, who had a love of classical music and was one of the founders of the Long Beach Symphony Society. He graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach, where he was active in sports and set several records in track and field. He went on to Columbia University in New York, where he obtained degrees in literature and journalism. Returning home, he was a member of The California Junior Symphony Orchestra and appeared in the motion picture "They Shall Have Music" in 1939.
He enlisted in the Army in late 1940 and was sent to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii after basic training. A few weeks after arriving at the Army base, he witnessed the attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. During the World War II, he would work in counter-intelligence in the South Pacific and rarely saw action for the rest of his enlistment due to the remoteness of his outposts in the Pacific. His combined active and reserve enlistment lasted 17 years. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1951, he married an English woman named Margaret Alderson, but they soon divorced. He was Adjutant of the Hollywood American Legion Post 43 during the mid-to-late 1950s and was active in veterans affairs. He was one of the original members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and signed the incorporation papers a year after it was formed in 1961. In 1960, he married the former Estrellita (Lita) Santos, a local celebrity radio announcer at station KMPC, who had 2 children from a previous marriage, Leslieanne and Robert Christian. In 1962, they had a son, Ray Bowman, Jr.
On Sunday, September 16, 1963, he teamed with dance legend Ruth St. Denis to bring the first full-length Balinese Shadow Puppet play to the United States. The performance was held at her studio at 3433 Cahuenga Boulevard West (near Universal City). It lasted 8 hours and was the first such performance in the United States.
He was a major concert presenter of classical and jazz music. DownBeat Magazine nicknamed him "The Sol Hurok of the avant garde." He met countless musicians, conductors and composers over the years. He was also instrumental in bringing world ethnic music to the Los Angeles area for the first time during the 1950s and 60s. For nearly 20 years he presented the "Monday Night Concert Series" at the Ice House in Pasadena. One of the most famous performers he presented was comic Lily Tomlin. Her first record album was recorded on one of his Monday nights. He also presented the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Les McCann, Claire Fischer, Don Ellis, Rene Heredia and his Flamenco Show, the Aman Folk Ensemble, Devi Dja and many more.
He was a classical music critic for the South Bay Daily Breeze during the 1970s and was a fixture at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during the symphony and opera seasons. He was a familiar face to members of the press and arts community for nearly 40 years in the Los Angeles area. He died on November 30, 2001. His step-son is R. Christian Anderson, a film director and screenwriter.
He enlisted in the Army in late 1940 and was sent to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii after basic training. A few weeks after arriving at the Army base, he witnessed the attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. During the World War II, he would work in counter-intelligence in the South Pacific and rarely saw action for the rest of his enlistment due to the remoteness of his outposts in the Pacific. His combined active and reserve enlistment lasted 17 years. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1951, he married an English woman named Margaret Alderson, but they soon divorced. He was Adjutant of the Hollywood American Legion Post 43 during the mid-to-late 1950s and was active in veterans affairs. He was one of the original members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and signed the incorporation papers a year after it was formed in 1961. In 1960, he married the former Estrellita (Lita) Santos, a local celebrity radio announcer at station KMPC, who had 2 children from a previous marriage, Leslieanne and Robert Christian. In 1962, they had a son, Ray Bowman, Jr.
On Sunday, September 16, 1963, he teamed with dance legend Ruth St. Denis to bring the first full-length Balinese Shadow Puppet play to the United States. The performance was held at her studio at 3433 Cahuenga Boulevard West (near Universal City). It lasted 8 hours and was the first such performance in the United States.
He was a major concert presenter of classical and jazz music. DownBeat Magazine nicknamed him "The Sol Hurok of the avant garde." He met countless musicians, conductors and composers over the years. He was also instrumental in bringing world ethnic music to the Los Angeles area for the first time during the 1950s and 60s. For nearly 20 years he presented the "Monday Night Concert Series" at the Ice House in Pasadena. One of the most famous performers he presented was comic Lily Tomlin. Her first record album was recorded on one of his Monday nights. He also presented the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Les McCann, Claire Fischer, Don Ellis, Rene Heredia and his Flamenco Show, the Aman Folk Ensemble, Devi Dja and many more.
He was a classical music critic for the South Bay Daily Breeze during the 1970s and was a fixture at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during the symphony and opera seasons. He was a familiar face to members of the press and arts community for nearly 40 years in the Los Angeles area. He died on November 30, 2001. His step-son is R. Christian Anderson, a film director and screenwriter.
