John got his start in Howard City, Michigan. He worked as a cook in high school and went onstage between sets of the ‘Don And Kay Trio,’ a group who went through two or three drummers a season, so they never were never immortalized in the annals of music history. He started by doing impressions of Groucho Marx and W.C. Fields and moved on to twisted sock puppet re-tellings of classic stories.

After playing out all the hot spots in Howard City, John moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he became an actor in the Boarshead Theater Company for the next five years. He then moved to New York and began performing in various theaters around the city. He had roles in a number of plays including some by a little know playwright named Lewis Black.

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John's live theater credits from those days include sharing the stage with James Earl Jones, Bruce Weitz, and Leslie Uggams, as well as working with directors, Jack O'Brian (Tony Winner), Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Robert Wilson. Television gigs came along, as well. He was a nerdy scientist on L.A. Law, a nervous car salesman on Ellen,' and a serial killer, ‘The Doll Killer,’ on Miami Vice.

During his tenure in New York, John started touring as a comedian with partner, Dan Ballard. Dan and John did a two-hander that was loud and offensive, just right for the road houses they were playing. They were ultimately chased from the stage by a guy named Boone, who had a hunting knife in his hand, in LaGrange, Georgia. He had the final words of the performance, which were, "Break it up," as he lunged toward them, sword in hand.

It was also during this time John took Lewis on his first tour; a two week swing through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, down through Wisconsin and back up again into Michigan. It was on the first night of the tour, a stop in Big Rapids, when Lewis asked the crowd, "Has anyone here ever seen a Jew?" One guy, in the back, with all sincerity, said, "I saw one in Grand Rapids."

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John moved on to L.A. where he did about a hundred cable comedy shows, including five appearances on Evening At The Improv, and was the final ‘debut comic’ on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He appeared on an episode of Seinfeld as ‘Teddy Padalak,’ umbrella salesman. He toured comedy clubs as a headliner until he snapped and moved into the Michigan woods. He came out to do a couple plays in New York, just before 9-11, and moved back to the City.

After 9-11, it was back into the woods. Lewis finally hauled him out on the road where he put John in compromising situations, photographed him, and accumulated enough evidence to keep him indentured and silent. John’s duties now include pushing Bobble Head Dolls and writing the segments for Inside The NFL.

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From Stand Up! Records
Stand Up! Records is proud to release the newest addition to their rapidly growing comedy family, John Bowman. And when we say release we mean; unleash. What does a grown man who appears to have severe ADD, a touch of Tourrette’s Syndrome and a mild case of hemorrhoids do for a living? Stand up comedy, of course. It has been said that genius and insanity are twin brothers, and I believe within John Bowman those twins are conjoined. The comic for the thinking man who doesn’t like to think too much. He’s perfected the art of smart comedy, made it palatable for the masses, and now he’s ready to bring it to your house.

John is a manic (or maniac?) comedian with a bug eyed view of the world who starts shooting his mouth off first and asks questions later. This is the guy in the lunchroom who would make you laugh until milk came out of your nose or you had an unfortunate accident, whichever came first. Get this CD and you’ll see what we mean. He has appeared on episodes Seinfeld, Miami Vice and has the distinction of being the last debut comic on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who had to retire after meeting him.

Nobody is safe at a John Bowman show, and now you can listen to him in the safety of your home with In Stink. Then, be sure to look for him in your neighborhood... in the bushes, under your car, peeking in your window, as well as your local comedy club. And bring an extra pair of clean underwear, just in case.

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