John G. Blowers, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blowers not long before his death.
Blowers not long before his death.

John G. Blowers, Jr. (April 21, 1911 -July 17, 2006), was an American drummer of the swing era, who became closely associated with Frank Sinatra. Born in Spartansburg, South Carolina, Blowers learned to play percussion during his schooldays and began performing with the Bob Pope Band in 1936. In the following year, he travelled to New York City, where he found employment as a drummer in Greenwich Village. In 1938 he joined Bunny Bengari's band, and in 1942 he began performing with the up-and-coming Sinatra, who asked Blowers to record with him. They performed and recorded together regularly until the 1950s. In 1947, he opened Club Blowers in the Queens district.

In addition to Sinatra, Blowers performed with Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Eddie Fisher, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and many others.