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Bruce Gowers

Bruce Gowers (21 December 1940 – 15 January 2023) was a British television director and producer, best known for his work on large-scale live music and event productions.

Life and career

Gowers was born in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland on 21 December 1940. He started his career in his native United Kingdom, where his music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" brought him international recognition, leading to his relocation to the United States in the late 1970s.

His career included credits for the live episodes of American Idol (2001–2010) which he directed from its inception, and awards shows including the Emmys, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Billboard Awards, and the American Music Awards, event specials including Live Earth, Live 8, and President Bill Clinton's Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. He also directed musical specials for Michael Jackson and the Jacksons, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, and Britney Spears.

Gowers died of an acute respiratory infection in Santa Monica, California, on 15 January 2023, at the age of 82.

Television series

Music

2009 Emmy Award Winner – Best Musical Variety Director. 5 Emmy Award nominations, DGA Award nominee

Comedy

Kids

  • American Juniors (FOX) 2003
  • All That (Nickelodeon) 1999
  • The Amanda Show (Nickelodeon) 1999
  • Roundhouse (Nickelodeon) 1993–1994
  • The Kidsongs Television Show (called "The Kidsongs TV Show" in only season 1 (1987–1988)) (Public Television), 1987–1988, 1994–1995, 1997–1998

Misc.

  • The Spectacular World of Guinness Records (Syndication) 52 episodes, 1987–1989
  • This Is Your Life (NBC) 1983
  • We Interrupt This Week (PBS)
  • Headliners with David Frost (NBC) 1978

Award shows

Television specials

Music

  • Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years (CBS) 2001
  • Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (ABC) 2007, 2008
  • I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash (CBS) 2005
  • An All-Star Salute to Patti LaBelle: Live From Atlantis (UPN) 2005
  • Live 8 Philadelphia (MTV/VH1, ABC) 2005
  • Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (CBS) 2004 – Winner of the 2004 DGA Award for Best Musical Variety Director. Emmy Award Nominee, Best Director
  • Prince Musicology (PPV) 2004
  • Ultimate Manilow (CBS) 2002
  • All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (TNT) 2001
  • NSYNC - Atlantis Concert 2001
  • Women Rock: Girls with Guitars (Lifetime) 2001, 2000
  • Experience Music Project (VH1) 2000 (2 nights)
  • Arista's 25th Anniversary (NBC) 2000
  • Sarah Brightman: La Luna Concert (PBS) 2000
  • Britney Spears in Hawaii (FOX) 2000
  • Britney Spears: There's No Place Like Home (FOX) 2000
  • A Home for the Holidays (CBS) 2001, 2000
  • Radio City Grand Re-Opening (FOX) 1999
  • Ricky Martin: One Night Only (CBS) 1999
  • American Express Concert in Central Park (UPN) 1999
  • L'Oreal Summer Music Mania (UPN) 1999
  • Fleetwood Mac: The Dance (MTV) 1997 B DGA & EMMY Nominee for Best Director
  • Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon (Pay Per View) 1997
  • Woodstock (Pay Per View) 1994
  • An American Reunion: The Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert (HBO) 1993
  • MTV'S Inaugural Gala Ball (MTV) 1993
  • Up-close: Paul McCartney (MTV & ABC) 1993
  • Rod Stewart Valentine Vagabond (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1992
  • Dwight Yoakam (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1991
  • MTV Unplugged With Paul McCartney (MTV) 1991—Ace Award Nominee
  • Arista's 15th Anniversary "That's What Friends Are For" (CBS) 1990
  • Huey Lewis and the News (Showtime) 1985—Grammy Award winner for Best Director
  • Men at Work "Live in San Francisco" (HBO) 1984—Monitor Award winner
  • Soul Session: James Brown & Friends (Cinemax) – 1987 Ace Award for Best Director
  • Harry Belafonte: Don't Stop the Carnival (HBO) 1985
  • The Doobie Brothers Farewell Concert (Showtime) 1985
  • Rod Stewart, Tonight He's Yours (Syndication) 1981
  • Legends of Rock 'N Roll (Cinemax) 1989

Comedy

Miscellaneous specials

  • Explosion! (ABC) 1997
  • City Kids All-star Celebration (ABC) 1995
  • World of Entertainment (Syndication) 1982
  • All-Star Salute to Mother's Day (NBC) 1981
  • The II, III, IV & V International Guinness Book of World Records (ABC)
  • David Frost with The Shah of Iran (ABC) 1980

Videos

Selected music videos directed by Bruce Gowers:

Filmography

Documentaries

  • Hello Dalí (1973)
  • Finnan Games (1975)

Television pilots

Awards

Grammy Award winner:

Emmy Award winner :

  • American Idol (FOX) 2009 – Best Musical Variety Director
  • Hello Dalí (1973) – Documentary Director
  • The 4th International Guinness Book of World Records; (1982) – Editor

Emmy nominations: American Idol (2006, 2007), Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (2004), Fleetwood Mac: The Dance (1997)

DGA Award winner:

  • Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (CBS) 2004 – Best Musical Variety Director

DGA Award nominations: American Idol (2006), Fleetwood Mac: The Dance (1997)

Ace Award winner:

  • Soul Session: James Brown & Friends (Cinemax) – 1987 Best Director
  • Greater Tuna (HBO) 1984 Best Director

Monitor Award winner:

Monitor Award nominations: The MTV Video Music Awards, Robin Williams: An Evening at The Met (HBO) 1988, The Kidsongs TV Show (PBS) 1988

NAACP Image Award winner:

  • The Essence Awards 1995: Best Special

Golden Harp Award winner: Finnan Games

See also

References

External links