Priscilla Bowman

Born: 1928 in Kansas City, Kansas. Died: July 24, 1988 in Kansas City, Kansas. Priscilla Bowman was an American Jazz and R&B singer who had a #1 single on Billboard’s R&B chart in 1955 as the lead singer with Jay McShann’s band. The song, “Hands Off” was co-written by McShann and Bowman, and has since become a classic. She was born in Kansas City, and was called the city’s “Original Rock’ n Roll Mama”. She joined “Jay McShann’s Orchestra” in the early 1950’s. In 1955, the band signed to Vee-Jay records, and Bowman recorded two sessions with them. One of the songs, “Hands Off’ became a hit, staying at #1 for three weeks in December of 1955. The single was notable as the last to hit #1 on the R&B charts without making the Billboard Hot 100. She recorded a number of follow-ups as a solo. In 1958, she was the first to record the song “A Rockin’ Good Way” (with uncredited vocal group The Spaniels). The song was co-written by Brook Benton, who subsequently recorded it with Dina Washington, and had a major Pop hit in 1960. Bowman continued to record and make personal appearances, some with Jay McShann, through the late 1970’s. A compilation of her recordings, “An Original Rock & Roll Mama” was released in 1986. Priscilla Bowman died from lung cancer in 1988. She was 60 years old.