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Bruce Gowers

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Bruce Gowers
Born(1940-12-21)21 December 1940
West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died15 January 2023(2023-01-15) (aged 82)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television director, producer
Websitebrucegowers.com

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.[1][2][3][4]

Life and career

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Gowers was born in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland on 21 December 1940.[5][6] 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.[7]

Gowers died of an acute respiratory infection in Santa Monica, California, on 15 January 2023, at the age of 82.[8]

Television series

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Music

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

Comedy

Kids

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

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Television specials

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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 Yokum (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

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Selected music videos directed by Bruce Gowers:

Year Song Artist Notes
1973 "Keep Yourself Alive" Queen
"Liar"
1975 "Bohemian Rhapsody"
"I'm Not in Love" 10cc
"In Dulce Jubilo" Mike Oldfield
1976 "You're My Best Friend" Queen
"Somebody to Love"
"Robbery, Assault, and Battery" Genesis
"Ripples..."
"A Trick of the Tail"
"I'm Mandy Fly Me" 10cc
"Rockaria!" Electric Light Orchestra
"Hot Stuff" The Rolling Stones
"Hey Negrita"
"Fool to Cry"
"The Killing of Georgie" Rod Stewart
"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"
1977 "The First Cut Is the Deepest"
"Tie Your Mother Down" Queen
"How Much Love" Leo Sayer
"Stayin' Alive" The Bee Gees
"How Deep is Your Love"
"You're Insane" Rod Stewart
"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"
1978 "I Was Only Joking"
"Hot Legs"
"Baby Come Back" Player [9]
"Emotion" Samantha Sang
"Dust in the Wind" Kansas
"Lights" Journey
"Life Beyond L.A." Ambrosia [10]
"How Much I Feel" [11]
"I'm Every Woman" Chaka Khan [12]
"How You Gonna See Me Now" Alice Cooper
"Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" Styx
"Sing for the Day"
"I'm OK"
"I Love the Nightlife" Alicia Bridges
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" Rose Royce
"Reunited" Peaches & Herb
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Rod Stewart
1979 "Ain't Love a Bitch"
"Blondes (Have More Fun)"
"Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" Journey
"Lovin' You is Easy"
"Just the Same Way"
"Turn Me On" The Tubes
"TV is King"
"Prime Time"
"The Logical Song" Supertramp
"Goodbye Stranger"
"Breakfast in America"
"La dolce Vita" Sparks
"The Number One Song in Heaven"
"Dancing Jones" Nicolette Larson
"Small Paradise" John Cougar
"I Need a Lover"
"Miami"
"99" Toto
"Rock with You" Michael Jackson
1980 "She's Out of My Life"
"Hydra" Toto
"St. George and the Dragon"
"All Us Boys"
"Ride Like the Wind" Christopher Cross
"This Time" John Cougar
1981 "Ain't Even Done with the Night"
"Tom Sawyer" Rush
"Vital Signs"
"Limelight"
"Controversy" Prince
"Sexuality"
"Nightwalker" Gino Vannelli
"Winning" Santana
"Searchin'"
"I Love You Too Much"
"E Papa Re"
"Changes"
"Over and Over"
"A World Without Heroes" KISS
1982 "I"
"Keep the Fire Burnin'" REO Speedwagon
"Sweet Time"
"Girl With the Heart of Gold"
"I'll Follow You"
"The Key"
"Back in My Heart Again"
"Stillness of the Night"
"Good Trouble"
"1999" Prince
"Jack and Diane" John Cougar
"Hurts So Good"
1983 "Waiting for Your Love" Toto
1984 "The Heart of Rock & Roll" Huey Lewis and the News
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" Rod Stewart
1987 "In My Dreams" REO Speedwagon
1993 "People Everyday" Arrested Development
1996 "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" Whitney Houston
2005 "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" Tony Christie and Peter Kay

Filmography

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Documentaries

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

Television pilots

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Awards

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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:

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

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References

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  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2] [permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "MVDbase". Mvdbase.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Bruce Gowers Biography ((?)-)". Flmreference.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Bruce Gowers obituary". The Times. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Bruce Gowers". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Bruce Gowers obituary". the Guardian. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  8. ^ Evans, Greg (17 January 2023). "Bruce Gowers Dies: Groundbreaking Music Video Director Of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" Was 82". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Baby Come Back". IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Life Beyond L.A." IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. ^ "How Much I Feel". IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  12. ^ Khan, Chaka. "I'm Every Woman". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
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