The Ingredients:
Starting with Bruce's Grandfather, William Gower Sr. was one of the finest brass instrument instructors in the country and received many awards for his instruction. William Gower Sr taught at the University of Iowa for many years before his death.He combined his musical capabilities with another very highly talented man of his generation: Hymie Voxman. Together they wrote the basic scales book, practice methods book, and a variety of music which was taken over by Rubank and published world wide - "The Gower-Voxman Method" Their methods and books are still used worldwide to this day through Rubank, and considered one the best teaching books available.
Bruce's Mother (Helen Chadima) has been involved in music her entire life. While carrying Bruce before his birth, she played the violin in the Cedar Rapids Symphony. Helen still tells the story of being pregnant with Bruce, playing in the symphony and feeling Bruce kick in her stomach in perfect rhythm to any song the symphony played. She figured he would be a drummer and she was right. She also taught piano in the family home for years while Bruce and his sister Kathryn (Kitty) were growing up, as well as performing in the symphony. She still plays violin, and has lately taken up the clarinet as well!
Bruce's Father (Richard Chadima) was also a drummer. After serving in World War ll and the Korean war, he came back to the states and played in Dixieland bands for a number of years. To this day, Bruce still has two of his Father's original drums. An original Radio King snare, and one floor tom. Richard passed away in February of 2005.
Quote from Bruce: "I'll never part with my Father's drums, and probably never play them either. They're a treasure to me, as my Father was."
In the same generation, two of Bruce's uncles were also highly noted musicians around the country. Bob Gower of Charles City, Iowa was a nationally noted marching band instructor and consistently won national marching band awards every year he ran the band.
William Gower Sr II was yet another world-renowned musical artist. Known for his reed instrument playing, he was a consultant for Leblanc, who yearly called on him to consult with their technicians and help design, and approve reeds for all instruments.
He was often hired to play musical scores for movies in Los Angeles. You can still hear him in the orchestra on "Star Wars" and many other scores for other major movies. William Gower Sr II passed away just a few years ago.
Now the next generation can get crazy with all that family talent so we won't
get too deep into that. One of Bruce's close cousin's as a kid was John Gower,
son of William Gower Sr II. John has also been a drummer for many years in the
southland. There is a plethora of Gower's in the country playing music.......
.....too many to mention, but if you hear the name Gower and see a musician,
you now know where the talent started.
A Young Musician:
Bruce started by playing guitar at the age of 3 (so he thought anyway). He moved to piano lessons from his Mother, played the trombone and a variety of other brass instruments for about 15 years. He was taught by the best......his grandfather - William Gower Sr. During this musical period, Bruce originally took up the drums by duct taping magazines to a desk top and a wall in his bedroom, using his Father's old foot pedal in a cubby hole in the desk. He played this way daily for quite a while growing up and drove his sister nuts. He formed a band in the early years of grade school called "The Cool Breeze Trio." His first professional job was at the ripe young age of 10 at the local country club playing on a hayrack for golfers going by. Each band member made $12 for 3 hours work. (We feel sorry for the golfers here!) From there it is pretty much all history and his musical career was off and running. After returning from a 2-year military stent, Bruce began his club and event career. In playing over the years, he formed his drumming style that was heavily influenced by David Garibaldi since the inception of Tower of Power's first recording. Since then he has been blessed with the nickname of "The Governor of Funk" which was given to him in the early 70's.
After listening to David Garibaldi for years, Bruce's next venture in listening and observing was, and still is, Dave Weckl's and Steve Gadd's drumming style. Bruce still plays professionally in his 50's and has a reputation of being one of the most "driving, solid" drummers in the Midwest.
He has traveled many states in the US on tour with a variety of musicians, and shared the stage with many national acts. Amongst the multitude of musical friends in the US and across the globe in the industry he counts such greats as Terry Lawless (currently-U2 /Formerly with Cher on her final tour), Bruce Knight (currently-Sheryl Crow), Bill Watts (currently-Dixie Chicks), Tom Giblin "Gibby"(Formerly with Lonnie Brooks band and Luther Allison), Johnny Acerno "Ace" (Formerly with Steve Miller), Peter Harris (formerly with Bruce Hornsby), and Michael Boddicker.
He's been on hundreds of recordings over the years, such as a recording with the Tower of Power horn section.
The Tools of his craft:
As given directly from the Governer himself!
My kit started as a double kick set purchased around 1974 with two upper toms and
two floor toms. I still have the original snare in prestine condition and
tucked away. (note from the mad soundman- The Governor currently uses a Dave Weckl signature snare)
Both bass drums are 22", the first upper tom is 13", the next 14", and the two floor toms are 16" and 18".
It was orignally finished in all black laminate, and I played a few outside jobs that rapidly destoyed the laminate. I've also owned a woodworking company for over over 25 years, so I took it upon myself to veneer all the drums I currently use (one kick, 2 uppers and 2 floor) in red oak. I stained the veneer and finished it all. I have had comments many times over the years and have been asked where I got such a set. I tell most people what I did and that seems to satisfy them.
I like very bright sounding cymbals and I use nylon tipped sticks to bring out the brightness so they never have to be miked unless I am doing a major show for many thousands of people that requires and large sound production company. My preference is "A" Zidljian and Paiste brands. They seem to bring out the tones I like with clarity.
What others have to say about him...
"Gov is a master at laying it down and driving a live band or recording. Take your pick at live or recorded, and he has it covered like you can't even imagine.""It doesn't come anymore solid than the Gov."
"I've never heard a drummer be able to gig with a band he has never even
HEARD before and lay it down like the Gov does....
...he catch's every single kick.....he's really amazing."
"The Gov......oh yeah baby, he's got your back no matter what. He's the best of the best."
"Rock solid and drives it like a freight train man, like no other drummer I have ever played with."
"There is a reason they call him the Governor of FUNK.....he does things I've only heard guys like Garibaldi, Weckl and Gadd do......I've been asking him to show me stuff like that for years..........he is usually so busy he doesn't have time, but I'll get him to show me eventually."