John G. Blowers, Jr.

Who was John G. Blowers, Jr.?

John G. Blowers, Jr. was an American drummer of the swing era, who became closely associated with Frank Sinatra. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Blowers learned to play percussion during his schooldays and began performing with the Bob Pope Band in 1936. Blowers attended college at Oglethorpe College, now Oglethorpe University.

In 1937 he travelled to New York City, where he found employment as a drummer in Greenwich Village. In 1938 he joined Bunny Berigan'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, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Fisher, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and many others.