American trumpeter, flugel hornist, kelp hornist, vocalist, percussionist and composer born October 11, 1941, in Frederick, Maryland, died November 8, 1999 in New York City, New York. He met his future wife Fontella Bass in an R&B band after military service. He worked in St. Louis and later moved to Chicago in 1966, where he formed The Art Ensemble Of Chicago with Roscoe Mitchell.

Brother of Byron Bowie and Joseph Bowie of Defunkt.