Bruce Gowers is a British television director and producer, best known for work on large-scale live music and event productions.
Gowers 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 U.S. in the late 1970s.
His career includes credits for the live episodes of American Idol (2001–2010) which he has directed from its inception, and awards shows including the Emmys, The MTV 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 has also directed musical specials for Michael Jackson and The Jacksons, The Rolling Stones , Ray Charles , Paul McCartney , Rod Stewart and Britney Spears .
Music
American Idol (FOX) 2002–2007, 2009–20102009 Emmy Award Winner - Best Musical Variety Director. 5 Emmy Award Nominations, DGA Award Nominee
Celebrity Duets (FOX) 2006Your Mama Don’t Dance (Lifetime) 2008So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) 2005Pepsi Smash (WB) 2004Big Break (Syndication) 1990Dancin' to the Hits (Syndication) 30 episodes 1986-1987Dick Clark Live (CBS) 1988-1989Solid Gold (Paramount) 1985Rock of the 80's (Showtime) -- 1984 Ace Award NomineeBritt Ekland's Jukebox (Syndication) 1979Comedy
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? (ABC) 1998 - 2000Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular (F/X) 1998Kids
American Juniors (FOX) 2003All That (Nickelodeon) 1999The Amanda Show (Nickelodeon) 1999The Kidsongs Television Show (called "The Kidsongs TV Show" in only season 1 (1987-1988)) (Public Television) 1987 - 1988, 1994 – 1995, 1997 - 1998Roundhouse (Nickelodeon) 1993 - 1994
Misc.
The Spectacular World of Guinness Records (Syndication) 52 episodes—1987-1989This Is Your Life (NBC) 1983We Interrupt This Week (PBS)Headliners with David Frost (NBC) 1978The 57th & 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (ABC) 2005, 2007 People’s Choice Awards (CBS) 2005-2009The Billboard Awards (Fox) 1995 - 2006 Kid's Choice Awards (Nickelodeon & MTV Networks) 2005 - 2007, 1995, 1994Teen Choice Awards (Fox) 2004-2009Miss America (CMT) 2006, 2008The World Music Awards (ABC) 2005, 2004 Tributo A Nuestros Heroes (Telemundo Network) 2004Spike Video Game Awards (Spike TV) 2004The American Music Awards (ABC) 2003, 2002, 2001 The Blockbuster Awards (UPN) 1996-2001 Academy of Country Music Awards (CBS) 2002, 2001MTV Movie Awards 1992 - 2002The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Pre-Show (ABC) 2002, 2000Muhammad Ali 60th Birthday Celebration (CBS) 2002My VH1 Awards (VH1 ) 2000The MTV Video Music Awards (MTV & Syndication) 2000, 1995-1994, 1992-1988—Winner of the 1990 Monitor Award for Best Director, multiple Ace & Monitor Award nominationsThe Essence Awards (CBS & Fox) 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993 & 1992—1995 NAACP Image Award for Best SpecialThe ESPY Awards (ESPN, ABC) 1997, 1996 & 1995The American Comedy Awards (ABC) 2000, 1999, 1998 & 1995The AFI Salutes ... (ABC) 2000, 1999MTV’s Fashionably Loud (MTV) 1998, 1997, 1996 & 1995VH1 Fashion Awards (VH1) 1998, 1997 & 19961998 Skate, Rattle and Roll Championships (Fox) 1998VH1 Honors (VH1) 1995, 1994MTV European Music Awards (MTV) 1996, 1995, 1994All Star Pro Sports Awards (ABC) 1990American Video Awards (ABC) 1983, 1985–1986Music
Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years (CBS) 2001Dick Clark ’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (ABC) 2007, 2008I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash (CBS) 2005An All-Star Salute to Patti LaBelle : Live From Atlantis (UPN) 2005Live 8 Philadelphia (MTV/VH1, ABC) 2005Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (CBS) 2004 – Winner of the 2004 DGA Award for Best Musical Variety Director. Emmy Award Nominee, Best DirectorPrince Musicology (PPV) 2004Ultimate Manilow (CBS) 2002All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (TNT) 2001NSYNC - Atlantis Concert 2001Women Rock: Girls with Guitars (Lifetime) 2001, 2000Experience Music Project (VH1) 2000 (2 nights)Arista ’s 25th Anniversary (NBC) 2000Sarah Brightman : La Luna Concert (PBS) 2000Britney Spears in Hawaii (FOX) 2000Britney Spears: There’s No Place Like Home (FOX) 2000A Home for the Holidays (CBS) 2001, 2000Radio City Grand Re-Opening (FOX) 1999Ricky Martin : One Night Only (CBS) 1999American Express Concert in Central Park (UPN) 1999L’Oreal Summer Music Mania (UPN) 1999Fleetwood Mac : The Dance (MTV) 1997 B DGA & EMMY Nominee for Best DirectorRolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon (Pay Per View) 1997Woodstock (Pay Per View) 1994An American Reunion: The Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert (HBO) 1993MTV'S Inaugural Gala Ball (MTV) 1993Up-close: Paul McCartney (MTV & ABC) 1993Rod Stewart Valentine Vagabond (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1992Dwight Yokum (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1991MTV Unplugged With Paul McCartney (MTV) 1991—Ace Award NomineeArista 's 15th Anniversary "That's What Friends Are For" (CBS) 1990Huey Lewis and the News (Showtime) 1985—Grammy Award winner for Best DirectorMen at Work "Live in San Francisco" (HBO) 1984—Monitor Award winnerSoul Session: James Brown & Friends (Cinemax) -- 1987 Ace Award for Best DirectorHarry Belafonte : Don’t Stop the Carnival (HBO) 1985The Doobie Brothers Farewell Concert (Showtime) 1985Rod Stewart, Tonight He’s Yours (Syndication) 1981Legends of Rock 'N Roll (Cinemax) 1989Comedy
3 Cats From Miami (HBO) 1998Rodney Dangerfield ’s 75th Birthday Toast (HBO) 1997Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard (HBO) 1995TV's All Time Classic Comedy (Fox) 1994Dame Edna's Hollywood I, II & III (NBC) (Three 1 Hour Specials) 1992, 1991Paul Rodriguez Special (Fox) 1992The 14th Annual Young Comedians Show (HBO) 1991 with Richard Lewis Paula Poundstone : Cats, Cops and Stuff (HBO) 1990 -- Ace Award nominee 1991Richard Lewis "I'm Doomed" (HBO) 1990—Ace Award nominee 1990Harry Anderson 's Sideshow (NBC) 1987This Is Your Life , 30th Anniversary Special (NBC) 1987Richard Lewis: "I'm Exhausted" (HBO) 1988George Carlin 's "What Am I Doing in New Jersey?" (HBO) 1988The 11th Annual Young Comedian's Special (HBO) 1988Robin Williams , an Evening at The Met (HBO) -- 1988 Monitor Award nominee and 1987 Ace Award nominee, both for Best DirectorHarry Anderson "Hello Sucker" (Showtime) 1986Jerry Seinfeld Special (HBO) 1987Greater Tuna (HBO) 1984—Monitor Award Winner for Best Cable Program, Ace Award Nominee for Best DirectorBilly Crystal - A Comic’s Line (HBO) 1984Richard Belzer Caught in the Act (Cinemax) 1984Eddie Murphy Delirious (HBO) 1983Miscellaneous specials
Explosion! (ABC) 1997City Kids All-star Celebration (ABC) 1995World of Entertainment (Syndication) 1982All-Star Salute to Mother’s Day (NBC) 1981The II, III, IV & V International Guinness Book of World Records (ABC)David Frost with The Shah of Iran (ABC) 1980
Selected music videos directed by Bruce Gowers:
Queen : "Bohemian Rhapsody " (1975)Queen: "You're My Best Friend " (1976) Queen: "Somebody to Love " (1976) Queen: "Tie Your Mother Down " (1977) Genesis : "Robbery, Assault and Battery" (1976)Genesis: "Ripples" (1976) Genesis: "A Trick of the Tail " (1976) Leo Sayer : "How Much Love " (1977)Styx : "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" (1978)Styx: "Sing for the Day " (1978) Styx: "I'm OK" (1978) Michael Jackson: "Rock with You" (1979) Michael Jackson: "She's Out of My Life " (1980) The Jacksons: "Can You Feel It " (1980) REO Speedwagon : "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (1982)Prince : "Controversy " (1981)Prince: "Sexuality" (1981) Prince: "1999" (1982) Huey Lewis and the News : "The Heart of Rock & Roll" (1984)Tony Christie and Peter Kay : "Amarillo" (2005)Rod Stewart: "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Rod Stewart: "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" Rod Stewart: "I Was Only Joking " Rod Stewart: "Hot Legs " John Cougar (Mellencamp): "Jack and Diane" (1982)John Cougar (Mellencamp): "Hurts So Good " (1982)John Cougar (Mellencamp): "This Time" John Cougar (Mellencamp): "Ain't Even Done with the Night" KISS : "A World Without Heroes "Rose Royce : "Love Don't Live Here Anymore "Samantha Sang : "Emotion "Rod Stewart: "You're Insane" Electric Light Orchestra : "Rockaria!"Mike Oldfield : "In Dulce Jubilo"Kansas : "Dust In The Wind"Journey : "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"Journey : "Lights "Rush : "Tom Sawyer "Alicia Bridges : "I Love The Night Life"Chaka Khan : "I'm Every Woman "Hello Dalí (1973)Finnan Games (1975)George Lopez Talk Show (WAD Productions) 2008Glam Me Up (CW Network) 2008Roundhouse (Nickelodeon) 1992America's Funniest People (ABC) 1990The Kidsongs TV Show (Syndication) 1988Dancin' to The Hits (Syndication) 1986Footlight Follies 1988Double Takes 1987Grammy Award Winner :
Huey Lewis and the News (Showtime) 1985—Best Director long form music video 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, 2009), 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 :
Soul Session: James Brown & Friends (Cinemax) -- 1987 Best Director Greater Tuna (HBO) 1984 Best DirectorMonitor Award Winner :
Men at Work "Live in San Francisco" (HBO) 1984 Best DirectorThe MTV Video Music Awards (MTV & Syndication) 1990 Best Director
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