Rock star at the Statehouse

If you saw a man making muscle poses around the Statehouse Tuesday, don't worry: It was only Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, formerly of the doo wop revival group Sha Na Na.

Being from a younger generation, I admit I had to Google Bowzer before I knew who he was (unfortunately I did that AFTER Sen. John Campbell introduced us outside of the Vermont House chambers this morning).

But I've since learned that Sha Na Na performed at Woodstock and wrote lots of songs for the "Grease" film soundtrack. Bowzer also hosted Hollywood Squares for a year or so in the 1980s. Not bad, huh?

Anyway, he certainly was treated like a rock star at the Statehouse, where he was testifying on a bill that would protect older music acts from fraudulent groups that steal their names and songs. Right after his testimony, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill 5-0.

And then came the photos. Bowzer posed with senators, he posed with legislative staff and he even posed with Bob Stannard, a Vermont blues player and lobbyist at the Statehouse (that's the two of them above).

It may have been the most fun I've had in a committee meeting, well, ever.

-Dan Barlow