JT Bowen (born John Bowen, October 12, 1947, Rochester, NY) is an American R&B singer in the style of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, and is best known as the lead singer of the band Clarence Clemons & The Red Bank Rockers. Early life Born in Rochester, New York to Frank and Geneva Bowen, Bowen had spent his early childhood in the Port Norris section of Commercial Township, New Jersey, in Brielle, New Jersey and in Crisfield, Maryland. He was raised from nine months old by Delacy Justice, a Jazz singer, and Henry Ellington, a Gospel singer. He had moved from Port Norris to Brielle in 1954, and then to Crisfield, MD in 1959. He began singing at an early age, first starting out singing in local church choirs with Ellington at the age of 7 in the Port Norris area, and had continued to sing in church choirs throughout his childhood. Career 1960-1980 In 1960, Bowen got his start singing with a local band, The Rockets in Maryland where he had gone by the name of Little Johnny Redding, the moniker arising from his emulation of Otis Redding’s style. His adoption of this nickname was also due to him being the youngest member of the band, with all of the other members being at least ten years his senior. He stayed with The Rockets until he moved to Lakewood Township, New Jersey, in 1965. It was during his tenure with The Rockets that he met Clarence Clemons, who was attending Maryland State College and was moonlighting with the band The Vibratones. Bowen and Clemons would frequent each other's bands early on, which helped foster a 50-year musical relationship. After moving to Lakewood, New Jersey, Bowen was drafted into the US Army in December, 1966 and served on the Korean Demilitarized Zone until 1968, where he had reached the rank of SP-4. Upon Bowen’s honorable discharge in 1968, he had started singing as lead vocalist of Soul Flame, a local Asbury Park, New Jersey West Side R&B and Soul band, from 1968 to 1970. Then, after leaving Soul Flame, Bowen became the lead vocalist of the Chosen Few, another Asbury Park West Side R&B band from 1969 to 1976. Around the period 1970-71, Clarence Clemons also played with the Chosen Few before moving on to work with Bruce Springsteen. After his time singing with the Chosen Few, Bowen joined the