Priscilla Bowman (May 10, 1928 – July 24, 1988) was an American jazz and rh… Read Full Bio ↴Priscilla Bowman (May 10, 1928 – July 24, 1988) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues singer, who had a #1 hit single on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1955 as the lead singer with Jay McShann's band with the song, "Hands Off".
She was born in Kansas City, and has been called the city's "original rock 'n' roll mama." She joined the Jay McShann band in the early 1950s. In 1955 the band signed to Vee-Jay Records, and Bowman recorded two sessions with them. One of the songs, "Hands Off", became a hit, staying at number 1 on the R&B chart for three weeks in December 1955. The single was notable as the last single to hit number one on the R&B charts without making the Billboard Hot 100.
She recorded three sessions for Vee-Jay, and its subsidiary label Falcon, as a solo singer between 1957 and 1959, but could not repeat her success. However, in 1958 she was the first to record the song "A Rockin' Good Way", with uncredited vocal backing by The Spaniels. The song was co-written by Brook Benton, and became a major hit when Benton recorded it himself as a duo with Dinah Washington in 1960.
Bowman recorded again for Abner Records in 1959, and continued to record and make personal appearances, some with Jay McShann, through the mid 1970s. A compilation album of her recordings, An Original Rock & Roll Mama, was released in 1986.
Bowman died in July 1988 from lung cancer, at the age of 60.
She was born in Kansas City, and has been called the city's "original rock 'n' roll mama." She joined the Jay McShann band in the early 1950s. In 1955 the band signed to Vee-Jay Records, and Bowman recorded two sessions with them. One of the songs, "Hands Off", became a hit, staying at number 1 on the R&B chart for three weeks in December 1955. The single was notable as the last single to hit number one on the R&B charts without making the Billboard Hot 100.
She recorded three sessions for Vee-Jay, and its subsidiary label Falcon, as a solo singer between 1957 and 1959, but could not repeat her success. However, in 1958 she was the first to record the song "A Rockin' Good Way", with uncredited vocal backing by The Spaniels. The song was co-written by Brook Benton, and became a major hit when Benton recorded it himself as a duo with Dinah Washington in 1960.
Bowman recorded again for Abner Records in 1959, and continued to record and make personal appearances, some with Jay McShann, through the mid 1970s. A compilation album of her recordings, An Original Rock & Roll Mama, was released in 1986.
Bowman died in July 1988 from lung cancer, at the age of 60.
A Rockin' Good Way
Priscilla Bowman Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'A Rockin' Good Way' by these artists:
Benton Brook If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that Honey, don't…
Bob Marcia If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey, don't…
Bob Andy/Marcia Griffiths If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Bonnie Tyler [Bonnie:] If you're gonna give me good kisses like that …
Bonnie Tyler/Shakin' Stevens If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Brook Benton If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that (what?) Honey…
Brook Benton & Dinah Washington If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that Honey,…
Brook Benton Dinah Washington & Belford Hendricks If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that (what?) Honey…
Dinah Washington Brook Benton If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that Honey,…
Dinah Washington Belford Hendricks & Brook Benton If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that Honey,…
Dinah Washington feat. Brook Benton If you're gonna give me good kissin' like that (what?) Honey…
John A. Walker Rock-rock, do-wop-bop-bop-bop Rock-rock, do-wop-bop-bop-bop …
Perez Prado and His Orchestra Well, I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight Gonna h…
Shakin' Stevens If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Shakin' Stevens Bonnie Tyler If you′re gonna give me good kisses like that .…
Shakin' Stevens feat. Bonnie Tyler If you're gonna give me good kisses like that .…
Shakin' Stevens&Bonnie Tyler If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Shaky and Bonnie If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Shankin' Stevens & Bonny Taylor Shakin' Stevens Miscellaneous A ROCKIN' GOOD WAY If you're g…
STEVENS & TYLER If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
Stevens Shakin' If you're gonna give me good kisses like that Honey don't…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
TH
I saw Ms. Bowman sing this in a blues club in Westport in Kansas City late 70’s early 80’s. The club was packed. She was great! 🎶
Tbird Tim
Very cool to always hear the original of a later hit. This version is solid.
Albert Silver
An excellent version . Should have been a hit !
OldLibrarylady
I like Brook and Dinah’s version better, but this is really good!
Tony Seay
Your gonna get tired of hearing from me (ha).This song is very good.Had only heard Brook &Dinah's version which always have liked.Do you know if this record did well on the charts Very good singer.
The45Prof
Yes...nice record, but it did not register on any of the three national pop charts nor on Billboard's R&B chart.
Darryl C Preston
So close to the brass ring!
rem1028
Definitely the Spaniels, I can hear Pookie and Gerald in there, especially Gerald's bass
SavoyBG
This is 1959. It was reviewed as a new single in the March 28, 1959 issue of Cash Box. Maybe was recorded in 1958.
The45Prof
Yes, see the video's written description.