Cephas Bowles '74

Cephas Bowles led WBGO-Jazz 88 in Newark, NJ, as senior executive from 1993 to 2014, transforming the station into a national leader in jazz broadcasting. Under his guidance, WBGO became the first jazz station to stream online in 1998, and he spearheaded a 2012 capital campaign to build a broadcast tower in midtown Manhattan, expanding the station’s reach into the city. Bowles also served on NPR’s board of directors from 2001 to 2007, earning recognition for his leadership, vision, and dedication to public radio.

Throughout his career, Bowles boosted financial support for WBGO through innovative programming, live broadcasts, special events, and social media, leaving a lasting impact on the station and its audience. He was admired for his professionalism, commitment, and ability to inspire both colleagues and listeners, remaining closely connected to WBGO and jazz until his final days.

Bowles earned a broadcasting degree from Syracuse University, where he gained experience in radio at WAER. Bowles was inducted into the WAER Hall of Fame in 2014, honoring his decades of dedication to public radio and jazz.