The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Broadcast Pioneers member Joaquin Bowman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1944. In 1952, the family moved to Philadelphia.

Joaquin danced on "American Bandstand" in 1958 and 1959 and decided he wanted to learn more about the broadcast industry. In 1963, while a student at Temple University, he was hired at WDVR (now B101) and had the distinction of “working the board” on May 13, 1963, the first day the station went on the air. Joaquin continued at WDVR until he graduated from Temple University in 1966, and then worked briefly at WJMJ and WIBF while earning graduate credits from Temple and, later, the University of Pennsylvania.

He left broadcasting to work in public relations positions at Leeds & Northrup Company and SKF Industries. Most of his professional life was spent as the Director of Public Relations and Advertising for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). In that position he was often interviewed by the news media. In the late 1980’s, Joaquin co-hosted a phone-in program on WDVT with Broadcast Pioneers member Frank Ford (who was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2004.

The show was called “SEPTA on Call.” Following his retirement from SEPTA in 1996, Joaquin created and hosted a radio program, “What’s New in Antiques” on WBUX and taught elementary education in the Central Buck School District, working with many special needs children including those with autism. That exposure encouraged him to learn more about the subject and in 2010 he published "Tadville," a biography about his brother who had undiagnosed Asperger’s.

In addition to writing, Joaquin enjoys photography and exhibits in Bucks County art shows. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Joaquin’s sisters Vibiana Cvetkovic and Melanie Capoferri are also Broadcast Pioneer members.
Joaquin lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his wife Mary Ann, a retired teacher.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com