He is a violinist born into a musical family in Kentucky and raised in Philadelphia from two years old.. He grew up music at his church music and began to play classical music after hearing it played in his local African-American community and his local school in the 1950s and ’60s. He held the post of Concertmaster in the West Philadelphia School Orchestra, the All Eastern Conference Orchestra and the All City High School Orchestra and held the same position at a Student Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra. His summers were spent at various music camps.
After deciding to become a classical musician he became known in Philadelphia and the East Coast. He was rejected for becoming a student at Curtis Institute of Music so he went on to become and undergraduate student at Temple University.
He became a violinist with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Nashville Symphony String Quartet, remaining there for two years before returning to his education. He went on to earn his Master of Music degree at Yale University in 1968.
That same year he went home to Philadelphia and during the 1968-69 season performed as a substitute and the first African-American musician with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Following that he was taken on as a full-time member in 1970 on a conditional basis while working on the spiccato technique and for the1971-72 season was given his permanent contract.
Performing as a chamber musician he has played with ensembles that include the Huntingdon Trio, the Society for Ancient Instruments of Philadelphia and Symphony of the New World String Quartet. He has also given joint recitals with his wife, Dr. Patsy Baxter Rowe who is a lyric soprano.
He also worked in the popular music industry with acts such as Sammy Davis Jr, Barbra Streisand, The Supremes and Peter Nero and the Philadelphia Pops.
During his long career which spanned 50 years with the orchestra he toured nationally and internationally, including being a member of the first American orchestra to play in China.
He retired in 2020 but continues to play chamber music and give solo performances.
Winning several awards during his career he has received the National Distinguished American Award, the Igor Stravinsky Award, the Camerata Award of Excellence and the Henry B. Cabot Award.
Recordings he has appeared on include Blue Harlem Black Knight by Leslie Burrs, Mosaic Select by Andrew Hill, Everybody’s Dancin’ by Kool & The Gang, Please Help Me I’m Falling by Hank Locklin, Peter Tchaikovsky: Sympathy No. 6 “Pathetique”/Dumka by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Classic Scott by Jack Scott.
In the field of musical education he has been a teacher at the Community College of Philadelphia, the Settlement Music School, the Tennessee State University and Wesleyan University. He has also been a teacher at the Strings International Summer Camp at Bryn Mawr College.
Sources:
- http://www.pomusicians.org/booker-rowe.html
- https://www.philorch.org/your-philorch/learn-more/Blog/booker-rowe-retires-from-the-philadelphia-orchestra/
- https://philadelphiamusicfestival.org/our-faculty/strings/booker-rowe/
- https://whyy.org/episodes/philly-orchestras-first-black-players-final-curtain-call/
- https://theviolinchannel.com/violinist-booker-rowe-retires-from-philadelphia-orchestra-50-years/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/4625573-Booker-Rowe
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/booker-rowe-mn0002139944/credits