After graduating from high school, he began his editing career under the tutelage of Hugh Robertson, who is noted as one of the first African-Americans to gain membership in the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
[2] Bowers mentored younger editors including Sam Pollard, who has edited several of director Spike Lee's films.
[4][5] As a director, Bowers films include Private Resort (1985) with Johnny Depp and Rob Morrow, and My Tutor (1983) with Crispin Glover.
Bowers died from complications related to heart surgery on August 18, 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California; he was 68 years old.
[1] Bowers had been selected as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and of the American Cinema Editors.