Beverly Bowman, a Rock Port High School graduate, was recently inducted into the Iowa Rock ’N’ Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame. She is pictured performing at the Iowa Rock ’N’ Roll Hall of Fame concert at Arnold’s Park. (Mark Lage photo)

Beverly (Gilpin) Bowman, a 1981 Rock Port High School graduate, was recently inducted into the Iowa Rock ’N’ Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame and performed at the induction ceremony concert.

From the early age of 12, Beverly realized that singing was her calling. She performed at Presley’s Mountain Music Jubilee in Branson, Missouri, and instantly knew this was it. With the assistance of Kim and Steve Evans of Blackwater Exit, who helped her hone her skills and taught her songs and harmonies, she went on to perform on stages all over the Midwest.

From 1976 to 1977, Beverly was the lead vocalist for Powder Blue. In 1978, she became the lead vocalist for Country Reflections, a country and rock group based in Atchison County, Missouri. This group was later renamed Mirage and was inducted into the Iowa Rock ’N’ Roll Hall of Fame last year. Beverly stayed busy performing with them and earning accolades. Beverly recorded an album in 1980, and went on to appear as a guest at Presley’s once more and Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry in Osage Beach, Missouri. She was also a guest appearance at the Union Mill Opry in Edgerton, Missouri, and went on a tour with them in 1980. She later became a vocalist with the Shenandoah, Iowa, based rock group Kleen Break and a Mound City, Missouri, country-rock group called Shameless, which included three other former Mirage bandmates.

When not performing, Beverly earned her high school degree at Rock Port and later studied music at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. She occasionally wrote and performed music over the years and performed with former Mirage bandmate Wes Graham. She lives in Hawarden, Iowa, with her husband, Ernest, and enjoys spending time with her family, including two children and grandchildren.