Real name: Jasper McGowan

Born around 1925/26, Jasper was first jailed in 1948/49. Eventually, Jasper joined a singing 'convict' group in jail & they were dubbed the 'Wayward Sons'. This quartet started to perform, in & out of prison and became known nationally. McGowan, in conjunction with cellmate (and fellow group member) Russell Quarles also started to write songs (by the mid 60's, they had penned 450 songs together). Jasper got out of jail after serving much of the full term on his 1st conviction .... but was found guilty of an armed robbery offence & sent back 'inside' in 1958.
Jasper's case was taken up in 1962 by Bella Flowers, at the time, Jasper was working in the prison's woodwork shop as a cabinet maker (whilst also schooling the group and developing their harmony singing). Betty took up Jasper's case & eventually managed to win him a re-trail (on the 2nd offence) in 1964.
When his re-trail came up, Jasper was described as a model prisoner who was leader of the singing quartet, the Wayward Sons. He won that appeal but was not released from Maryland Penitentiary as he still had some time to serve on his first offence (also a robbery for which he had received a 10 year sentence) -- he had obviously been let out of jail on parole on the 1st offence). A re-trail on the 1st robbery conviction was asked for, also granted & when the Maryland State Attorney decided not to press on with the case, Jasper was released on 21st September 1965. He patched things up with his wife, though info on her is scant (apart from her being named as Mrs. McGowan when she later attended court at his trials). The group (2 other members -- Archie Shaw, John Madison -- were out on parole) started to perform shows around the Baltimore area, including one at the Winchester St Armory on November 20th (65).
He went into the studio, together with the other guys in the Wayward Sons, and had cut at least 6 tracks for Hope Records by June 1966.
To celebrate the release of a record, Jasper 'borrowed' a case of beer worth $5 and so ended up in court again soon afterwards. Sent down for a further 13 months, he again emerged from jail in June 68. He still couldn't stay on the 'straight & narrow' and in November 68 took part in the armed robbery of a bar in Owings Mills, a suburb to the north-west of Baltimore city.
He was sentenced to a further term of 8 years and thus ended his recording career.