 After early piano lessons he took up the trombone after listening to swing big bands.His early influences included Lawrence Brown, Tricky Sam Nanton, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden, then the bebop trombonists, including J.J. Johnson, Jimmy Cleveland, Curtis Fuller, and Frank Rosolino.While at college, Trowers played professionally in the New York area, including with Jaki Byard's "Apollo Stompers" and the Ray Abrams / Hank Doughty Big Band.