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{{Short description|American smooth jazz saxophonist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = George Howard
| name = George Howard
| image = George Howard.jpg
| image = George Howard.jpg
| caption = George Howard, 1992
| caption = George Howard, 1992
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|9|15|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|9|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S.
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|3|20|1956|9|15|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|3|20|1956|9|15|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Atlanta]], Georgia, U.S.
| death_place = [[Atlanta]], Georgia
| genre = [[Smooth jazz]]
| genre = [[Smooth jazz]]
| occupation = Musician
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Saxophone
| instrument = Saxophone
| years_active = 1970s–1998
| years_active = 1970s–1998
| label = [[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]], [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[GRP Records|GRP]]
| label = [[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]], [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[GRP Records|GRP]]
}}
}}


'''George Howard''' (September 15, 1956 – March 20, 1998) was an American [[smooth jazz]] saxophonist.<ref>{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p6772}}</ref>
'''George Howard''' (September 15, 1956 – March 20, 1998) was an American [[smooth jazz]] saxophonist.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p6772}}</ref>


==Music career==
==Biography==
⚫
Howard was born on September 15, 1956 in Philadelphia. He was only six when he began taking music lessons at school on clarinet and bassoon.<ref name="jazztimes.com">{{cite news | last = Myers | first = Patricia | title = George Howard: Urban Renewal | work = The Jazz Times | date = March 1, 1998 | url = https://jazztimes.com/archives/george-howard-urban-renewal/ | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref> Influenced by [[John Coltrane]] and [[Wayne Fortune]], he later on chose the soprano saxophone, because it resembled the bassoon.<ref>{{cite news | title = George Howard; Jazz Saxophonist, Multiple Grammy Nominee | work = Los Angeles Times | date = March 28, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-28-mn-33528-story.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref> By the time he was 15, he began touring the country with notable rhythm-and-blues groups such as [[Blue Magic]], [[First Choice]] and [[Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Thomas K. | title = Kool and Gang, Jazz Greats on Tap | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 18, 1988 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-18-ca-2836-story.html | access-date = March 10, 2022}}</ref> In the late 1970s, he toured with saxophonist [[Grover Washington, Jr.]], who was one of his idols.<ref name="jazztimes.com">{{cite news | last = Myers | first = Patricia | title = George Howard: Urban Renewal | work = The Jazz Times | date = March 1, 1998 | url = https://jazztimes.com/archives/george-howard-urban-renewal/ | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref>


===Early life===
⚫
In the early 1980s, Howard started his solo career, and released his first and second studio albums, ''Asphalt Gardens'' in 1982, and ''[[Steppin' Out (George Howard album)|Steppin' Out]]'' in 1984. Both albums were well received and ranked high on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine jazz album charts at No. 25 and 9, respectively. The last track on 'Steppin' Out' is called 'Dream Ride', and features Howard playing soprano saxophone.<ref>{{Citation|title=George Howard - Dream Ride|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnFHV8Ymkeg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/bnFHV8Ymkeg |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-08-08}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The track was promoted in 1984 in the [[United Kingdom]] by DJ [[Robbie Vincent]], and is now a classic among soul and jazz enthusiasts. By 1985, his third album, ''Dancing in the Sun'', had scaled the ''Billboard'' Jazz Album chart to No. 1. Each of his next three albums, ''Love Will Follow'' (1986), ''A Nice Place to Be'' (1986), and ''Reflections'' (1988), would also reach this height in the Jazz Album chart. After the success of ''Dancing in the Sun'', Howard left [[GRP Records]] to join [[MCA Records]] through the 1988 release of ''Reflections''. His next album ''Personal'' was released in 1990. However, he returned to GRP in 1990 and released ''Love and Understanding'' in 1991. It was followed by ''Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?'' (1992), ''When Summer Comes'' (1993), ''A Home Far Away'' (1994), and ''Attitude Adjustment'' (1996). His first five years with GRP, plus a selection of his MCA recordings, were summarized on 1997's ''The Very Best of George Howard and Then Some''.
⚫
Howard was born in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], and was only six years old when he began taking music lessons at school on clarinet and bassoon.<ref name="jazztimes.com">{{cite news | last = Myers | first = Patricia | title = George Howard: Urban Renewal | work = The Jazz Times | date = March 1, 1998 | url = https://jazztimes.com/archives/george-howard-urban-renewal/ | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref> Influenced by [[John Coltrane]] and [[Wayne Shorter]], he later on chose the soprano saxophone, because it resembled the bassoon.<ref>{{cite news | title = George Howard; Jazz Saxophonist, Multiple Grammy Nominee | work = Los Angeles Times | date = March 28, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-28-mn-33528-story.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref> By the time he was 15, he began touring the country with notable rhythm-and-blues groups such as [[Blue Magic (band)|Blue Magic]], [[First Choice (group)|First Choice]] and [[Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Thomas K. | title = Kool and Gang, Jazz Greats on Tap | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 18, 1988 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-18-ca-2836-story.html | access-date = March 10, 2022}}</ref> In the late 1970s, he toured with saxophonist [[Grover Washington, Jr.]], who was one of his idols.<ref name="jazztimes.com"/>


===Music career===
⚫
Howard returned to recording with ''Midnight Mood'', which was released in January 1998, his final album before his death two months later. He stayed with GRP until his death from [[colon cancer]] on March 20, 1998 in Atlanta.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | title = George Howard, 41, Jazz Saxophonist | work = The New York Times | date = April 20, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/20/arts/george-howard-41-jazz-saxophonist.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref> His final album, ''There's a Riot Goin' On'' was released posthumously by [[Blue Note Records]] two months after his death.
⚫
In the early 1980s, Howard started his solo career, and released his first and second studio albums, ''Asphalt Gardens'' in 1982, and ''[[Steppin' Out (George Howard album)|Steppin' Out]]'' in 1984. Both albums were well received and ranked high on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine jazz album charts at No. 25 and 9, respectively. The last track on ''Steppin' Out'' is called "Dream Ride", and features Howard playing soprano saxophone.<ref>{{Citation|title=George Howard - Dream Ride|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnFHV8Ymkeg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/bnFHV8Ymkeg |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-08-08}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The track was promoted in 1984 in the [[United Kingdom]] by DJ [[Robbie Vincent]], and is now a classic among soul and jazz enthusiasts. By 1985, his third album, [[Dancing in the Sun (album)|Dancing in the Sun]], had scaled the ''Billboard'' Jazz Album chart to No. 1. His next album, [[Love Will Follow]] (1986) topped the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. After the release of that album he left [[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]] to join [[MCA Records]]. Only for his subsequent albums [[A Nice Place to Be]] (1986), and [[Reflections (George Howard album)|Reflections]] (1988), to also top the said chart. Howard's next album, 1990's [[Personal (George Howard album)|Personal]] featured his biggest hit single "Shower You With Love".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news | title = Deaths Elsewhere | work = The Washington Post | date = March 27, 1998 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/03/27/deaths-elsewhere/57d4b7b7-3201-47d2-92c6-4c68c47b19a7/ | accessdate = June 29, 2022}}</ref><ref name="fullerup">{{cite web | title = Saxophonist George Howard Passes at 41 | work = Fuller Up, The Dead Musicians Directory | date = March 22, 1998 | url = http://elvispelvis.com/georgehoward.htm | accessdate = March 16, 2022}}</ref>


Later that year, he signed with GRP and in 1991 released [[Love and Understanding (George Howard album)|Love and Understanding]]. This album was followed by [[Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?]] (1992) and [[When Summer Comes]] (1993). He later released [[A Home Far Away]] (1994), which features the song "Grover's Groove", a tribute to Washington Jr.,<ref>{{cite news | last = Joyce | first = Mike | title = Howard's Tribute: Just Same Old Song | work = The Washington Post | date = September 30, 1994 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/09/30/howards-tribute-just-same-old-song/12288e87-48d5-4933-a87b-2f57a15978bd/ | accessdate = June 29, 2022}}</ref> and [[Attitude Adjustment (George Howard album)|Attitude Adjustment]] (1996). His first five years with GRP, plus a selection of his MCA recordings, were summarized on 1997's ''The Very Best of George Howard and Then Some''. During the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], Howard performed at a hospitality house for the continent of [[Africa]], which influenced his music after a visit there.<ref name="fullerup"/> Howard returned to recording with ''Midnight Mood'', which was released in January 1998, and was his final album released under GRP.
Howard was survived by his daughter, Jade Howard, and two sisters, Mary Howard and Doris Beverly.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | title = George Howard, 41, Jazz Saxophonist | work = The New York Times | date = April 20, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/20/arts/george-howard-41-jazz-saxophonist.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref>

=== Death ===
⚫
Howard died from [[colon cancer]] at ''Piedmont Hospital'' in Atlanta on March 20, 1998, at the age of 41.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | title = George Howard, 41, Jazz Saxophonist | work = The New York Times | date = April 20, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/20/arts/george-howard-41-jazz-saxophonist.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> His final album, ''There's a Riot Goin' On'' was released posthumously under the ''[[Blue Note Records]]'' label two months after his death. Howard was survived by his daughter, Jade Howard, and two sisters, Mary Howard and Doris Beverly.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>


==Discography==
==Discography==
* 1982 ''Asphalt Gardens'' ([[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]])
* 1982: ''Asphalt Gardens'' ([[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]])
* 1984 ''[[Steppin' Out (George Howard album)|Steppin' Out]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1984: ''[[Steppin' Out (George Howard album)|Steppin' Out]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1985 ''[[Dancing in the Sun (album)|Dancing in the Sun]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1985: ''[[Dancing in the Sun (album)|Dancing in the Sun]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1986 ''[[Love Will Follow]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1986: ''[[Love Will Follow]]'' (Palo Alto)
* 1986 ''A Nice Place to Be'' ([[MCA Records|MCA]])
* 1986: ''[[A Nice Place to Be]]'' ([[MCA Records|MCA]])
* 1988 ''Reflections'' (MCA)
* 1988: ''[[Reflections (George Howard album)|Reflections]]'' (MCA)
* 1990 ''Personal'' (MCA)
* 1990: ''[[Personal (George Howard album)|Personal]]'' (MCA)
* 1991 ''Love and Understanding'' ([[GRP Records|GRP]])
* 1991: ''[[Love and Understanding (George Howard album)|Love and Understanding]]'' ([[GRP Records|GRP]])
* 1992 ''Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?'' (GRP)
* 1992: [[Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?]] (GRP)
* 1993 ''When Summer Comes'' (GRP)
* 1993: [[When Summer Comes]] (GRP)
* 1994 ''A Home Far Away'' (GRP)
* 1994: [[A Home Far Away]] (GRP)
* 1996 ''Attitude Adjustment'' (GRP)
* 1996: ''[[Attitude Adjustment (George Howard album)|Attitude Adjustment]]'' (GRP)
* 1998 ''Midnight Mood'' (GRP)
* 1997: ''The Very Best of George Howard and Then Some'' (GRP)
* 1998 ''There's a Riot Goin' On'' ([[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]])
* 1998: ''Midnight Mood'' (GRP)
* 1998: ''There's a Riot Goin' On'' ([[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]])


==References==
==References==
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*[http://www.elvispelvis.com/georgehoward.htm Fuller Up Dead Musician directory]
*[http://www.elvispelvis.com/georgehoward.htm Fuller Up Dead Musician directory]
*[http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/George%20Howard.html Soulwalking site bio]
*[http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/George%20Howard.html Soulwalking site bio]

{{George Howard}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, George}}
⚫
[[Category:American jazz soprano saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Musicians from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:American jazz soprano saxophonists]]
⚫
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
⚫
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Smooth jazz saxophonists]]
[[Category:Smooth jazz saxophonists]]
[[Category:Palo Alto Records artists]]
[[Category:Palo Alto Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:GRP Records artists]]
[[Category:GRP Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American saxophonists]]
[[Category:20th-century saxophonists]]
⚫
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)]]

Latest revision as of 07:56, 20 October 2024

George Howard
George Howard, 1992
George Howard, 1992
Background information
Born(1956-09-15)September 15, 1956
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 20, 1998(1998-03-20) (aged 41)
Atlanta, Georgia
GenresSmooth jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1970s–1998
LabelsPalo Alto, MCA, GRP

George Howard (September 15, 1956 – March 20, 1998) was an American smooth jazz saxophonist.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Howard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was only six years old when he began taking music lessons at school on clarinet and bassoon.[2] Influenced by John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, he later on chose the soprano saxophone, because it resembled the bassoon.[3] By the time he was 15, he began touring the country with notable rhythm-and-blues groups such as Blue Magic, First Choice and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.[4] In the late 1970s, he toured with saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., who was one of his idols.[2]

Music career

[edit]

In the early 1980s, Howard started his solo career, and released his first and second studio albums, Asphalt Gardens in 1982, and Steppin' Out in 1984. Both albums were well received and ranked high on the Billboard magazine jazz album charts at No. 25 and 9, respectively. The last track on Steppin' Out is called "Dream Ride", and features Howard playing soprano saxophone.[5] The track was promoted in 1984 in the United Kingdom by DJ Robbie Vincent, and is now a classic among soul and jazz enthusiasts. By 1985, his third album, Dancing in the Sun, had scaled the Billboard Jazz Album chart to No. 1. His next album, Love Will Follow (1986) topped the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. After the release of that album he left Palo Alto to join MCA Records. Only for his subsequent albums A Nice Place to Be (1986), and Reflections (1988), to also top the said chart. Howard's next album, 1990's Personal featured his biggest hit single "Shower You With Love".[6][7]

Later that year, he signed with GRP and in 1991 released Love and Understanding. This album was followed by Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? (1992) and When Summer Comes (1993). He later released A Home Far Away (1994), which features the song "Grover's Groove", a tribute to Washington Jr.,[8] and Attitude Adjustment (1996). His first five years with GRP, plus a selection of his MCA recordings, were summarized on 1997's The Very Best of George Howard and Then Some. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard performed at a hospitality house for the continent of Africa, which influenced his music after a visit there.[7] Howard returned to recording with Midnight Mood, which was released in January 1998, and was his final album released under GRP.

Death

[edit]

Howard died from colon cancer at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta on March 20, 1998, at the age of 41.[9][6] His final album, There's a Riot Goin' On was released posthumously under the Blue Note Records label two months after his death. Howard was survived by his daughter, Jade Howard, and two sisters, Mary Howard and Doris Beverly.[9]

Discography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ George Howard at AllMusic
  2. ^ a b Myers, Patricia (March 1, 1998). "George Howard: Urban Renewal". The Jazz Times. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "George Howard; Jazz Saxophonist, Multiple Grammy Nominee". Los Angeles Times. March 28, 1998. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (May 18, 1988). "Kool and Gang, Jazz Greats on Tap". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  5. ^ George Howard - Dream Ride, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved August 8, 2021
  6. ^ a b "Deaths Elsewhere". The Washington Post. March 27, 1998. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Saxophonist George Howard Passes at 41". Fuller Up, The Dead Musicians Directory. March 22, 1998. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Joyce, Mike (September 30, 1994). "Howard's Tribute: Just Same Old Song". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "George Howard, 41, Jazz Saxophonist". The New York Times. April 20, 1998. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
[edit]
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