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George Howard (jazz)

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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

Early life

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

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. 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 Palo Alto Records to join MCA Records through the 1988 release of Reflections. His next album Personal was released in 1990, which featured his biggest hit "Shower You With Love".[6][7]

However, he signed with 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), 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

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

References

  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.
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