Bob Howard (musician)

Bob Howard (born June 20, 1906 in Newton (Massachusetts) as Howard Joyner , † December 3, 1986 ) was an American jazz pianist, singer and band leader.

Live and act

Bob Howard came to New York in 1926 and performed as a soloist in the jazz clubs on 52nd Street , such as the Hickory House , the Famous Door and the Park Central Hotel. In 1931/32 he got the opportunity to make his first recordings for Columbia , two solo numbers with vocals and two duets with trumpeter Manny Klein , including "You Rascal You" in the tradition of Louis Armstrong . From 1935/36 Howard recorded for Decca Records ; his vocal pieces were under the influence of the then popular Fats Waller , whose successes for Victor other labels and their artists tried to emulate with the same titles, such as Vocalion with Putney Dandridge ; Decca Records presented Bob Howard. In addition to the numerous Waller cover versions , Cole Porter's “You're the Top” was also created with the Decca All Star Review . including Benny Carter , Buster Bailey , Ben Webster , Teddy Wilson and Billie Holidays father, the guitarist Clarence Holiday ; In 1935 he played two sides with Teddy Hills Orchestra (" Lulu's Back in Town "). In March 1936 he placed his only hit in the Billboard Top 30 with "Wake Up and Sing" .

Bob Howard then took on regularly until 1938 for Decca, but without reaching the success of Waller. He led several recording sessions where he was accompanied by well-known musicians such as trumpeter Bunny Berigan , Marty Marsala , Barney Bigard , Cecil Scott , Artie Shaw , Benny Morton , Rex Stewart , Frank Froeba and Frank Signorelli . Well-known tracks were "Lost My Rhythm, Lost My Music, Lost My Girl", "It's Written in the Stars", "You Hit the Spot", "Spreadin 'Rhythm Around" and "Wake Up and Sing". As a pianist, Howard combined his own with Fats Waller's style and from 1937 recorded other pieces that were associated with Waller, such as "Beat It Out", "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" and "She's Tall, She's Tan." "She's Terrific". u. a. with Eddie Farley , Babe Russin , Teddy Bunn , O'Neill Spencer , Stan King , Frank Froeba and Billy Kyle . The styles recorded with Kyle and Spencer are reminiscent of the John Kirby sextet. In addition to Howard's Waller imitations, he also recorded a composition promoting marijuana use, "There Ain't Gonna Be No Doggone Afterwhile," which was a version of Stuff Smith 's cannabis hymn "If You're a Viper" .

After his contract with Decca ended in 1938, there were two pages of a 78 for Atlantic Records in 1947 , with Howard playing the piano with Everett Barksdale , John Simmons and Cozy Cole , "Mo'lasses" and a version of " Button Up" Your Overcoat ”. In the late 1930s he performed at the New York club Mamie's Chicken and accompanied singer Billy Daniels . Bob Howard then remained active until the 1950s, u. a. he appeared on his own television show on CBS.

Discographic notes

• Bob Howard 1932-1935 ( Classics )
• Bob Howard 1935-1936 (Classics)
• Bob Howerd 1936-1937 (Classics)
• Bob Howard 1937-1947 (Classics)
• A Chronological Study, Vol. 5 (Rarities)

Web links

• Biography at allmusic of Scott Yanow (English)