Arnett Howard
Encyclopedia
Arnett Howard is an African American
jazz
musician, journalist, teacher, author, historian, and official ambassador for Columbus, Ohio
.
, but was raised in Plain City, Ohio
. He graduated from Jonathan Alder High School
in 1968, where he played trumpet
in the school's marching band
. After high school, he started taking classes at Capital University
in 1968, but left college in 1970 to pursue his musical career. He eventually graduated from Capital in 1999. Howard returned to Capital University in 2007, as a teacher, to teach a class called "Columbus Jazz History". He has also co-authored the books Columbus: The Musical Crossroads and Listen for the Jazz: Key Notes in Columbus History.
and his Bumswipe Blues Band Boys" and "The Soul Superbs". He led "Arnett Howard's Creole Funk Band" from 1988 to 2002, and became such a legend in the Columbus region that he is now an ambassador for the City of Columbus. Howard retired from Croele Funk Band in 2002, and his new band is simply called "Arnett Howard & Friends". Since 1985, Howard has performed more than 4,000 concerts in central Ohio and around the world. In 2003, he also played with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
He is also known for writing the "Football Friday Night" theme song for Columbus' WCMH-TV
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, journalist, teacher, author, historian, and official ambassador for Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
Life
Arnett was born September 6, 1950 in Welch, West VirginiaWelch, West Virginia
Welch is a city located in McDowell County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The population was 2,406 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1893, it is the county seat of McDowell County.-History:...
, but was raised in Plain City, Ohio
Plain City, Ohio
Plain City is a village on the west banks of Big Darby Creek, in the northern part of Darby Township, Madison County and the southern part of Jerome Township, Union County in the U.S. state of Ohio...
. He graduated from Jonathan Alder High School
Jonathan Alder High School
Jonathan Alder High School is an NCA accredited public high school located in Plain City, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Jonathan Alder Local School District. The school, as well as the district, are named after Jonathan Alder, the first white settler in Madison County.The current building...
in 1968, where he played trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
in the school's marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
. After high school, he started taking classes at Capital University
Capital University
Capital University is a private liberal arts university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Bexley, Ohio, founded in 1830. In addition to its rigorous liberal arts program, the university also offers a reputable adult degree program in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the oldest...
in 1968, but left college in 1970 to pursue his musical career. He eventually graduated from Capital in 1999. Howard returned to Capital University in 2007, as a teacher, to teach a class called "Columbus Jazz History". He has also co-authored the books Columbus: The Musical Crossroads and Listen for the Jazz: Key Notes in Columbus History.
Musician
Howard first started playing music professionally in 1967. He was a member of several local bands including "The Soul Internationals", "The Vadicans", "The Metronomes", "Dave Workman's Blues Band", "Cash McCallCash McCall (musician)
Cash McCall is an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his 1966 R&B hit, "When You Wake Up". McCall's long career has seen him evolve in musical styles from gospel to soul to the blues...
and his Bumswipe Blues Band Boys" and "The Soul Superbs". He led "Arnett Howard's Creole Funk Band" from 1988 to 2002, and became such a legend in the Columbus region that he is now an ambassador for the City of Columbus. Howard retired from Croele Funk Band in 2002, and his new band is simply called "Arnett Howard & Friends". Since 1985, Howard has performed more than 4,000 concerts in central Ohio and around the world. In 2003, he also played with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
He is also known for writing the "Football Friday Night" theme song for Columbus' WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV, channel 4, is a television station in Columbus, Ohio, affiliated with the NBC television network and owned by Media General. The station's studios and transmitter are located in Columbus. NBC-4 broadcasts from its studio and office complex near the Ohio State University on Olentangy River...
.
Selected discography
- Arnett Howard's Creole Funk Band (1987)
- Live at Victory's (1988)
- Lancaster Festival Live (1989)
- Ten For Ten (1994)
- Arnett Howard's Rocket '88's (1996)
- Kidding Around (1997)
- Joyful Music, Generous Spirit (2001)
- Extended Family (2002)
- Final Funk (2003)
- Fiyah on the Bayou (2003)
- I'm a Walkin', Talkin' Pair of Pants (2003)
- Elijah's Wooden Book (2003)
- Welcome to the Lancaster Festival (2005)
- Arnett Howard Christmas (2005)