Bones Howe
Encyclopedia
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe (born 1933) is a Grammy-award-winning record producer
and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop
genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association
, as well as music supervision of several films. He was one of the first industry members to serve as both producer and engineer of the hit records on which he worked. In addition, he was occasionally credited as a musician on recordings under the name "Dayton Howe".
and moved to Sarasota, Florida
in 1941, attending Sarasota High School in 1951, becoming a drummer with a dance band and a jazz quintet, before moving to Georgia Tech, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication in 1956.
. From 1956 to 1962 he became well known within the industry and helped develop multi-track and multi-microphone techniques for studio recording.
As a recording engineer, he recorded hits including Mamas and Papas' California Dreamin'
, and Monday, Monday
. Johnny Rivers
' classic hits were recorded remotely by Bones at Whiskey A Go-Go. After working with musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis
, Elvis Presley
, and Juice Newton
gaining 20 Gold and Platinum awards from the RIAA, he became interested in promoting the use of rock and pop in films, and worked as the music supervisor for several high grossing films such as Back to the Future
and Serial Mom
.
In 1986 he was offered the position of Vice President (and head of the Music Department) at Columbia Pictures
and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1989 when the studio was bought by the Sony
Corporation. In 1992 he left, and returned to recording independent music and film scores.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop
Sunshine pop
Sunshine pop is a subgenre of pop music originating in the United States, mainly the state of California, in the mid-1960s. Sunshine pop, by nature, is cheerful and upbeat music which is characterised by warm sounds, prominent vocal harmonies, as well as sophisticated productions...
genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association
The Association
The Association is a pop music band from California in the folk rock or soft rock genre. During the 1960s, they had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts and were the lead-off band at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival...
, as well as music supervision of several films. He was one of the first industry members to serve as both producer and engineer of the hit records on which he worked. In addition, he was occasionally credited as a musician on recordings under the name "Dayton Howe".
Early life and education
He was born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and moved to Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
in 1941, attending Sarasota High School in 1951, becoming a drummer with a dance band and a jazz quintet, before moving to Georgia Tech, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication in 1956.
Career
While at Georgia Tech he played with large numbers of local bands, and after graduation decided to combine his love of music and his Electronics degree, moving to Hollywood to start a career as an audio engineer at Radio RecordersRadio Recorders
Radio Recorders, Inc. was a recording studio based in Los Angeles, California. Famous musicians to have been recorded in the studio include Charlie Parker, Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and The Carpenters among others. In its prime, the studio was known...
. From 1956 to 1962 he became well known within the industry and helped develop multi-track and multi-microphone techniques for studio recording.
As a recording engineer, he recorded hits including Mamas and Papas' California Dreamin'
California Dreamin'
"California Dreamin is a popular song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965. The song is #89 in Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time...
, and Monday, Monday
Monday, Monday
"Monday, Monday" is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by The Mamas & the Papas for their 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. It was the group's only number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
. Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
' classic hits were recorded remotely by Bones at Whiskey A Go-Go. After working with musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, and Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
gaining 20 Gold and Platinum awards from the RIAA, he became interested in promoting the use of rock and pop in films, and worked as the music supervisor for several high grossing films such as Back to the Future
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
and Serial Mom
Serial Mom
Serial Mom is a 1994 American dark satire written and directed by John Waters, starring Kathleen Turner as the title character, Sam Waterston as her husband, and Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard as her children. Despite statements to the contrary in the movie, the story is completely fictional...
.
In 1986 he was offered the position of Vice President (and head of the Music Department) at Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1989 when the studio was bought by the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Corporation. In 1992 he left, and returned to recording independent music and film scores.