Doug Howard (musician)
Encyclopedia
Doug Howard is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known for his work as a performing/recording musician and occasional co-writer with groups, and artists such as Touch
, Stun Leer, Todd Rundgren
, Utopia and The Edgar Winter Group
. He also played the role as the singing narrator "Songster" in the 1987 live production of the Masters of the Universe
Power Tour based upon the Mattel
He-Man
series action figures. Howard is the managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment, LLC, a music and video licensing, and publishing company based in New York. He is the paternal grandson of the American songwriter Joseph E. Howard
, composer of "Hello Ma Baby," "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" and "Good-bye My Lady Love," among other titles.
; he is the only child of actor Patience Jarvis (dec.) and opera singer Joseph E. Howard, Jr. (dec.). His stepsister by his mother's second marriage is Amanda Naughton, co-star of the AMC Network
sitcom Remember WENN
He is the fifth generation of a family of entertainers, notably paternal grandson of songwriter Joseph E. Howard
and maternal grandson of Broadway actor & director Robert C. "Bobby" Jarvis..
While attending Dwight Morrow High School
in Englewood, Ernie Isley
of the legendary Funk and R&B group The Isley Brothers
, though a guitarist himself, gave Howard his initial lesson on the fundamentals of the bass. Howard soon thereafter found himself playing in local and then regional cover bands on what was then referred to as the "New York/New Jersey circuit" of clubs and bars that he would otherwise not have been allowed into except as a paid performer due to his "underage" status. He also quickly discovered his high school classes increasingly impossible to juggle against his performing schedule. He resigned from school in favor of playing full time when he was offered the bass slot backing the Phil Spector
girl group, The Crystals
("Da Doo Run Run," "He's A Rebel"). Howard later resumed his studies at Berklee College of Music
in Boston, where he studied under the jazz bassist, John Neves.
Howard was signed to his first recording contract with Atco Records
records by then label President Doug Morris
, with the AOR/Metal band Touch
in 1979, the subsequent debut self titled release of the band produced two significant singles "Call Me When The Spirit Moves You" and "Don't You Know What Love Is." One of the band's most notable performances was at the first Castle Donnington Monsters of Rock Festival
in Nottingham, England, were Doug gained dubious notoriety for accidentally swallowing a bee immediately after the band's performance opening for The Scorpions
, Judas Priest
and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
. Despite several #1 chart positions in the UK and Europe, and a strong showing on the US charts as well, Touch broke up in 1982, but not before recording their sophomore album effort with Todd Rundgren
as producer.
Upon the album's completion, Howard resigned from Touch and briefly replaced Kasim Sulton
in Todd Rundgren's Utopia during Kasim's support tour for his then upcoming solo effort. During this time, he had another hit in the US as co-writer of" Feet Don't Fail Me Now" with Todd. Upon Kasim's return, Howard joined The Edgar Winter Group
replacing the band's original bassist Dan Hartman
("Instant Replay," "I Can Dream About You"), and along with drummer Rudy Richman of The Quireboys
, Doug toured and recorded with Edgar for many years, performing occasionally with Edgar's brother Johnny Winter
and their Blue Sky Records
label-mates Muddy Waters
and Roy Buchanan
.
In 1989 Doug was invited to join an album project titled Stun Leer as its lead vocalist which was being produced in Boston by Bob St. John (Extreme
, Ozzy Osbourne
) and Anthony Resta
(Duran Duran
, Collective Soul
, Megadeth
, Scissor Sisters
). The album despite various overtures from the US labels was never picked up in the States and stayed on the shelf, until a few years later when unbenownst to the band and its producers, and by virtue of a few leaks of the material, the album had become a literal file-sharing sensation in the UK, Europe, Japan and beyond on the then burgeoning Napster
file sharing network. MTM Records of Germany quickly tracked the band down and signed the project, but as a band Stun Leer only performed a few shows in support of the release as by that time the members had all individually moved onto other projects.
In 2000, as a follow up to the Stun Leer album "Once" (and in that MTM was still owed a second album from the now dispersed band), Doug produced a solo effort for MTM entitled "Last Man Standing," which he wrote, arranged, performed and produced for the most part entirely by himself. Shortly after its release however, Doug took what was anticipated as a short sabbatical from writing and performing, but one which ended up lasting nearly eight years. "Doing that album essentially alone was pretty exhausting, and I simply found myself not having anything that I thought was particularly interesting to say after that, to be honest," Doug says of that period. "I started concentrating on other things outside of playing (Doug is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Lodestar Entertainment; a music and video licensing and publishing company) "and the next thing I knew... it was a new millenium."
Howard's touring credits also notably contain his part as the singing narrator "Songster" for the international touring company of The Masters of The Universe
Power Tour, wherein he gave 18 consecutive sold out performances at Radio City Music Hall
in New York City, a house attendance record still standing today. Aside from his performing credits, he has worked as a session musician, singer and producer on various side projects, sound tracks and commercial jingles over the years.
In 2009, Howard resumed playing the bass and occasional vocals duties for his blues project Reservoir Road. An album from the band was released in 2010. Doug is currently band director and bassist for Rob Lee & Throwback Supreme; an R&B/Soul effort featuring Rob's signature falsetto vocals, performed in the stylings of bands such as The Whispers
, The Isley Brothers, The Stylistics
along with original material from Rob.
Touch (band)
Touch were a rock band from New York City formed in 1978. Mark Mangold , Glen Kithcart , and Craig Brooks had all previously been in the band American Tears . The lineup was completed by bassist Doug Howard.Their single, "Don't You Know What Love Is" only reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100...
, Stun Leer, Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, Utopia and The Edgar Winter Group
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
. He also played the role as the singing narrator "Songster" in the 1987 live production of the Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
Power Tour based upon the Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
series action figures. Howard is the managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment, LLC, a music and video licensing, and publishing company based in New York. He is the paternal grandson of the American songwriter Joseph E. Howard
Joseph E. Howard
Joseph E. Howard was a Broadway composer, lyricist, and librettist. His Broadway credits include The District Leader, The Land of Nod and The Song Birds, The Time, the Place and the Girl, The Flower of the Ranch, The Girl Question, Stubborn Cinderella, The Goddess of Liberty, Maurice Chevalier in...
, composer of "Hello Ma Baby," "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" and "Good-bye My Lady Love," among other titles.
Biography
Born in Englewood, New JerseyEnglewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
; he is the only child of actor Patience Jarvis (dec.) and opera singer Joseph E. Howard, Jr. (dec.). His stepsister by his mother's second marriage is Amanda Naughton, co-star of the AMC Network
AMC (TV network)
AMC is a cable television specialty channel that primarily airs movies, along with a limited amount of original programming. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics; however since 2002, the full name has been deemphasized as a result of a major shift in programming...
sitcom Remember WENN
Remember WENN
Remember WENN is a comedy-drama television series that aired from 1996 to 1998 on the cable channel American Movie Classics. Created and written by Rupert Holmes and set at the fictional Pittsburgh radio station WENN in the early 1940s, it depicted events in the personal and professional lives of...
He is the fifth generation of a family of entertainers, notably paternal grandson of songwriter Joseph E. Howard
Joseph E. Howard
Joseph E. Howard was a Broadway composer, lyricist, and librettist. His Broadway credits include The District Leader, The Land of Nod and The Song Birds, The Time, the Place and the Girl, The Flower of the Ranch, The Girl Question, Stubborn Cinderella, The Goddess of Liberty, Maurice Chevalier in...
and maternal grandson of Broadway actor & director Robert C. "Bobby" Jarvis..
While attending Dwight Morrow High School
Dwight Morrow High School
Dwight Morrow High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Englewood, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Englewood Public School District. The school also serves students from Englewood Cliffs, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship...
in Englewood, Ernie Isley
Ernie Isley
Ernest "Ernie" Isley is a member of the iconic American musical ensemble, The Isley Brothers.-Life and career:Ernie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his older brothers formed The Isley Brothers, first as a gospel group, then as a secular-singing group. In 1960 his family moved to Englewood and...
of the legendary Funk and R&B group The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
, though a guitarist himself, gave Howard his initial lesson on the fundamentals of the bass. Howard soon thereafter found himself playing in local and then regional cover bands on what was then referred to as the "New York/New Jersey circuit" of clubs and bars that he would otherwise not have been allowed into except as a paid performer due to his "underage" status. He also quickly discovered his high school classes increasingly impossible to juggle against his performing schedule. He resigned from school in favor of playing full time when he was offered the bass slot backing the Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
girl group, The Crystals
The Crystals
The Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron " and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead...
("Da Doo Run Run," "He's A Rebel"). Howard later resumed his studies at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston, where he studied under the jazz bassist, John Neves.
Howard was signed to his first recording contract with Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
records by then label President Doug Morris
Doug Morris
Doug Morris is an American music executive. He is the current Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group from 1995 to 2011.-Life and career:...
, with the AOR/Metal band Touch
Touch (band)
Touch were a rock band from New York City formed in 1978. Mark Mangold , Glen Kithcart , and Craig Brooks had all previously been in the band American Tears . The lineup was completed by bassist Doug Howard.Their single, "Don't You Know What Love Is" only reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100...
in 1979, the subsequent debut self titled release of the band produced two significant singles "Call Me When The Spirit Moves You" and "Don't You Know What Love Is." One of the band's most notable performances was at the first Castle Donnington Monsters of Rock Festival
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
in Nottingham, England, were Doug gained dubious notoriety for accidentally swallowing a bee immediately after the band's performance opening for The Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
. Despite several #1 chart positions in the UK and Europe, and a strong showing on the US charts as well, Touch broke up in 1982, but not before recording their sophomore album effort with Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
as producer.
Upon the album's completion, Howard resigned from Touch and briefly replaced Kasim Sulton
Kasim Sulton
Kasim Sulton is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States...
in Todd Rundgren's Utopia during Kasim's support tour for his then upcoming solo effort. During this time, he had another hit in the US as co-writer of" Feet Don't Fail Me Now" with Todd. Upon Kasim's return, Howard joined The Edgar Winter Group
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
replacing the band's original bassist Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
("Instant Replay," "I Can Dream About You"), and along with drummer Rudy Richman of The Quireboys
The Quireboys
The Quireboys are an English hard rock band formed in 1984 in London, England, with strong ties to Newcastle. When the band formed they were originally known as The Queerboys and later as the London Quireboys in the United States....
, Doug toured and recorded with Edgar for many years, performing occasionally with Edgar's brother Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
and their Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records was a custom label created by Steve Paul for Columbia Records, featuring acts managed by Steve Paul, primarily Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, David Johansen and Muddy Waters.-History:...
label-mates Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
and Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan was a sideman and solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career, and two later solo albums that made it on to the Billboard chart. Despite never having achieved stardom, he is still...
.
In 1989 Doug was invited to join an album project titled Stun Leer as its lead vocalist which was being produced in Boston by Bob St. John (Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
) and Anthony Resta
Anthony Resta
Anthony J. Resta is an American record producer and musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he is a known for his use of vintage audio gear in creating expansive sonic atmospheres. He has earned twelve RIAA certified gold and multi-platinum awards and has been featured in many articles for his...
(Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
). The album despite various overtures from the US labels was never picked up in the States and stayed on the shelf, until a few years later when unbenownst to the band and its producers, and by virtue of a few leaks of the material, the album had become a literal file-sharing sensation in the UK, Europe, Japan and beyond on the then burgeoning Napster
Napster
Napster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
file sharing network. MTM Records of Germany quickly tracked the band down and signed the project, but as a band Stun Leer only performed a few shows in support of the release as by that time the members had all individually moved onto other projects.
In 2000, as a follow up to the Stun Leer album "Once" (and in that MTM was still owed a second album from the now dispersed band), Doug produced a solo effort for MTM entitled "Last Man Standing," which he wrote, arranged, performed and produced for the most part entirely by himself. Shortly after its release however, Doug took what was anticipated as a short sabbatical from writing and performing, but one which ended up lasting nearly eight years. "Doing that album essentially alone was pretty exhausting, and I simply found myself not having anything that I thought was particularly interesting to say after that, to be honest," Doug says of that period. "I started concentrating on other things outside of playing (Doug is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Lodestar Entertainment; a music and video licensing and publishing company) "and the next thing I knew... it was a new millenium."
Howard's touring credits also notably contain his part as the singing narrator "Songster" for the international touring company of The Masters of The Universe
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
Power Tour, wherein he gave 18 consecutive sold out performances at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
in New York City, a house attendance record still standing today. Aside from his performing credits, he has worked as a session musician, singer and producer on various side projects, sound tracks and commercial jingles over the years.
In 2009, Howard resumed playing the bass and occasional vocals duties for his blues project Reservoir Road. An album from the band was released in 2010. Doug is currently band director and bassist for Rob Lee & Throwback Supreme; an R&B/Soul effort featuring Rob's signature falsetto vocals, performed in the stylings of bands such as The Whispers
The Whispers
The Whispers are a long-established R&B-dance vocal group from Los Angeles, California, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s.-Career:...
, The Isley Brothers, The Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
along with original material from Rob.
Discography
- Touch - "Touch" Spring 1980 Atco - US/Canada
- Touch - "Touch" Summer 1980 Ariola - Europe
- Touch - "Touch" Summer 1980 Sony - Japan
- Monsters of Rock - "Live" Fall 1981 Polydor-Worldwide
- The Look -“The Look” Winter 1981 Luminary - U.S. /UK(as Producer)
- Krayola- “Krayola” Summer 1982 Luminary - U.S./UK (as Producer)
- Todd Rundgren's Utopia - "Utopia" Fall 1983 Network - Worldwide
- Oswald & The Herringbones - "OATH" Spring 1984 Buckeye - U.S. (as Producer)
- MD Blessing - "Cheri" Fall 1992 Silver City - U.S./Canada (Doug Howard performing under a pseudonym)
- Todd Rundgren's Utopia - "Utopia” Winter 1993 Rhino - Worldwide
- Joe E. Howard - "From This Moment On" Fall 1994 Lodestar - U.S./Canada (Doug Howard performing under a pseudonym)
- Stun Leer - "Once" Spring 1998 MTM - Europe
- Stun Leer - "Once" Spring 1998 Pony Canyon- Japan
- Touch - "The Complete Works" Fall 1999 Frontier - Europe
- Doug Howard - "Last Man Standing" Winter 2000 MTM - Europe
- Touch - "Fools Exit" Spring 2002 MTM - Worldwide
- Reservoir Road - “Rollin & Tumblin" Spring 2010 Lodestar - US/Canada (as bassist and Producer)
Sources
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/doug-howard-p88122
- http://www.discogs.com/artist/Douglas+Joseph+Howard?anv=Doug+Howard#t=Releases_All&q=&p=1
- http://www.doug-howard.com
- http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/donington-1980.html
- http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-Doug_Howard-l-en.html
- http://www.discogs.com/search?type=all&q=Doug+Howard
- http://www.ascap.com/ace/
- http://www.elstruppejtersen.dk/articles/stunleerinterview.html
- http://www.rockunited.com/doughoward.htm
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419035/
- http://www.he-man.org/
- http://themotupowertour.blogspot.com/
- Jean Renard Photography http://www.modelmayhem.com/1067365