Earle Howard
Encyclopedia
Earle Howard was an American jazz
guitarist, pianist, and vocalist.
Howard was raised in New York City
, attending the same high school
as Fats Waller
. Around the same time Howard played in a youth ensemble which featured Charlie Irvis
, Benny Morton
, and Benny Carter
. He led his own seven-piece band in 1923, and a nine-piece in 1924 called the Whispering Serenaders. He toured and played locally in nightclub
s through the end of the decade, playing with Bill Benford
and continuing to lead his own ensembles.
Howard acted as musical director for Percy Nelson in 1933-34, then toured South America
with Jimmy Ferguson
while he performed under the stage name
Baron Lee. He played in the Blackbirds Revue in New York City and also worked with Leon Abbey
in the 1940s.
Some time in the 1950s Howard moved to Europe, where he performed mostly as a solo artist. He moved frequently there and held residencies in several countries. His date of death is unknown.
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...
guitarist, pianist, and vocalist.
Howard was raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, attending the same high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
as Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
. Around the same time Howard played in a youth ensemble which featured Charlie Irvis
Charlie Irvis
Charlie Irvis was an American jazz trombonist, best known for performing in Duke Ellington's band.Irvis played with Bubber Miley in his youth and then with blues singer Lucille Hegamin in the "Blue Flame Syncopators" from 1920 to 1921...
, Benny Morton
Benny Morton
Benny Morton , born in New York City, was a jazz trombonist most associated with the swing genre. He was praised by fellow trombonist Bill Watrous among others. One of his first jobs was working with Clarence Holiday, and he appeared with Clarence's daughter Billie Holiday towards the end of her...
, and Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
. He led his own seven-piece band in 1923, and a nine-piece in 1924 called the Whispering Serenaders. He toured and played locally in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s through the end of the decade, playing with Bill Benford
Bill Benford
Bill Benford was an American jazz double-bassist and tubist. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia.Benford was the brother of drummer Tommy Benford. He, like his brother, was a member of the Jenkins Orphanage band in South Carolina as a child, touring with the band in 1915 in the United States...
and continuing to lead his own ensembles.
Howard acted as musical director for Percy Nelson in 1933-34, then toured South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
with Jimmy Ferguson
Jimmy Ferguson
James Francis "Jimmy" Ferguson was a founding member of the Irish-Canadian folk group The Irish Rovers. He was the only member who did not play an instrument....
while he performed under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Baron Lee. He played in the Blackbirds Revue in New York City and also worked with Leon Abbey
Leon Abbey
Leon Abbey was an American jazz violinist and bandleader.In the 1920s his eleven-piece band, known successively as the Charleston Bearcats, the Savoy Bearcats, and Leon Abbey's Band, was considered one of the best in jazz....
in the 1940s.
Some time in the 1950s Howard moved to Europe, where he performed mostly as a solo artist. He moved frequently there and held residencies in several countries. His date of death is unknown.