Written by Estelle Young
Photography by Donna Huffman

is parent’s home was always filled with big band music and opera, and he was introduced to country music by an uncle. The first thing he remembers singing was “Come On A My House,” which was a hit from the early 50’s, when he was three. As he grew up he wanted to be a rock crooner like Bobby Rydell or Frankie Avalon until Elvis and Bill Haley came along and livened things up. Howard and his best friend pretended to be rock DJs, and the friend’s older brother turned them on to black R&B and R&R artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. Then in 1964, the new impressive sound of the Beatles made a big impact, but when he heard & saw the Rolling Stones, he was awestruck. “That’s what I want to do,” he said after witnessing firsthand the power and new rough sound of the “Stones.” His first band was formed that year. He, another guitarist and a drummer who had just one drum and a cymbal from the local junior high school bashed out the songs. It was a cacophony of sounds, but “all the kids in the neighborhood in Union, NJ came and watched us.”

His mom sent him for formal guitar lessons, which Howard felt was a waste since he preferred to teach himself. In High School he formed “The Institution,” a classic American high school garage band. They won some contests, opened for Canned Heat in Jersey City, played at the Cafe Wah in the same time frame as Hendrix and the Doors and were offered a record contract, which, of course, fell through. He was in various bands throughout college and at one point dropped out to live in Freehold, NJ (home of Springsteen) with four other “idiots” to pursue the “rock star” dream. They did share the stage with some big stars like the J. Giles band, Genya Ravon and 10 Wheel Drive, Todd Rungren, and even Bruce Springsteen and played a series of gigs up in Boston.

“One night after a gig at Brandice University, my drummer, Joey Kramer, told me he was leaving the band to play with these other guys. The band’s name was Aerosmith. He is still with them; he is very rich, but he couldn’t possibly be as happy as me,” said Howard. After playing the club band circuit in NJ & NY, he started to write his own music and formed his own band. Things looked up - he played places like CBGB’s and toured all over the country. The Duff Band opened for bands like Blackfoot and Rick Derringer and he got a deal with Mercury Records, which, of course, fell through at the last moment.

Thanks to the Duff Band drummer, he met his wife Dawn and they have been happily married for 28 years. They began a successful punk rock band called “Partners in Crime.” Their record hit #s 1 and 2 on charts in Europe and continues to sell today as a collector’s item. (“Where’s the money?”) The band did shows with Punk legends Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies at the infamous and now defunct Dirt Club, City Gardens, and Show Place in New Jersey.

In 1985, they stopped performing and became “normal” parents. In 1987 he built and ran his own recording studio for three years in those wonderful analog days. He always had another career as a salesman in the wholesale electrical supply distribution industry. After two more children, his wife finally convinced him to move south to SC. “Our plan was to work a little, play a little, and live in the sun.” And, so they embarked upon living that lifestyle.

But then he had the ‘American Pie Incident.’ He was playing tourist venues on Hilton Head, and one evening it was just too boring. “I told myself, if one more drunk guy from NJ comes up and asks for ‘American Pie,’ I’m quitting.” And wouldn’t you know it? 15 minutes later, it happened. He stopped playing except for concerts to himself in the living room. All this time, from 1964 on, even though he was playing rock, he was always influenced by, and immersed in the blues. He had been led to it first by the Stones, which led him back to the originals: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Elmore James and Robert Johnson. This was the stuff he played for himself. Eventually, after the constant coaxing of his wife, he began to play blues music at gallery openings, art shows, etc. It was well received and he went on to play at Myrtles restaurant in Bluffton every Thursday for the past year and also at every Third Friday Festival on Calhoun Street. What keeps him going is a love of the music, and of educating his audience about the roots of much of the music they listen to. He recently performed at a BRAVO event where he talked, played and gave an informative presentation of blues history from its inception up until today.

His favorite gig is playing with the Buckwalter Praise Band at Church of the Cross, “...where I get to play with some of the best musicians I’ve played with in my 40 plus years of performing and most importantly, I can praise the Lord with music. I also have the additional thrill that my daughter is a vocalist and my son a guitarist in the band. I am so proud of Keith. I taught him three chords and now he can play rings around me. And, I am proud of Desiree’s vocal and theatrical accomplishments.” (Desiree (“Dez”) will play the part of Dorothy in May River Theater’s production of Wizard of Oz, coming up in August)

Howard’s main instrument is a six string Hummingbird acoustic. He also plays electric bass, and a six-string resonator, or Dobro (a guitar for use with a slide). He plays a three-string electrified cigar box guitar, which his friend from Savannah made for him, which must be heard to be believed and he plays Fender electric guitars. For his “day job”, he is manager of City Electric Supply in the New River Business Park in Hardeeville.

He has lived with his artist wife, Dawn, and two of their three children in Bluffton for almost 10 yrs. His musical influences have been: Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, and David Sadd. His most recent original song is “Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord” a rollicking blues hymn of praise. You can catch him at Myrtles every Thursday evening, and Bluffton Third Fridays in July, August, and October. Look for him at the British Open Pub in Okatie July 7th and July 21st. His current repertoire features the blues that he loves, some old rock’n’roll, R&B, and various songs from the 50’s through the 90’s.