Early Musical Influences

Howard’s mother and father loved music. His father was a pretty good ragtime piano player in his own right. Music on records and the radio was always playing in their house. Howie was a talented child. He began playing drums and the piano at age 4. He could hear a record, and quickly pick out the tune on the piano.

The person who had the greatest influence on Howard as a young man was Mr. Ralph Guest, the music teacher at Wilmington Friends School. His influence eventually led to Howie choosing music as a career. Howard attended Friends School from second grade through graduation in 1962.

Howard became a terrific Stride piano player “Fats” Waller and other ragtime musicians were huge influences on his development. He studied percussion with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and continued to refine his talent.

Later, his studies in Music Theory at Syracuse University brought the entire musical process into greater clarity for him. He always said his most difficult subject was Violin. Howie played in the marching band, and started a R&B band called the Sidewinders, which later evolved into Jam Factory. He graduated from Syracuse in 1966 with a degree in Music.

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