John Howard: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Brian Protheroe
• Peter Sarstedt
• English Rose
• Todd Rundgren
• Harry Nilsson
• Elton John
• Al Stewart

• Sixwire

Genres:

Rock Music, Singer/Songwriter Rock Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Ratings Guide

John Howard made an obscure British singer/songwriter album in the mid'70s, Kid in a Big World, which like several efforts from that period showed the heavy influence of then newly emergent superstar Elton John. Howard was lowerkey and more inclined toward eccentric storysongs, and not as gifted with a flair for chart hooks, though he too had a keyboard base to his arrangements and melodic ideas combining BeatlesBeach Boys pop with '70s singer/songwriting.

Howard first tried to enter the record business in the late '60s, when the classically trained pianist unsuccessfully sent in a tape of his songs to Apple Records for consideration. Changing his name from Howard Jones (though he was no relation to the '80s pop star Howard Jones) to John Howard, he actually turned down the chance to join a band that later become Iron Maiden. Instead, he worked on the college circuit and folk clubs, and got a management contract with Hurricane Smith's manager, Stuart Reid. He signed to CBS UK in late 1973, and recorded Kid in a Big World with exShadows drummer Tony Meehan as producer and Argent's Bob Henrit and Rod Argent among the session men. Preceded by the late1974 release of the "Goodbye Suzie" single, Kid in a Big World was released in February 1975, although it suffered from indifferent promotion and didn't make much of an impact. Although a second album was started, it never reached completion, in part because of intervention from CBS to try making it more commercial.

- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide