Earle Howard | |
---|---|
Born | Petersburg, VA | June 3, 1904
Died | December 31, 1978 74) Modena, Italy | (aged
Genres | Jazz |
Occupations | Musician and bandleader |
Instruments |
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Earle "Nappy" Howard (June 3, 1904 –December 31, 1978) was an American jazz pianist, [1] bandleader, [1] guitarist, and vocalist.
Howard was raised in New York City and went to the same high school as Fats Waller. [2] He belonged to a youth band that included Benny Carter, Charlie Irvis, and Benny Morton. [2]
He led bands in the 1920s, including one with Geechie Fields and Johnny Russell (c. 1926–1927), [1] and later performed at Strand Danceland, New York, with a band that included saxophonists Fernando Arbello and Pete Brown (autumn 1928 – spring 1929), [1] before accompanying Bill Benford [2] (spring 1929 – spring 1930). [1]
In 1930, he led a big band in Boston, [1] and spent the next decade as a musical director and performing in clubs in New York, with residencies at the Saratoga Club, the Savoy Ballroom [1] and in the Blackbirds revue, played with Leon Abbey, and toured in South America. [2] He moved to Europe in the 1950s. [2]
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