Also,  Howard has an impressive cast of musicians on his new cd, such as George Duke, Gerald Albright, Marc Nelson, Nils, Nathan East, Ricky Lawson and Paulinho Da Costa.   His sound is unparalleled, a voice that never changes or fades from ones mind.   Howard has the looks, talent and style of a super star.   Still Howard is very humble about his career.  Growing up in Akron, Ohio is where Howard’s music foundation started.  At the age of 10 years old he was singing gospel music.  Later on in his early teens he started singing R&B.  However, his professional singing career started when he relocated to Los Angeles, California in his late teens.  Music was always in Howard’s heart and soul.  Howard loved to dance and what a better platform to be on than Soul Train.  Don Cornelius’s hit television show called Soul Train changed Howard’s life.   He became a regular Soul Train Dancer.  Little did Howard know being a Soul Train Dancer would be a pivotal point in his music career.   He was discovered on Soul Train to join the group called Shalamar.

This was the brain child of Dick Griffey, co-founder of Soul Train Records…which evolved into Solar Records.  Solor records had incredible groups like Shalamar, Lakeside, and the Whispers.  He named the R&B vocal quintet the Soul Train Gang.  It was a natural for Shalamar to perform on stage, after all they danced on Soul Train together.  The group consisted of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel in 1979.  Howard replaced Gerald Brown who was part of the original quintet.  Shalamar had a string of hits like, “Second Time Around,” “A Night To Remember,” “Dancing in the Sheets” and “This Is For The Lover In You.”  The group went on to win a Grammy award for “Don’t Get Stopped in Beverly Hills,” which was also featured in Beverly Hills Cop.  Howard launched a solo career in 1985, signaling a new path for Howard.  Sidney Justin replaced Howard but soon faded away in the 90’s.  In the mean time Howard was still gripping the mike and getting ready to show us what he was really made of.  Howard topping the R&B charts with songs from his debut album such as, “I Commit To Love.”  Hits kept on coming for Howard like “I’m For Real, “Stay,” “Once, Twice, Three Times,” “Show Me” and “Say Amen.”  I still hear the words in my head from the song “Say Amen.”  My favorite lines…I wanna thank you God for givin’ me one more chance to raise my voice and to sing your praise, I sing it out loud, I sing it all day.  Howard sings this song with such passion no wonder he released his first inspirational album called “The Journey,” in 2001. 

 Howard is a true artist who is very much involved with his audience.  He will walk off stage and work the crowd picking a few lucky ladies to sing with him.  A few ladies were very lucky at his performance at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton, Georgia this month.  Center Stage was there to capture his live performance.  Howard can really move the crowd with his sultry smooth voice and body motions.  Audience participation was fantastic with clapping and singing along with Howard.   We were also able to speak to him after the show.

Center Stage:  Tell us about your new cd? What is the title and how did you come up with the name?
Howard:  It’s called “If Only.”  It’s the one track that I felt best represented the feeling of the project on the complete CD.

Center Stage:  How old were you when you moved to LA from Akron, Ohio?
Howard: The age of 19 years old.

Center Stage:  Did you know that would be the place to give birth to your singing career?
Howard:  Well actually, that’s not where my career began. I begin singing when I was 10 years old in Akron. I started singing gospel then went to R&B when I was 15 or 16. But, LA started my recording career.  It catapulted me to the next plateau with Shalamar and my solo situation.

Center Stage:  Do you still perform overseas with Jeffery Daniel (original group member) and Carolyn Griffey?
Howard:  Yeah, we still do. Last year I was in Dubai for New Year’s Eve.  It was an hour after they hung Saddam Hussein, so…But it’s still fun because you go back and revisit some songs.  I do some Shalamar songs even during my show, but doing it with Jeffery brings back memories...and it’s a change from the norm.

Center Stage:  How did you feel when you first heard your song on the radio waves?
Howard:  I was 22. It felt good when I heard it.  It was when ‘The Second Time Around’ was out.  It feels good even now [to hear my songs on the radio].  Every time I hear one of my songs I give praise to the Lord that it’s still out.  I feel very grateful.

Center Stage:  You’ve had several big hits…do you have a favorite?
Howard:  ‘Say Amen’ is the most important song. It changed people’s lives. I have fun with everything talking about love and romance, but all of those things have a spiritual basis.  Changing your spirituality comes with songs like ‘Say Amen’.

Center Stage:  What do you think gave you the staying power in show business?
Howard:  My spiritual belief and grounding.  Really knowing who you are as an artist and not being swayed.  You have to know who you are and stay true to that.

Center Stage:  What are some elements that you feel are important to succeed in the music industry?
Howard:  Know who you are and what you want to portray.  That’s important. You have to know where you are going.

Yes, Howard is right you have to know where you are going.  He certainly knew to have such a wonderful enduring singing career.  Thanks Howard for giving the world a chance to experience your gift of singing.  Howard’s new CD “If Only” is a hit.   Howard is an extraordinary talent who has an enduring singing career that we all have an appetite for.  Howard congratulations on the success of your new CD.

Donza Meagley, Managing Editor, Center Stage Magazine