Bob Howard

Bob Howard (born Howard Joyner, June 20, 1906 – December 3, 1986; another source gives his birth date as June 20, 1897) was an American pianist-vocalist on swing records in the 1930s. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Joyner began singing in New York night clubs in the mid-1920s. He began recording in 1931 under his real name for Columbia.

Under the name Bob Howard, he played New York's Park Central Hotel, Famous Door, Hickory House and other clubs as well as theaters. He was signed to Decca in late 1934 and recorded a series of hot small group swing records between 1935 and 1938. His studio groups included Benny Carter, Buster Bailey, Rex Stewart, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson, Russell Procope, Cecil Scott, Cozy Cole, Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Babe Russin and others. Howard did not play piano on his Decca recordings, only sang.

He embarked on European tours as a solo performer. He also had his own radio series in New York in the middle and late 1930s. In the 1940s, he performed in a handful of short films (1936–1947). He acted in an episode of Perry Mason in 1959.

In 1948, Howard hosted The Bob Howard Show on CBS, making him the first African-American to host a regularly broadcast network TV show. The program was cancelled after 13 episodes. He also was a regular performer on Sing It Again on CBS-TV in 1950 - 1951.

He later relocated to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He died in the Bronx, New York.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 20, 1906 (Newton), Died December 3, 1986 (The Bronx)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, piano

Notes: Original name: Howard Joyner.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 94 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W151785 10-in. 9/14/1931 I'm thru' with love Howard Joyner Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Columbia W152082 10-in. 1/19/1932 (I'll be glad when you're dead) You rascal you Howard Joyner Male vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia W152083 10-in. 1/19/1932 All of me Howard Joyner Male vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Columbia W152302 10-in. 9/20/1932 Sentimental gentleman from Georgia Howard Joyner Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152303 10-in. 9/20/1932 Underneath the Harlem moon Howard Joyner Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W405124 10-in. 1/19/1932 You rascal you (I'll be glad when you're dead) Skeeter Skoot Male vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
OKeh W405125 10-in. 1/19/1932 All of me Skeeter Skoot Male vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
OKeh W405144 10-in. 2/17/1932 Fattening frogs for snakes Carrie Edwards ; Howard Joyner Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W405145 10-in. 2/17/1932 Hard time blues Carrie Edwards ; Howard Joyner Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39094 10-in. 11/22/1934 P.S. I love you Bob Howard vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39095 10-in. 11/22/1934 What a difference a day made Bob Howard vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39217 10-in. 1/2/1935 It's unbelievable Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39218 10-in. 1/2/1935 Whisper sweet Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39219 10-in. 1/2/1935 Throwin' stones at the sun Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39220 10-in. 1/2/1935 You fit into the picture Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39253 10-in. 1/16/1935 You're the top, part 2 Decca All-Star Review vocalist  
Decca 39387 10-in. 2/25/1935 The ghost of Dinah Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39388 10-in. 2/25/1935 Pardon my love Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39390 10-in. 3/4/1935 Stay out of love Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39391 10-in. 3/4/1935 I' ll never change Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39392 10-in. 3/4/1935 Where were you on the night of June the third? Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39393 10-in. 3/4/1935 (Looks like I'm) Breakin' the ice Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39518 10-in. 5/7/1935 Corinne Corinna Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39519 10-in. 5/7/1935 Ev'ry day Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39520 10-in. 5/7/1935 A porter's love song Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 94 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Howard, Bob," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280.

Howard, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280.

"Howard, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280

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