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Jan Howard

Jan Howard (born Lula Grace Johnson; March 13, 1929 – March 28, 2020) was an American author, as well as a country music singer and songwriter. As a singer, she placed 30 singles on the Billboard country songs chart, was a Grand Ole Opry member and was nominated for several major awards. As a writer, she wrote poems and published an autobiography. She was married to country songwriter Harlan Howard.

Howard was mostly raised in West Plains, Missouri. The family moved to various homes during her childhood. Marrying in her teens, Howard and her husband relocated various times, including Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri. She took several part-time jobs to support her growing family, which included three children. Howard divorced her first husband in 1953. She met and married her second husband the same year. Moving to his military base, the couple and her three children lived a suburban lifestyle. In 1955, Howard discovered that he was a bigamist and she resettled with her children in Los Angeles, California.

In 1957, she met and married Harlan Howard. Early in their marriage, he discovered that she could sing. Impressed by her voice, Harlan arranged for her to record demonstration tapes. These tapes were heard by other country artists and led to her first recording contract with Challenge Records. Howard had her first major country hit in 1960 with "The One You Slip Around With". As her husband's songwriting became more successful, Howard's recording career followed suit. She had her biggest success after signing with Decca Records. Howard had major hits with the singles "Evil on Your Mind" (1966) and "My Son" (1968). She also had several hits after teaming up with Bill Anderson, including the number-one hit "For Loving You" (1967). The pair continued recording and touring together until the mid-1970s.

By 1973, two of Howard's children had died and she divorced Harlan Howard. In a depressive state, she nearly gave up her career. Upon the encouragement of other performers, she released several more albums and singles into the 1980s. At the same time, she began devoting time to other interests including writing. In 1987, Howard published her best-selling autobiography entitled Sunshine and Shadow. She also started writing poems and short stories, and remained active in other ways, including regular appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. She also worked with United States military veterans through various programs. She donated to charities and spoke at fundraisers.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 13, 1929 (West Plains), Died March 28, 2020 (Gallatin)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1964 - 1973

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 161 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 13086 9/18/1964 Slipping back to you Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13087 9/18/1964 What makes a man wander? Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13391 4/1/1965 What do you want now Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13392 4/1/1965 I got feelings too Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13393 4/1/1965 You really know (how to make a girl cry) Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13445 5/11/1965 I know you're married Bill Anderson ; Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13446 5/11/1965 Time out Bill Anderson ; Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13447 5/11/1965 I'll be waiting Bill Anderson ; Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13722 9/14/1965 You don't find a good man every day Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13723 9/14/1965 I don't mind Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13724 9/14/1965 You go your way (I'll go crazy) Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13928 2/11/1966 How long was it hurt Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13929 2/11/1966 I wish I could fall in love again Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13930 2/11/1966 Crying for love Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13973 3/9/1966 Last time Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13974 3/9/1966 Evil on your mind Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 13975 3/9/1966 Any old way you do Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14071 5/11/1966 We'll sing in the sunshine Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14072 5/11/1966 Put it off until tomorrow Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14073 5/11/1966 Take good care of him Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14074 5/11/1966 Tippy toeing Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14182 8/5/1966 That's not my problem anymore Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14183 8/5/1966 Bad seed Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14184 8/5/1966 The hurtin's all over Jan Howard vocalist  
Decca NA 14254 9/27/1966 For loving you Bill Anderson ; Jan Howard vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 161 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Howard, Jan," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321956.

Howard, Jan. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321956.

"Howard, Jan." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/321956

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