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 - 1947

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

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  
Atlantic 76 10-in. 12/10/1947 Mo'lasses Bob Howard and his Rhythm ; Bob Howard vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Atlantic 77 10-in. 12/10/1947 Button up your overcoat Bob Howard and his Rhythm vocalist, 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  
Decca 39521 10-in. 5/7/1935 I can't dance Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39693 10-in. 7/10/1935 If the moon turns green Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39694 10-in. 7/10/1935 Lulu's back in tovm Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39723 10-in. 7/18/1935 In a little gypsy tea room Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39724 10-in. 7/18/1935 I never saw a better night Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39725 10-in. 7/19/1935 Lost my rhythm, lost my music, lost my man Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 39726 10-in. 7/19/1935 I'm painting the town red Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60073 10-in. 10/17/1935 It's funny what a kiss can do Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60074 10-in. 10/17/1935 Sugar plum Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60075 10-in. 10/17/1935 It's written in the stars Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60076 10-in. 10/17/1935 Give me a break, baby Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60404 10-in. 1/28/1936 Whose big baby are you? Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60405 10-in. 1/28/1936 Much too much Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60406 10-in. 1/28/1936 Garbo green Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60407 10-in. 1/28/1936 You hit the spot Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60454 10-in. 2/10/1936 Spreadin' rhythm around Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60455 10-in. 2/10/1936 Wake up and sing Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60935 10-in. 3/26/1936 I'd like to see you Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60936 10-in. 3/26/1936 If love is blind Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60937 10-in. 3/26/1936 Mr. Rhythm for president Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60938 10-in. 3/26/1936 Get acquainted with yourself Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60939 10-in. 3/26/1936 The best things happen at night Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60979 10-in. 4/3/1936 No use you knockin' Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60980 10-in. 4/3/1936 Public weakness No.1 Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60981 10-in. 4/3/1936 Let's not fall in love Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61255 10-in. 9/2/1936 Bojangles of Harlem Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61256 10-in. 9/2/1936 Mendel's son's swing song Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61257 10-in. 9/2/1936 Sing baby, sing Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61258 10-in. 9/2/1936 Swinging on the moon Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61311 10-in. 10/12/1936 Copper colored gal Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61312 10-in. 10/12/1936 That's what you mean to me Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61313 10-in. 10/12/1936 Hop skip jump Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 61314 10-in. 10/12/1936 You're giving me a song and a dance Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62036 10-in. 3/12/1937 Me, myself and I Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62037 10-in. 3/12/1937 Spring cleaning (Getting ready for love) Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62038 10-in. 3/12/1937 You can't take it with you Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62039 10-in. 3/12/1937 You're just a little diff'rent Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62040 10-in. 3/12/1937 Bundle of love Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62204 10-in. 5/20/1937 You're precious to me Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62205 10-in. 5/20/1937 Fan my Brow Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62206 10-in. 5/20/1937 Formal night in Harlem Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62207 10-in. 5/20/1937 He's a gypsy from Poughkeepsie Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62348 10-in. 7/9/1937 Easy living Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62349 10-in. 7/9/1937 I'll take the key and lock you up Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62350 10-in. 7/9/1937 Sing and be happy Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62351 10-in. 7/9/1937 Penny wise and pound foolish Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62633 10-in. 9/30/1937 Beat it out Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62634 10-in. 9/30/1937 I'm sorry I made you cry Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62635 10-in. 9/30/1937 What do you want to make those eyes at me for? Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62636 10-in. 9/30/1937 She's tall, she's tan, she's terrific Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63251 10-in. 2/7/1938 There ain't gonna be no doggone afterwhile Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63252 10-in. 2/7/1938 If you're a viper Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63253 10-in. 2/7/1938 Baby, it must be love Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63254 10-in. 2/7/1938 Raggedy but right Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63575 10-in. 4/8/1938 In my Mizz Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63576 10-in. 4/8/1938 Toodle-oo Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63577 10-in. 4/8/1938 Just about the time Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63578 10-in. 4/8/1938 Talk to me Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64226 10-in. 6/27/1938 I can tell by looking in your eyes Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64232 10-in. 6/27/1938 Dapper Dan Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64233 10-in. 6/27/1938 You better come back Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64234 10-in. 6/27/1938 Southern Casey Jones Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64343 10-in. 7/26/1938 I used to love you Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64344 10-in. 7/26/1938 Keepin' out of mischief now Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64345 10-in. 7/26/1938 Sweet Emalina, my gal Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64346 10-in. 7/26/1938 Beale Street Mama Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64347 10-in. 7/26/1938 You're in Kentucky sure as you're born Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64348 10-in. 7/26/1938 Any rags Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 64349 10-in. 7/26/1938 On revival day Bob Howard Orchestra vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Howard, Bob," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280.

Howard, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280.

"Howard, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110280

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.