Steve “Catfish” Howard

Biography

Steve Howard’s work with stellar artists and producers has made him a valuable asset through an extensive and varied career. As an expert in the fields of R&B, Blues, Rock, and Jazz, his talents have been honed to adapt to many genres and styles of music. As a result, he is able to function not only as a performer, but also as an arranger both in advance and on the spot with head arrangements. Steve has been a valued arranger in session work with Albert Collins, Paul McCartney, and others. He possesses a solid ability to give artists the horn arrangements that they visualize for their projects, and he has frequently functioned as a working part of production.

Steve began studying the trumpet at age 10. In the early 1970’s he attended the world-famous jazz studies program at North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas. During his student years he worked in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, recording, playing shows, and touring locally with big bands including Les Elgart and Bob Crosby when they came to the area. Original influences were Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, and Johnny Coles. Steve acquired the nickname “Catfish” early in his career. His family owned and operated a famous catfish restaurant opened by his grandparents in 1945. He worked there from childhood until he moved away to begin his career, and over the years many of Steve's student friends had part-time work at the restaurant to help finance their educations.

In 1973 Steve moved to New Orleans to work with blues Legend Luther Kent. While working with Luther, he was discovered by legendary producer Allen Toussaint. He performed on Toussaint-produced albums Nightbirds by Patti LaBelle, which featured the #1 hit “Lady Marmalade”, and Toussaint's own critically acclaimed Southern Nights album. At Sea-Saint Studios Steve performed with the Meters, Dr. John, Little Feet, Tracy Nelson, Ernie K-Doe, and Lee Dorsey. Working alongside Allen Toussaint with his unique horn arrangements strongly influenced Steve’s concepts of horn arrangements and music production. His early years in New Orleans working with Allen and Luther helped complete Steve's musical education, most particularly in the field of R&B.

Paul McCartney came to New Orleans in 1974 to record at Sea-Saint. Steve was invited to play on “Call Me Back Again” which was featured on the Venus and Mars album. As a result, six months later Steve was asked to join Wings on their world tour. He spent the next five years performing in concerts in the USA, Europe, and Australia and recording at Abbey Road Studios in London as well as making five albums with Wings. He also appeared in films of the American tour and the Rockestra sessions. Rockestra included performances with rock legends Pete Townsend, John Bonham, Dave Gilmore, Ronnie Lane, and John Paul Jones. During a break in the Wings schedule Steve toured with both Tom Jones and Ray Charles. In Ray's band he played sitting next to Johnny Coles, one of his earliest musical influences.

Back home in the Dallas area during the 1980's Steve continued playing shows and recording albums. He rekindled his relationship with Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) and worked with him extensively while developing a friendship that endured until Mac's death in 2019. During this period Steve performed at Austin City Limits with Delbert McClinton and played concerts with the Spinners, the Four Tops, Martha Reeves, and Gladys Knight in the Dallas area.

In 1989 Steve joined Albert Collins' band, touring worldwide and recording with Albert until his death in 1993. With Alberts band Steve played at the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival in Japan and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The band toured in the USA, Europe, and Australia, played Austin City Limits, and recorded numerous albums.

In 1994 Steve returned to New Orleans as a member of the Legendary White Trash Horns. During 1994-95 the White Trash Horns worked with producer John Snyder on albums for Junior Wells, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Billy Branch, Larry Garner, and others. They also worked with producer Mike Post on recordings for Sonny Landreth. Steve performed on a solo album with former Blood, Sweat, and Tears lead singer Jerry Fisher. In addition to work with the White Trash Horns, Steve played on numerous recordings for blues label Black Top Records. Recordings for Black Top included albums for Solomon Burke, Guitar Shorty, Snooks Eaglin, Phillip Walker, W.C. Clark, and others. He also performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Boz Scaggs as well as with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Luther Kent. In 1996 and again in 2000 the

White Trash Horns reunited with Edgar Winter for two albums and live performances including the Montreux Jazz Festival. From 1998-2002, as a member of the White Trash Horns, Steve toured and recorded with German superstar Peter Maffay in Europe.

In 2002 Steve formed his own band, the N'awlins Gumbo Kings, which performs its own special brand of New Orleans-influenced music. The group has released three albums, and old friend Dr. John appeared as a guest artist on the second album. The group was also invited to perform as a special guest band at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, New York. The Gumbo Kings band was born out of Steve's love for the music of the Crescent City. Both Steve and his co- leader and partner, clarinetist Mike Sizer, had lived and worked in New Orleans at different times in their careers. An accidental meeting between the two resulted in an enthusiastic conversation about the possibilities of putting together a band of top-shelf Dallas musicians to perform New Orleans-style music. Their repertoire includes traditional jazz, second line New Orleans funk, Louis Prima style, and their own original songs. An active and thriving band, the Kings still perform regularly.

In 2007 Steve was tapped to play with the Original Blues Brothers Band, filling in for Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin, and joining the band full time in 2011. The band includes original members Steve “The Colonel” Cropper, “Blue Lou” Marini, Murphy Dunne, and Tom “Bones” Malone. Other members of the group are Saturday Night Live musical director Leon Pendarvis and legendary New York session guitarist John Tropea. Steve recorded a 2017 album with the group, The Last Shade of Blue Before Black. The OBBB has continued to travel the world and perform concerts to sold out audiences in Europe, Japan, Australia, and Russia.