Eddy Howard
Encyclopedia
Eddy Howard was an American
vocalist and bandleader
who was popular during the 1940s and 1950s.
, and after attending San Jose State College
from 1931 to 1933, Howard studied medicine at Stanford University
before dropping out to become a singer of romantic ballads on Los Angeles radio. Later he sang with bands led by Ben Bernie
and Dick Jurgens
. His hits with Jurgens included "My Last Goodbye" and "Careless," which became his theme.
In 1939 Howard started his own band, and he was the regular vocalist on It Can Be Done, Edgar A. Guest's 1941 radio program on the Blue Network Wednesdays through Fridays. The first #1 single for Eddy Howard and his Orchestra, "To Each His Own
", stayed at the top of the charts in the mid-1940s. The song was a tie-in with the 1946 Paramount film, To Each His Own, which brought Academy Awards for Olivia de Havilland
and screenwriter Charles Brackett
. The recording by Howard was released by Majestic Records
as catalog number
7188 and 1070. It first reached the Billboard
chart on July 11, 1946 and lasted nineteen weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
On NBC's The Sheaffer Parade, sponsored by Sheaffer Pens, the Howard Orchestra was heard from September 14, 1947 to September 5, 1948.
In 1949, Howard signed to Mercury Records
. His popularity continued into the 1950s with tracks such as "Maybe It's Because", and "Sin (It's No Sin)," which became Howard's second #1 tune, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. It was also a million selling hit for The Four Aces
. Howard's last hit was "Teen-Ager's Waltz," which peaked at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1955. In 1952-53 he was heard on CBS on Thursday nights at 10:45pm, with further broadcasts on Tuesdays at 10pm in 1955-56. The rise of rock music
led to a decline in Howard's popularity.
He died in his sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage in May 1963, in Palm Desert, California
, aged 48. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park
in Cathedral City, California
.
Howard's star rose again during the 1960s, as part of the revival of interest in Big Band
music and old-time radio
that was collectively called "Nostalgia" in popular culture.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
who was popular during the 1940s and 1950s.
Biography
Born in Woodland, CaliforniaWoodland, California
Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County, California, located approximately northwest of Sacramento, and is a part of the Sacramento - Arden-Arcade - Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 55,468 at the 2010 census.Woodland's origins trace back to 1850 when California...
, and after attending San Jose State College
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
from 1931 to 1933, Howard studied medicine at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
before dropping out to become a singer of romantic ballads on Los Angeles radio. Later he sang with bands led by Ben Bernie
Ben Bernie
Ben Bernie , born Bernard Anzelevitz, was an American jazz violinist and radio personality, often introduced as The Old Maestro. He was noted for his showmanship and memorable bits of snappy dialogue....
and Dick Jurgens
Dick Jurgens
Dick Henry Jurgens was an American swing music bandleader, who enjoyed great popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s....
. His hits with Jurgens included "My Last Goodbye" and "Careless," which became his theme.
In 1939 Howard started his own band, and he was the regular vocalist on It Can Be Done, Edgar A. Guest's 1941 radio program on the Blue Network Wednesdays through Fridays. The first #1 single for Eddy Howard and his Orchestra, "To Each His Own
To Each His Own (song)
"To Each His Own" is a popular song with music written by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans. The song was published in 1946.-Original 1946 recordings:In 1946, three different versions hit number one on the Billboard charts in the United States....
", stayed at the top of the charts in the mid-1940s. The song was a tie-in with the 1946 Paramount film, To Each His Own, which brought Academy Awards for Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
and screenwriter Charles Brackett
Charles Brackett
Charles William Brackett was an American novelist, screenwriter, and film producer.-Biography:Born on November 26, 1892 in Saratoga Springs, New York, Charles William Brackett was the son of New York State Senator, lawyer, and banker Edgar Truman Brackett...
. The recording by Howard was released by Majestic Records
Majestic Records
Majestic Records was a mid-20th century New York City based record label. The label enjoyed its greatest commercial success in the 1940s, until over-ambitious expansion and an inability to keep distributors supplied with pressings of discs resulted in financial problems, and the label folded in...
as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
7188 and 1070. It first reached the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart on July 11, 1946 and lasted nineteen weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
On NBC's The Sheaffer Parade, sponsored by Sheaffer Pens, the Howard Orchestra was heard from September 14, 1947 to September 5, 1948.
In 1949, Howard signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. His popularity continued into the 1950s with tracks such as "Maybe It's Because", and "Sin (It's No Sin)," which became Howard's second #1 tune, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. It was also a million selling hit for The Four Aces
The Four Aces
The Four Aces is an American male traditional pop music quartet, popular since the 1950s. Over the last half-century, the group amassed many gold records. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", "Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Tell Me...
. Howard's last hit was "Teen-Ager's Waltz," which peaked at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in 1955. In 1952-53 he was heard on CBS on Thursday nights at 10:45pm, with further broadcasts on Tuesdays at 10pm in 1955-56. The rise of rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
led to a decline in Howard's popularity.
He died in his sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage in May 1963, in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, aged 48. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California, United States, near Palm Springs. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District...
in Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
.
Howard's star rose again during the 1960s, as part of the revival of interest in Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music and old-time radio
Old-time radio
Old-Time Radio and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s...
that was collectively called "Nostalgia" in popular culture.