Van Howard

J W Hock · From: Anderson, Texas, USA

On vol. 4 of the Gannaway videos Ray Price introduces the Cherekee Cowboys (1956) after performing "Crazy Arms". His sideman and harmonizer is Van Howard . He then lets Van Howard sing a number on his own. He does a fine job , nice rich voice.
My questions , What ever became of Van Howard ? Is he the one harmonizing on all the great Ray Price hits ? How long did he work with Ray Price and did he ever do any recording on his own ?

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

I think Van is now deceased and was involved in banking in or around Dallas after his association with Ray. i would guess he was with the band maybe 5 years??

he did record on his own--for Imperial circa 1954-55 before the Price affiliation and again for Columbia during the Price affiliation. No LPs, but 4 or 5 singles all told.

J W Hock · From: Anderson, Texas, USA

And I would guess that for a collector , those singles would be extremely hard to find .

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

I've never read anything about Howard post-Cherokee Cowboys, of course I haven't read everything there is.
I think Van came aboard around 1955 (maybe late '54) and was gone by the end of 1959.
It's no great secret that the original Cherokee Cowboys evolved out of a version of the Western Cherokees that Ray simply hired for the road.
Article on Tommy Hill often mention that he moved to Nashville as bandleader for Ray Price in '54, so I suppose it's fairly safe to assume that Tommy Hill had the job originally and was most likely working with a version of the WCs or simply got hired along with them by Price.

Thanks Mitch, I'd never heard about the banking gig.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Spoke w/ several people around here,Don Helms,Pete Wade,Lloyd Green,etc. No one has heard of Van's passing so,I guess he's still with us,which is great news.

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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 18 June 2002 at 12:42 AM.]

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Jimmy Day introduced me to Van Howard at the Western Swing Festival in Texarkana sometime in the mid-90's... I think around 1996. I talked with Van at great length about how he left the music business and got into banking. He's a very, very nice man. I hadn't heard anything about his passing, so I think he's probably still with us.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

UPDATE!!!
Spoke tonight w/ Jack Evins,who roomed w/ Van on the road,w/ Ray Price. Jack says he spoke w/ Van just a couple of nights ago,so that's good news.

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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 18 June 2002 at 12:51 PM.]

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Smiley, that's cool news about Van Howard.

After Mitch's initial post I had a little look around online:

Van Howard singles:

Imperial 8202
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1953
Songs : Lonesome & Blue
You Broke My Heart

Imperial 8213
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1953
Songs : Maybe Baby
Pretending

Imperial 8234
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1954
Songs : Not A Kid Anymore
I Speak To The Stars

Imperial 8245
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1954
Songs : Let's Spend Our Lives Together
My Tears

Imperial 8264
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1954
Songs : Red Hot Flame
Weeping Willow Waltz

Imperial 8293
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1955
Songs : Be Gentle, It's My Heart
Rose From Your Bridal Bouquet

ABC 9736
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1956
Songs : Living Alone
I Found A New Home

Columbia 40892
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1957
Songs : Tears On My Pillow
My Song Of Love

Columbia 40998
Format : 7 in.
Released : 1957
Songs : So I Can Love Again
What'll I Do

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