Eileen Howard is one of those rare entertainers with the sensitivity and flair to deeply evoke the human condition in her work. She’s received accolades and awards as a singer, songwriter and actress and is active on the New York and Atlanta scenes as a noted jazz and blues vocalist. She’s also received acclaim as a gifted songwriter. Her latest release, Big City Love, is generating buzz around town.
A delightful and spirited singer who loves to perform, Eileen puts on shows that are heartfelt, soulful, swinging and full of honest feelings. “My concerts are really storytelling with music. I like a variety of music so I perform jazz, blues, funk and sometimes folk or rock. The words that I sing must contain truth about the human condition. I want them to be uplifting, have a sense of hope and redemption, and be life affirming.”
Eileen’s very attractive voice and ability to interpret a wide variety of material with insight, humor and full understanding of the meanings behind the words she sings make her a superior song stylist who is always a joy to see.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Eileen moved several times including spending periods living in Seattle, Chicago and Winnipeg, Canada. “My dad played piano and my mother was a classical singer. They were both involved in musical theater and after hearing them play and rehearse often when I was quite young, I fell in love with the theater, too.” Although Eileen often sang along with records, took piano lessons and began playing the flute in junior high, the arts took a back seat in her life for a long period. She earned a degree in International Studies and Marketing from American University in Washington, D.C., got married, was involved in international community development work, lived overseas (including in Australia and Venezuela) and raised a family. While she had rare opportunities to sing in Paris, Sydney and Caracas, it was not until she moved with her family to Toledo, Ohio, in the late 1980s that she began to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.
Eileen took singing lessons, began working in musical theater, sang with the Toledo Opera Chorus, and was encouraged by pianist Claude Brown and bassist Clifford Murphy who ran Murphy’s Jazz Club. She studied with former Nelson Riddle Orchestra singer Mary Ann Russo and pianist Scott Shepherd, working with a big band (Satin and Brass), the Jack Runyon Orchestra and Murphy’s Jazz Trio. After moving to Columbus, Ohio, her career really took off. Eileen sang regularly with big bands including The Jim Johnson Orchestra, Trombones Plus and the big band combo The Classmen, and led her jazz quartet, the Eileen Howard Band. She performed at a large assortment of music festivals, clubs and concerts including the Columbus Jazz and Ribs Festival, Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, the North Market Food and Wine Festival, the Columbus Arts Festival, and numerous other regional arts and music festivals and events. On the club scene, she performed at The Green Room, The Dell, Club Diversity, Ciao, James Club 88 and Park Street Tavern.
After making her mark in the Midwest, Eileen and her husband, George, moved to New York in 2012, where he took a new job. Before long, she became very busy. Among the clubs in New York where she has performed are regular engagements at Harlem’s Chez Lucienne, Cafe du Soleil, The West End Lounge, Tomi Jazz and Somethin’ Jazz. She frequently sings at Birdland and Cleopatra’s Needle, and has been heard at Smoke and the Iridium.
Eileen received critical acclaim and exceptionally positive reviews as a recording artist. She has released five CDs: All Kinds of Weather, Street of Dreams, MakeOver (an album of her original spiritual tunes) , Blues in the Green Room (a live recording of her Blues Cabaret) and Big City Love. Big City Love is recorded with her New York combo and contains four of her original tunes, two other debut originals and her unique arrangements of standards such as New York, New York and Manhattan.
NY Jazz Journalist Marcia Hillman writes, “With this latest offering, Eileen Howard continues to reach her listening audience with her storytelling ability by singing from the heart with her powerful, melodious voice.” Lance Liddle of Bebop Spoken Here writes, “The final track sums it up – But Beautiful!” He adds, “Eileen’s version of Sunday in New York should be adopted by the city’s tourist board.”
A woman who uses her gift of song for good, Eileen helped found the inclusive and diverse United Methodist Church for All People, where she was Music Director. She also created and led Harmony on the Southside, a community arts access and education program. Many of her original songs on MakeOver were written in connection with this work. “Music has huge power to make us feel better even when circumstances are difficult and one is struggling,” she explained. Today, Eileen continues to share this philosophy and her music at Daisy’s Food Pantry in Greenwich Village each week.
In addition to her singing, Eileen became a well-respected actress and stage director, winning many awards including Excellence awards from the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable in Musical Performance, in Acting and in Directing. She received Curtain Players Link awards for excellence in acting and in directing, and a nod as Best Supporting Actress from the Columbus Alive arts magazine.
When asked about her hopes for the future, Eileen Howard says, “I want to continue playing in clubs and writing new songs, and perform at jazz and blues festivals. I am a storyteller through my music and I love to lift people’s spirits by offering funny and heartfelt tidbits from the glory and catastrophe that is life. I involve my audience in the journey and they get caught up in the joy of the power of love, recovery and redemption.”
A very musical jazz singer, Eileen Howard can always be relied upon to perform a memorable and heartwarming show.uplifting, have a sense of hope and redemption, and be life affirming.”
Awards
Mimi, A NEW BRAIN,
Supporting Actress, Excellence in Acting
Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable
Woman 2, JERRY'S GIRLS
Excellence in Musical Performance
Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable.
Gorgeous, SISTERS ROSENSWEIG
Best Supporting Actress Columbus Alive Arts Magazine
Della, BLUE PLATE SPECIAL
Honorable Mention, Best Actress
The Columbus Dispatch
Sylvia, SYLVIA
Link Award for Excellence
Curtain Players
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