Miki Howard

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Miki Howard
Howard during an interview in July 2019
Born
Alicia Michelle Howard

(1960-09-30) September 30, 1960 (age 63)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Eddie Phelps
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 1996)​
Children3, including B Howard
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
Labels
Websitewww.mikihowardmedia.com

Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard (born September 30, 1960) is an American R&B singer who had

Top R&B Singles
chart.

Early life

Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois.[1] She is the daughter of gospel singers Josephine Howard (January 26, 1936 – December 31, 1978)[2][3] of The Caravans and Clay Graham (1936–2018) of The Pilgrim Jubilees.[4][5] Howard's mother took her to the homes of various stars such as Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples. At the age of nine, Howard and her family moved to Los Angeles where Howard's mother sang in a choir led by Caravans member and arranger James Cleveland. Among those who visited Howard's Los Angeles residence were Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, Billy Preston and Fats Domino. Howard was also influenced by jazz greats, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson. As a teenager, she often visited Maverick's Flat, a popular night club in Los Angeles and a venue for music acts such as Rufus and Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind & Fire, who were influential in her pursuit of a professional singing career.

Career

1980–1985: Side Effect

At the age of 16, she performed in a teen pageant. After the show, she met singer Augie Johnson,[6] leader and member of R&B group Side Effect,[7] who happened to be in the audience and began working with Howard on music. Johnson charmed Howard and later chose her as the vocalist for the group. After a period of time, Howard became a Side Effect member in 1979—replacing the departure of Sylvia St. James. Howard's tenure with the group lasted a few years. With Miki as new female vocalist, Side Effect's After the Rain was released in 1980. The album did not do well on the charts as well as the next two Elektra albums Portraits and All Aboard. As a member of Side Effect, the group's best remembered "I Can't Play" and a cover of Toto's "Georgy Porgy" were minor R&B hits in 1983/84. During this time, she also had one child by Johnson. In addition to singing with Side Effect, she did background vocals for Wayne Henderson, Roy Ayers, Stanley Turrentine, and several other artists. By 1985, Howard decided she was ready to begin a solo career, and left the group. She put together a demo that landed her a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

1986–1990: Come Share My Love, Love Confessions and Miki Howard

Howard begin recording songs for her debut album,

Imagination", peaked to number 13 on the R&B Singles and would become Howard's first video. With two hit singles from the album, she embarked on her first concert tour in 1987, opening for funk band Cameo
. The final single, "Come Back to Me Lover" was released charting to number 33, on the R&B singles chart.

In November 1987, Howard released her second album,

Best New Artist
.

In November 1989, Howard released her third album, the self-titled

R&B Singles. Howard scored two more Top 5 R&B hits from the album. The songs "Love Under New Management", penned during her affair with Gerald Levert, peaked to number two and a cover of "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
", at number three on the R&B singles chart.

1992–1997: Femme Fatale, Miki Sings Billie and Can't Count Me Out

By 1992, Howard was no longer a recording artist with

Release Me", was released, the song received modest radio airplay and peaked at number 43 on the R&B singles chart and also peaked at number 35 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts. More singles were released as 'promotional, radio-only', the David Foster
produced, "Shining Through" and "But I Love You", produced by LeMel Humes.

In director

Top R&B Albums, her lowest charting album. David Foster and LeMel Humes produced the cover tracks. Official singles were not released, only a radio promo of "Don't Explain
" was played on R&B and jazz stations in the U.S.

By 1997, Howard was no longer signed to Giant Records. Her sixth studio album and her first in four years, Can't Count Me Out, was released under a new label, Hush, in May. The album was her first to not chart on the Billboard 200 or the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album includes duets, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Love Every Little Thing About You" with singer Terence Trent D'Arby, "Can't Count Me Out" duet with father Clay Graham and a remake of Janis Ian's "At Seventeen". LeMel Humes produced most of the album, including a cover of the jazz standard "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Sunshine" penned by singer Brenda Russell.

2001–2008: Three Wishes, Pillow Talk and Private Collection

In March 2001, Howard released her seventh album,

producer
, along with Kim Waters, Danny Weiss and Chris Davis.

Howard is currently working on regenerating her career after taking some time out to raise her children. She undertook a world tour with

Counting Your Blessings
".

On November 1, 2010, Unsung: Miki Howard

Ain't Nobody Like You". In March she embarked on a U.S. tour, Throwback Unplugged Tour.[12] with Dru Hill, K-Ci & JoJo and Bell Biv DeVoe
.

2014-present: I Choose to Be Happy and touring

Howard released an EP, I Choose to Be Happy in 2015, which includes four new songs, also the new single "Panther" which features rapper

live album titled Miki Howard: Live in Concert. The release features her performance of hits throughout her music career, and cover versions of "My Man", "Pillow Talk", "This Bitter Earth", and Marvin Gaye's "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again".[15]

Discography

Main article: Miki Howard discography

Studio albums

Tours

  • Cameo Tour (1987)
  • Levert Tour (1988)
  • Al Jarreau Tour (1990)
  • Jazz AllStars Tour (2009)
  • Throwback Unplugged Tour (2011)

Films

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1991 Miki Howard Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Nominated

Chicago Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result Ref
2012 Miki Howard Lifetime Achievement Award Won [16]

Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result Ref
2002
 Three Wishes Best Traditional R&B Performance Nominated [17]

Soul Train Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1988 Miki Howard Best New Artist Won

References

  1. ^ "Miki Howard Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Josephine Howard 01-26-36 to 12-31-78 🙏🏽♥️". December 31, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Josephine Howard". www.discogs.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Gospel". Malaco. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  5. ^ "Reviews – The Pilgrim Jubilees (The Year of Jubilee)". GospelFlava.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  6. ^ "Augie's Side Effect (FON)". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "Side Effect Biography". Mog.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  8. ^ "Miki Howard: Private Collection CD". Soulexpress.net. July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  9. ^ "Miki Howard". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "TV One". Tvone.tv. Archived from the original on February 10, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Way Black When – Black History Month 2011". Archived from the original on June 24, 2011.
  12. ^ "Miki Howard Gigography, Tour History". Songkick.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  13. ^ "Miki Howard ft. Too Short – Panther". article. soultrain.com. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  14. ^ Miki Howard Talks New Album. Eurweb.com
  15. ^ Live in Concert: Miki Howard. AllMusic
  16. ^ "Chicago Music Awards – and the nominees are... | Chicago". Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". Cbsnews.com. January 4, 2002. Retrieved January 23, 2021.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miki_Howard&oldid=1220210255"