Famed pianist and arranger Tom Howard dies in Nashville

THE CHRISTIAN music world was shocked with the sudden death on 29th January of Jesus music pioneer, acclaimed pianist and string arranger Tom Howard. Reports say Howard was out walking with his family in the Edwin Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee when he suddenly collapsed. Medics were called but he died at the scene. Tom's funeral was held on the 3rd of February in Nashville. A close friend of Tom's, musician Rick Elias, played at the memorial service. Tom leaves behind a wife Dory and two children, Kate and Joseph.

Growing up in the Minneapolis-St Paul area, Tom took piano lessons as a child. In the late '70s, Howard began his recording career with Larry Norman's Solid Rock Records making what is now considered a Jesus Music classic with the album 'View From The Bridge'. In 1981 Howard released a second album for NewPax Records 'Danger In Loving You'. By the mid '80s Howard was recording instrumental albums for Maranatha! Music and by the early '90s was providing the music scores for films like Bamboo In Winter. More instrumental albums followed while Howard's reputation in the mainstream led to him conducting and arranging for such artists as Peter Cetera and Dolly Parton. In 1999 he recorded a swathe of piano instrumental albums under the pseudonym Dorian for Unison Music. Howard continued to work as a film music arranger right up to his death.