Tom Howard: From Jesus music pioneer to behind-the-scenes virtuoso

Friday 28th November 2008

Mike Rimmer talked at length to legendary piano player, conductor and arranger TOM HOWARD



Continued from page 2

He does remember that he did an album with Dolly Parton! How did that happen? "Her sister, Rachael, is a friend of my wife. There came a time where I simply said to Rachael, 'I wonder if I could just slip you a CD of some of the arranging I've done,' in the hopes of her giving it to Dolly, and she graciously did that. I kind of handed it off and didn't really think much about it for a while. I was actually back up in the Twin Cities visiting my folks who were ailing at the time and have since passed. I was spending a week or two up there with them. I'm driving through a suburb and I get a telephone call and it's Rachael and she said, 'We've sat down and listened to your CD and Dolly loves what you're doing! She's gonna write you a letter.'

Apparently, this is how Dolly likes to communicate! She's just an old fashioned girl. "Yeah," says Tom, "and the only way Dolly communicates I found out quite quickly after that is by fax! So I had a faxed letter and it was very, very sweet, very complimentary, and said, 'I'd love to work with you some day.' So we started getting in touch. A few months after all that I decided to take a spiritual retreat. Sometimes I just have to get away and clear out all the cobwebs and I was sitting in this monastic setting for a weekend just completely by myself. Whilst there, the strongest voice came to me saying, 'You should contact Dolly Parton and propose to her a record proposal about her spiritual journey.'"

He continues, "So it felt like a real instructive kind of thing. I don't normally get bolts of lightning but this was very strong so as soon as I got back I called her office and said, 'Could I get a quick meeting with Dolly?' Somehow it all worked out and the next week there I am sitting in Dolly's little studio! I talked to her about this and we did a little bit of writing together. Dolly's doing 18 things at once and her record label wasn't enthused about her doing a 'spiritual record', so that kind of got put on the backburner. But the upshot of all that was getting in pretty close contact with her, talking to her about my philosophy of string writing and all that sort of thing. And when it came time for her to do a record called 'Those Were The Days', which is a collection of songs that she loved from the '60s, like "Those Were The Days", "Imagine", "If I Were a Carpenter", I came in a did the string arranging on it."

I try and get Tom to remember other artists he's worked with but he confesses he struggles to remember. He laughs, "It's kind of like, 'What's your favourite joke?' If you ask me to tell a joke I won't remember one single joke! Right now I'm not remembering anything." In the end he says, "Well name a Christian artist and I've probably worked with them. My résumé in the Christian world is long!" He laughs, "And it's very eclectic; I've worked with Lynyrd Skynyrd, I've worked with Ronan Keating and," he waves vaguely, "some country artists. There's been a lot of them and it's always a terrific experience because it varies from artist to artist. Sometimes the artist isn't even there, but that's a whole other topic!"

A lot of his work has been instrumental so does he miss doing vocal albums? "Well unfortunately I probably miss it more than any listener misses it!" he laughs. "I never considered myself a vocalist. I mean, I can carry a tune but that's not my main instrument. I actually went through a time where I'd be working with other singers and knowing in my heart: I could express this song so much better than you're doing right now because I can dig deeper. But I don't have the instrument to bring it forth! And it was frustrating in that sense but I've mellowed. It's helped me get into the mind and heart of other singers. And so now I'm a very good vocal producer. The answer is, I don't miss doing vocal things because that really was not my strength. But I had the privilege of making a couple of vocal records and I gave it my best shot. And Larry, who did my first record, was a very patient producer. This is way before auto tuning and that kind of thing so what you hear is what you got! We had fun with it though."

I always think that old musicians never die, they just hit a fadeout at some point and that because this is what flows through your blood you just have plans to keep on doing this? "Yeah I certainly do," Tom confesses. "I'm fortunate in that the type of disciplines that I'm in I can grow old in. As long as I can stand on a podium I can conduct an orchestra. I've gotten more and more opportunity to do film scoring which I love to do; I love the collaborative thing with film directors. I've always been a film buff anyway so to be able to work in that discipline has been a great thing. It's not artist-driven in that you gotta keep looking good for the kids or something but I love working with younger artists because they kind of keep me young too!"

And with that, I have to wrap up the conversation with the still youthful Tom Howard! He may be growing a little grey here and there but he has changed little from the photos on his early albums. And when a couple of nights later I get to meet some his colleagues from his Solid Rock days, it seems that his low key approach to life has left him more able to deal with some of the hurts and disappointments that have come his way. Or maybe there's something about donning a tuxedo to conduct an orchestra that instils an air of gravitas which his denim clad fellow musicians cannot maintain. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
About Mike Rimmer
Mike RimmerMike Rimmer is a broadcaster and journalist based in Birmingham.


 
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Reader Comments

Posted by Chris Barr in Arkansas @ 17:55 on Feb 8 2020

Have followed Tom Howard since 'View From The Bridge' and own copy of all his music except for the last. Play OFTEN on my own baby grand from his 'Breathe' piano songbook that is one of my most favorite piano music books (out of literally hundreds that I own). JUST was playing from 'Breathe' his 'Interlude 1', 'Change My Heart' and 'More Power'. Went to visit and pay my respects at the Nashville park where he died. THANK YOU for this extended interview not all that long before he died.



Posted by Doug Lomheim in Ok City, OK @ 13:28 on Jan 1 2014

I can't believe I am just finding out now that Tom Howard has passed away and gone to be with our Lord. As a young believer I remember him walking the halls of the church we attended in Roseville, MN with his long black hair and when his "View From the Bridge" came out, a friend bought it and after listening to it once I had to get a copy! In the early 80's he came back to MN and played at a Chapel service at Bethel College (where I was attending); and his humor, musical excellence and insights into the Christian walk made a lasting impression on me as well!



Posted by David Eyre in Chattaroy WA @ 00:43 on Aug 26 2012

It is Aug 25, 2012 and i just found out Tom died. I was looking for his album View from the Bridge online to get the right order of the songs for my ipod and was saddened to hear of his passing. God's peace be with his family. That album was brilliant and has stood the test of time. Songs like One More Reason and We All Mean Very Well still touch me. When my wife and I were dating in 1979 she would set a cassette tape in my car deck so when I started the car, "Marriage of Our Souls" would play . Thank you God for Tom Howard.



Posted by Patty in Fair Oaks, CA @ 02:29 on Mar 6 2010

Was also sad to learn of Tom's death, but know where he is! :o) I stumbled upon learning of this when I found this site. I saw Tom everytime he came to play at our church in the 70's. He, and others like him, were contributors to my eventual salvation at a Keith Green concert. I'll always love him - wish I could find his View from a Bridge on CD! Still playing the vinyl, in fact, I'm going to put it on right now.



Posted by Narola Grady in Davenport, IA @ 19:03 on Feb 15 2010

I was very sad to hear about Tom Howard's death. Actually, my son, Sean, heard about it at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, last week. Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy had just come from Tom's funeral, and they mentioned how sad they were at losing their good friend.

I have enjoyed playing Tom's piano music for years, and listening to his CDs. I wish I had a copy of the Colours piano book. That whole series was great. God bless you, Tom, and your sensitive arrangements of hymns and worship songs.



Posted by Kathy Spector in Canon City, CO @ 02:39 on Feb 10 2010

I, too mourn the loss of my cousin, Tom. This article gave a feeling of warmth in my sadness.
Yes, I remember that sweet piano teacher of his. I wonder if she really knew the innate talent ready to explode into Tom's world and then into ours?
We went to the University of Minnesota School of Music together, both of us focusing on Music composition.
Tom's piano/voice/orchestral compositions from the beginning to the end impacted my life and soul like none other.
I will continue to embrace what Tom left us through my music studio and violin performances.
He will never leave us because of what he gave.



Posted by doretta pirollo mart in Philadelphia, PA @ 15:26 on Feb 7 2010

Tom and I were very close in the late '70's early '80's when he was traveling with Larry Norman. He spent some time at my home and I visited Larry and the gang on several occasions as well. I am deeply saddened by his death (as I was deeply saddened by Larry's). This interview brought me back to those days and help to ease some of my sense of loss. Thank you.



Posted by Jared Haschek in Melbourne, Australia @ 02:16 on Feb 1 2010

For those who may not know, Tom passed away on January 29, 2010, after suffering a heart attack while walking with friends in the snow at Warner Park in Nashville.



Posted by Rob Marshall in Denver, CO @ 18:42 on Jan 31 2010

In light of Tom's passing last week, I found the article to be a joy to read. It brings out what a smart, fun, and kind man Tom was. Good job Mike!



Posted by Larry Holder in Martin, Tennessee @ 19:12 on Jan 30 2010

I have just learned that Tom Howard died of a heart attack yesterday, January 29, 2010, while walking with his wife in Nashville.



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