Doug Howard (musician)

Doug Howard
Doug Howard with SpoonBread on May 12, 2012 in Oneonta, New York
Background information
Birth name	Douglas Joseph Howard
Also known as	M.D. Blessing, Joe E. Howard
Born	(1956-05-02) May 2, 1956 (age 60) Englewood, New Jersey, United States
Genres	Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Music Director, Producer
Instruments	Vocals, bass, keyboards
Years active	1977–present
Associated acts	Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Edgar Winter, Touch, Stun Leer
Website	Doug's webpage

Doug Howard (born May 2, 1956) is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known for his work as a performing/recording musician and occasional co-writer with groups, and artists such as Touch, Stun Leer, Todd Rundgren, Utopia and The Edgar Winter Group. He also played the role as the singing narrator "Songster" in the 1987 live production of the Masters of the Universe Power Tour based upon the Mattel He-Man series action figures. Howard is also the managing partner of Lodestar Entertainment, LLC, a music and video licensing, and publishing company based in New York. He is the paternal grandson of the American songwriter Joseph E. Howard, composer of "Hello! Ma Baby," "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" and "Good-bye My Lady Love," among other titles.

Born in Englewood, New Jersey; he is the only child of actor Patience Jarvis (dec.) and opera singer Joseph E. Howard, Jr. (dec.). His stepsister by his mother's second marriage is Amanda Naughton, co-star of the AMC Network sitcom Remember WENN He is the fifth generation of a family of entertainers, notably paternal grandson of songwriter Joseph E. Howard and maternal grandson of Broadway actor & director Robert C. "Bobby" Jarvis..

While attending Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, Ernie Isley of the legendary Funk and R&B group The Isley Brothers, though a guitarist himself, gave Howard his initial lesson on the fundamentals of the bass. Howard soon thereafter found himself playing in local and then regional cover bands on what was then referred to as the "New York/New Jersey circuit" of clubs and bars that he would otherwise not have been allowed into except as a paid performer due to his "underage" status. He also quickly discovered his high school classes increasingly impossible to juggle against his performing schedule. He resigned from school in favor of playing full-time when he was offered the bass slot backing the Phil Spector girl group, The Crystals ("Da Doo Run Run," "He's A Rebel"). Howard later resumed his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied under the jazz bassist, John Neves.