James Charles Howard is a live performance lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter. He performs solo, as a trio or as a quartet. He has produced two studio albums of original material and three live albums with a mix of original material and covers. Howard is currently recording studio album #3.

A San Francisco Bay Area native with more than 40 years on stage, Howard draws inspiration from legends like Jimi Hendrix, Santana, SRV, B.B. King, and Jeff Beck. Howard fuses traditional blues with psychedelic roots rock—seasoned with touches of Latin and jazz—to create a sound that’s uniquely his own. His accolades speak volumes:

* Winner, Washington Blues Society Finals and competitor at the International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN.  — 2015 & 2023.

*Winner, 2012 Best Blues Guitarist — Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Global Guitar Competition, Hartford Connecticut & Flat Head Lake, Montana.

* Semi-finalist, Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Competition- San Francisco, 1996.

What critics are saying:

“What Howard can do with a guitar is remarkable… sweet and brilliant… deep in the well when it comes to guitar wizardry & creativity.” — Delta Snake Daily Blues

“A Jimi Hendrix on guitar with John Lennon’s voice and vision… a songwriter with great depth.” — Rock and Blues News Magazine

“Guitarist extraordinaire… a breathtaking exhibition… simply awesome.” — Music Connection Magazine.

James Charles Howard is a master musician at the top of his game—intimate, immersive, and breathtaking.

James is available to book for solo shows, as a trio, or as a quartet, depending on your budget.

He combines originals with blues and rock covers for his band shows. Fo solo shows, he includes acoustic singer/songwriter material and uses a looper to add depth and dimension.

Contact Michael Smith for booking at:

Michael@Jameshowardmusic.com

564-203-8859

“Guitarist extraordinaire… animated, energetic, and intense performance…  a breathtaking exhibition…   pushed the crowd to the edges of their seats…  simply awesome”. – Live reviews editor from Music Connection Magazine in LA wrote this about James in a review of a performance at BB King’s Blues Club in Hollywood in 1999

“Howard is tougher to categorize than you might think- sort of a Jimi Hendrix on guitar with John Lennon’s voice and vision… a songwriter with great depth” – Lee Cotton from Rock and Blues News Magazine reviewed the Howard’s first all originals CD: Electric Rain CD

James Charles Howard released his first Studio CD, “Electric Rain” on Laughing Man Records in 1998. He received positive reviews on the album. The material on Electric Rain spans the genres of blues, rock, R&B ballad, latin jazz, grunge metal, with progressive elements.

His 2nd CD, Celebrate Life, released in 2008. The songs “Celebrate Life & “The Greatest Love” are crowd favorites

Clebebrate Life is a Latin Rock song in the style of Santana. The Greatest Love is an acoustic singer-songwriter tune in the Eric Clapton acousitc vibe. There are Pink Floyd style songs on the album, as well as Island vibes and the Latin Jazz instrumental, Eastern Sky. The album ends with a soaring instrumental of Amazing Grace.

James Charles Howard is currently in the studio working on his 3rd Studio Album. 

http://www.youtube.com/ JamesHowardBand

http://www.facebook.com/ JamesHowardMusic

https://www.instagram.com/ jameshowardmusic/

https://jameshoward2.bandcamp.com/

Venues Performed At

Client List

Moon-Fest
Sheryl Wolover (Quilence, Washington)

National Lentil Festival
National Lentil Festival (Pullman, Washington)

Blackberry Arts Festival
Coos Bay Downtown Association (Coos Bay, Oregon)

Kitsap Blues Music Festival
(Admiral Theatre Foundation -with- Kitsap Fair and Stampede Association/Bremerton, Washington)

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts -and- Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival
Juan de Fuca Foundation For the Arts (Port Angeles, Washington)

Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival
Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce (Astoria, Oregon)

Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival Foundation (Portland, Oregon)

Puyallup Farmers’ Market
Puyallup Main Street (Puyallup, Washington)

Salem Saturday Market
Salem Community Markets (Salem, Oregon)

McMillan Farm & Brewhouse
McMillin Farm (Puyallup, Washington)

Edmonds Art Festival
Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation (Edmonds, Washington)

Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage
Crossroads Shopping Center (Bellevue, Washington)

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Steam & Whiskey Excursions
Venues Performed At: Western Forest Industries Museum (Elbe, Washington)

Sultan Summer Shindig
Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce (Sultan, Washington)

BAM Arts Fair
Bellevue Arts Museum (Bellevue, Washington)

Kana Winery
Kana Winery (Yakima, Washington)

Vinbero
Vinbero (Edmonds, Washington)

Blackberry Arts Festival
Coos Bay Downtown Association (Coos Bay, Oregon)

Fox Island Chapel on Echo Bay
Fox Island Chapel Preservation Society (Fox Island, Washington)

The Sportman's Public House
Summer and Michael Schnidrig (Ridgefield, Washington)

The Seasons Performance Hall (Yakima Washington)
The Seasons Music Project (Yakima Washington)

Emerald of Siam
Dara and Billy Quinn (Richland, Washington)

Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Finnriver Farm & Cidery (Chimacum, Washington)

Ankeny Vineyard
Jodie Moore (Salem, Oregon)

Evergreen State Fair
Evergreen State Fair Park (Monroe, Washington)

Clallam County Fair
Clallam County Fair (Port Angeles, Washington)

Marion County Fair
Marion County Fair (Salem, Oregon)

Pigout In The Park
Six Bridges Arts Association (Spokane, Washington)

Rusty Scupper's Pirate Daze
Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce (Westport, Washington)

Malheur County Fair
Malheur County Fair (Ontario, Oregon)

Jefferson County Fair
The Jefferson County Fair Association (Port Townsend, Washington)

Washington State Garlic Fest
Southwest Washington Fair (Centralia, Washington)

Skookum Rotary Oysterfest
Shelton Skookum Rotary Club (Shelton, Washington)

TIM's Tavern
Together In Music (TIM's) (Seattle, Washington)

3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse
John Crane (Oakridge, Oegon)

Conway Muse-Arcadian Public House
Thomas Richardson (Conway, Washington)

Shopping Basket