Bob Howard (singer) facts for kids

Bob Howard (born Howard Joyner) was a talented American musician. He was a pianist and singer who became famous for his swing music in the 1930s. He was also known for being the first African-American to host a regular TV show on a major network.

Early Life and Musical Start

Bob Howard was born Howard Joyner on June 20, 1906, in Newton, Massachusetts. (Some records suggest he might have been born in 1897.) He started singing in nightclubs in New York City in the mid-1920s. His first recordings were made in 1931 for Columbia Records, using his real name, Howard Joyner.

Becoming Bob Howard

Later, he began performing under the name Bob Howard. He played at many famous New York clubs, like the Park Central Hotel, the Famous Door, and Hickory House. He also performed in theaters. In late 1934, he signed with Decca Records.

Swing Music Success

Between 1935 and 1938, Bob Howard recorded many popular swing songs for Decca. He worked with some of the biggest names in jazz music. These talented musicians included:

• Benny Carter
• Buster Bailey
• Rex Stewart
• Ben Webster
• Teddy Wilson
• Russell Procope
• Cecil Scott
• Cozy Cole
• Bunny Berigan
• Artie Shaw
• Babe Russin

On these Decca recordings, Bob Howard focused on singing. He did not play the piano for these sessions.

Beyond Music: Radio and TV

Bob Howard also had a successful career outside of just recording music.

• He toured Europe as a solo performer.
• He had his own radio show in New York during the mid-to-late 1930s.
• In the 1940s, he appeared in several short films.
• In 1959, he even acted in an episode of the popular TV show Perry Mason.

Making History on Television

In 1948, Bob Howard made history. He hosted The Bob Howard Show on CBS. This made him the first African-American to host a regularly broadcast network TV show. The program ran for 13 episodes. He was also a regular performer on another CBS-TV show, Sing It Again, from 1950 to 1951.

Later Years

Later in his life, Bob Howard moved to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He passed away on December 3, 1986, in the Bronx, New York.