Randy Howard (1960–1999) was an American
bluegrass,
country and
old time fiddler.
Early life
Howard was born in
Georgia and grew up in
Milledgeville. As a child, he learned to play several instruments, including fiddle, and won his first fiddle contest at the age of 18 in
Union Grove, North Carolina
Union Grove Township is a rural, non-functioning county subdivision established in 1868 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States. Two towns have existed in Union Grove township: 1) the unincorporated community Union Grove, established in ...
.
Career
Howard was the first prize fiddler at the inaugural Tri-State Bluegrass Association fiddle contest in 1982.
He worked as a session musician in
Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
beginning in 1990. He played with many well-known musicians and bands, including
George Jones and
Ricky Skaggs. He continued to win many fiddle contests.
Howard performed on two albums with the
Lonesome River Band
The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...
. He was a guest artist on an album by Allen Shadd. He was named fiddle player of the year at the
International Bluegrass Music Awards in 1996.
["Bluegrass Rumblings and Awards".]
Howard died of cancer in 1999.
["James Price – Fiddlin the Old-Time Way / Randy Howard – I Rest My Case / Glen Duncan – Self-Titled"]
''No Depression'', April 30, 2003 That year, he was once more named fiddle player of the year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
[''Bluegrass Awards Crown McCory'', ] An album of his recordings, ''I Rest My Case'', was released posthumously by Sugar Hill Records in 2001.
Discography
''Raw Guitar'', Robin Kessinger
*''Randy Howard'', Atlantic, 1988
*''One Step Forward'', Lonesome River Band,
Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records is an American bluegrass and Americana record label.
It was founded in Durham, North Carolina in 1978 by Barry Poss and David Freeman, the owner of County Records and Rebel Records. Poss acquired full control of Sugar Hil ...
, 1996
*''Finding the Way'', Lonesome River Band
Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records is an American bluegrass and Americana record label.
It was founded in Durham, North Carolina in 1978 by Barry Poss and David Freeman, the owner of County Records and Rebel Records. Poss acquired full control of Sugar Hil ...
, 1998
*''Shore to Shore'', Mae McKenna, 1999
Album Review
''Musical Discoveries'', Russell W Elliot May 28, 1999
*''I Rest My Case'', 2001
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Randy
American country fiddlers
American bluegrass fiddlers
1960 births
People from Milledgeville, Georgia
1999 deaths
Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)