Randall Lamar Howard (May 9, 1950 – June 9, 2015) was an American

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. His music involved outlaw country, traditional country, old southern gospel,

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

and Christian country.

Early life

Howard was born May 9, 1950, in

Macon, Georgia Macon ( ), officially Macon–Bibb County, is a consolidated city-county in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Situated near the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is southeast of Atlanta and near the ...

Career

Howard worked as a disk jockey and program director at WDEN radio in Macon, Georgia."Utopian in Georgia. He also appeared on television. He formed the company Utopian Enterprises in 1973 and produced a number of records."Macon forms Country Effort". "Macon Music Utopia Gets Life Insurance". As a recording artist, Howard released seven albums and CDs, all of which have charted in both national and international trade magazines. His album ''All American Redneck'' was listed in BillBoard's Top Album Picks in 1983."Billboard's Top Album Picks". As a writer, Howard's songs were recorded by The Geezinslaw Brothers, Robin Lee and Hank Williams III. Hank Williams III's CD '' Straight to Hell'' features Randy Howard's song entitled "My Drinkin' Problem". Howard appeared on

Nashville Now ''Nashville Now'' is an American talk show that focused on country music performers in the style of ''The Tonight Show''. The show aired live on weeknights on TNN from 1983–1993. The program was hosted by Nashville TV/radio personality Ralph ...

Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Par ...

Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'', often abbreviated as ''GMA'', is an American breakfast television, morning television program that is broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends wit ...

and

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

. On June 9, 2015, Howard was shot and killed at his home in Lynchburg, Tennessee during an altercation with bounty hunter Jackie Shell."Outlaw Country Singer Randy Howard Dies in Shootout With Bounty Hunter"
''Taste of Country'', By Sterling Whitaker June 11, 2015

Discography

* ''All American Redneck'', Warner Brothers."Majors ready Barrage of new Artists". * ''Now & Then'', Utopian Label * ''Not Plugged In'', Utopian Label * ''Randy Howard'', Atlantic Records * ''Macon Music'', Hitsound, * ''Randy Howard Live'',

Paul Hornsby Paul Hornsby is an American musician and record producer who has produced gold and platinum records for artists including the Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Wet Willie. Overview Paul Hornsby started playing music at an early ...

and Randy Howard * ''The Best of Randy Howard'',

and Randy Howard * " A Pair of Knees", Randy Howard and Paul Hornsby. CD released 2017 posthumous by the estate of Randy Howard.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Randy American country singer-songwriters American country songwriters Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) Outlaw country singers 1950 births 2015 deaths Musicians from Macon, Georgia Deaths by firearm in Tennessee