The lifetime of musician and photographer George Howard shall be celebrated within the type of a seven-hour live performance at Lodge Congress, hosted by the Tucson Musicians Museum and the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Basis. Howard, a singer and bandleader who was a frequent presence on Tucson levels for many years, died on April 14 at age 72.
Howard was an achieved musician who performed alongside artists similar to Willie Nelson, The Temptations and Bo Diddley, and labored the microphone for his bands the George Howard Band, Statesboro Blues Band, Roadhouse Hounds, Dr. Mojo and the Zydeco Cannibals and others, delighting crowds with blues and Cajun beats.. He was additionally a co-founder of the Tucson Musicians Museum, sharing his ardour for music with the town.
The memorial live performance will happen on the Lodge Congress Plaza on Sunday, Could 21, from 2 p.m. till 9 p.m. It will likely be open to the general public with a $10 recommended donation.
TMM secretary Liz Walter mentioned many individuals on the town — musicians and non-musicians alike — needed to get collectively to commemorate Howard.
“These folks, everybody who’s making it occur, love George,” Walter mentioned.
The lineup for the occasion contains greater than 12 bands taking part in genres similar to blues, zydeco, bluegrass and rock. The listing of performers embody TuneSmith, Znora, Neon Prophet, and Walter mentioned that about two hours shall be devoted to younger musicians similar to Jam Pak and the Tucson Junior Strings.
All of them are “donating their time,” as donations will go to supporting the TMM and the Youth Music Mentorship Program, Walter mentioned that considered one of Howard’s passions was selling music training within the type of donating musical devices to classroom, offering entry to mentorship alternatives and extra.
“His imprint reaches far and huge,” Walter mentioned. “You possibly can write a complete guide about George.”
Howard, born in New Jersey, grew up in Sierra Vista and later moved to Tucson, graduating from the College of Arizona in 1974 after finding out photojournalism. Whereas he was most frequently a singer and bandleader together with his native teams, Howard additionally performed keyboards and the drums.
Walter mentioned he labored as a banker and that he performed within the College of Arizona soccer group. He was an avid photographer, proudly owning Proper Eye Pictures.
“He had the most effective humorousness and will at all times make mild of any state of affairs,” Walter mentioned. “He was a really beneficiant man. Beneficiant of coronary heart.”
Walter mentioned folks can stay up for a slideshow created by Howard’s nephew, tales from his household and family members, and “rattling good music.”
Howard was a member of the Arizona Blues Corridor of Fame, Tucson Music Awards Corridor of Fame and the Tucson Musicians Museum.