Gary Howard
| Gary Howard | |
|---|---|
 Howard performing at the Alles Wasser-Festival in Vienna (2008) | |
| Born |
Gary William Howard 16 June 1955 Ilford, Essex, England |
| Occupation | Musician, actor |
| Years active | 1979—present |
Gary William Howard (born 16 June 1955)[1] is a British musician and actor. Formerly best known as a member of the a cappella group The Flying Pickets, in more recent years he is known for his roles in the film Gosford Park and the television sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Early life
Gary William Howard was born in Ilford, Essex on 16 June 1955. His father John was a mechanic who was also in a folk band called the Pathfinders, for whom John played acoustic guitar. John also taught Howard how to play acoustic guitar, and Howard subsequently began to play frequently with his father and the band at the age of 7. Howard describes his father as one of the greatest influences in his life. Howard's mother Angie was a nurse.
Howard himself spent his entire childhood in Liverpool and attended the Liverpool Collegiate School and the King David School. He dropped out of school at the age of 16, and worked as a welder. After three years working as a welder, Howard finally got his dream of entering the Liverpool Hope University, where he began studying as an engineer. In 1971, he got a degree in mechanical engineering, and between 1971 and 1979, he worked as one of the Royal Engineers. His musical career then began in 1979, when he began performing acoustic guitar for the Royal Engineers Acoustic Group, along with his fellow engineers.
Musical career
Howard's musical career began when he was seven when he began playing acoustic guitar for a folk rock group the Pathfinders, for whom Howard's father John also played acoustic guitar. However, Howard rose to prominence as a member of the Royal Engineers Acoustic Band, for whom he played acoustic guitar from 1979 to 1985. In 1985, he left the Royal Engineers to pursue a career as a solo recording artist, and found himself working with the likes of The Christians and Paul McCartney.[2]
In 1986, Howard became noticed by the a cappella group The Flying Pickets, who had had a hit in the charts years before with a cover version of Yazoo's "Only You". The Flying Pickets recruited Howard to play backing acoustics during their recording and performing sessions, and through his years with The Flying Pickets he became close friends with the band's late lead vocalist Brian Hibbard. Howard remained with the band for over a decade, before departing to pursue a solo music and acting career, although he remained close to Hibbard right up to Hibbard's death from cancer in 2012.
After the Flying Pickets
After his departure from the Flying Pickets in 1994, Howard got his first big solo score with an acoustic version of the Gerry & the Pacemakers hit and Liverpool F.C. anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone", which he released with Virgin Records in 1996. This, and his own acoustic versions of Yazoo and Flying Pickets hit "Only You" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", as well as his own penned single "Stay for the Night", were also released on his Virgin Records debut album, Come As You Please, which was released on 23 November 2003.[3]
In 2009, he released his first single in six years, his own penned single "I'm Losing You", which charted high in the UK Singles Chart. The following year, an acoustic version of the "Chicago" hit "If You Leave Me Now" was accompanied by his second album Dreaming of Paradise, another popular album, released on 4 July 2010. The album was even more successful than his debut album, with this album reaching Number 12 in the UK Albums Chart and his debut album reaching 25 in the UK Albums Chart.
On 2 July 2012, Howard fronted a Flying Pickets reunion in a concert dedicated to the Flying Pickets late lead singer Brian Hibbard, who had died following a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. The concert featured Howard on acoustic guitar with new lead vocalist Andrea Figallo on lead vocals, and also featured appearances by Alison Moyet, Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Jim Diamond and Tony Christie. In 2015, Howard joined the European Tour of Austrian AOR-band Cornerstone for a few concerts.[4]
Film and television work
Since leaving the Flying Pickets, Howard has gone on to become a celebrity in the acting world. His best known acting roles have occurred since 2000. In 2001, he played professional private eye Detective Inspector George Costigan in the British mystery comedy drama film Gosford Park. The all-star cast also featured Eileen Atkins, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant, Derek Jacobi, Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillippe, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Watson.
Howard is also known in the television world for his portrayal of Paddy Mahone, the original pub landlord of The Archer, in series one to five of the popular BBC television sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Howard left the series at the end of series five to focus once again on his music career, and his character was never mentioned or seen again in the show.
Prior to his breakthrough as an actor, Howard's screen performing days began in the 1990s, and although his acting skill never really came to light until after his departure from The Flying Pickets, he did featured in a few popular films including Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), The Age of Innocence (1993) and Loop (1997). He also had a role in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside between 1994 and 1995, playing Alf Connolly. He also appeared in other popular television shows including The Bill, Casualty, Cracker, Mr. Bean, Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street. He made his first ever television appearance in the debut episode of the popular mystery crime drama series Sleuth on BBC2 in 1991.
Since 2000, he has made memorably appearances in television shows including the television sitcom My Family and the television drama Wild at Heart. He also appeared in the television serial Bleak House in 2005, and in films including Hannibal, The Passion of the Christ and Kingdom of Heaven. In more recent years he has appeared in the period dramas Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey, and in 2011, he played one of the leading roles in the British comedy-drama film The Same Old English Way, playing Stan Oakley, alongside Bernard Hill, Michael Palin, Peter Davison and Helen Mirren.
Isle of Wight Festival
Since 1995, Howard has performed annually at the Isle of Wight Festival along with his backing band The Jazzmasters. At the Festival, he regularly plays some hits by the Flying Pickets and other artists, and has also performed some of his own written songs. He is very well known on the Isle of Wight as he used to visit there as a child, and the Newport town hall is named the Gary Howard Hall.
Personal life
Howard has been married to his wife Alison Brannigan since 1980. They have two daughters, Emma and Kirsty, and a son, David. Howard and Alison currently reside in Wallasey, Merseyside, with their pet Alsatian Scotty.
Howard is a strong supporter of Liverpool F.C., and sung a renowned version of their anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone", originally composed by Gerry & the Pacemakers, one of his greatest influences.
References
- ↑ Gary Howard – Bio, News, Photos. The Washington Times. Retrieved 13 December 2012
- ↑ Music from the Mersey | The story of pop music in Liverpool. BBC Archives. Retrieved 13 December 2012
- ↑ The Flying Pickets official website. Retrieved 13 December 2012
- ↑ Gary Howard: on European Tour with Cornerstone. Pressbulletin Austria Press Agency. Retrieved 27 April 2015