Paul Leroy "Ox Blood" Howard (September 20, 1895 – February 18, 1980) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

saxophonist and clarinetist.

Early life

Howard was born in

Steubenville, Ohio Steubenville is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Ohio River 33 miles west of Pittsburgh, it had a population of 18,161 at the 2020 census. The city's name is derived from Fort Steuben, a ...

on September 20, 1895. He began on cornet, and also played oboe, bassoon, flute, and piano, but concentrated on tenor sax.

Later life and career

After moving to Los Angeles in 1911, he got early professional experience with Wood Wilson's Syncopators in 1916, Satchel McVea's Howdy Band, and

Harry Southard Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

's Black and Tan Band. Howard played in the bands of both

King Oliver Joseph Nathan "King" Oliver (December 19, 1881 – April 8/10, 1938) was an American jazz cornet player and bandleader. He was particularly recognized for his playing style and his pioneering use of mutes in jazz. Also a notable composer, he wr ...

and

Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a gen ...

when they toured California. He first recorded with the Quality Four in 1922-23, then played with Sonny Clay in 1925 before forming his own group, the Quality Serenaders, later that year. Among his sidemen were Lionel Hampton and Lawrence Brown (trombone). They played at Sebastian's Cotton Club from 1927 to 1929 and recorded for

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidi ...

before disbanding in 1930, when

Les Hite Les Hite (February 13, 1903 – February 6, 1962) was an American jazz bandleader. Life and career Born in DuQuoin, Illinois, United States, Hite attended the University of Illinois and played saxophone with family members in a band in the 1920s. ...

picked up some of the members. Howard subsequently played with Ed Garland, Freddie Washington, Hampton again in 1935,

Eddie Barefield Edward Emanuel Barefield (December 12, 1909 – January 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and arranger most noteworthy for his work with Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. Barefield's musical ...

(1936–37),

Charlie Echols Charlie Echols was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He led several California-based dance bands in the 1930s that featured a large number of important early jazz and swing sidemen. Almost nothing is known of Echols's own life, includin ...

, and his own ensembles, including one that held a residence at Virginia's in Los Angeles from 1939 to 1953. He played throughout the 1950s. He died in Los Angeles on February 18, 1980.

Recording sessions

Howard's band participated in only 6 recording sessions: April 16, 1929, Hollywood
50830-1-2 Overnight Blues - Victor rejected
50831-1-2-3 Quality Shout - Victor rejected

April 28, 1929, Culver City
50868-1 The Ramble - Victor V-38068 and Bluebird B-5804
50869-2 Moonlight Blues - Victor V-38068
50870-2 Charlie's Idea - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001

April 29, 1929, Culver City
50830-4 Overnight Blues - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001
50831-5 Quality Shout - Victor V-38122
50877-1 Stuff - Victor V-38122 and Bluebird B-5804

October 21, 1929, Culver City
54477-1-2 Harlem - Victor rejected
54478-1-2 Cuttin' Up - Victor rejected

February 3, 1930, Culver City
54477-3 Harlem - Victor 23354
54478-3 Cuttin' Up - Victor 23420
54585-1 New Kinda Blues - Victor 22660
54586-2 California Swing - Victor 23354

June 25, 1930, Hollywood
54847-3 Burma Girl - Victor rejected (released on a Victor LPM-10117 LP)
54848-1 Gettin' Ready Blues - Victor 23420 Source:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Paul 1895 births 1980 deaths American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz bandleaders King Records artists 20th-century American conductors (music) 20th-century American saxophonists Jazz musicians from Ohio 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians