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

, 1998 *''Shore to Shore'', Mae McKenna, 1999Album 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)