Howard E. Scott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Howard E. Scott | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Born | March 15, 1946 | |
| Origin |  Los Angeles, California, USA |
|
| Genre(s) | funk, rock | |
| Occupation(s) | musician, songwriter, bandleader | |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Vocals | |
| Years active | 1964-present | |
| Associated acts |
War, Lowrider Band | |
| Website | howardscottband.com | |
Howard E. Scott (b. March 15, 1946 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California) is an American funk/rock guitarist and founding member of the successful 1970s funk band War.
[edit] Biography
Scott grew up in Compton, California. He began playing bass at a very young age under the guidance of his cousin Jack Nelson, and in 1961 began playing guitar. A year later, he formed a group called the Creators with Harold Brown, and played at high school dances, car club parties and small night clubs in southern California. Scott was influenced by blues artists TJ Summerville, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Wayne Bennett. He would hang out around the local blues clubs in South Los Angeles to study professionals such as Lowell Fullson, Johnny Guitar Watson, and T-Bone Walker.
Howard graduated from Compton High School in 1964. He toured with The Drifters for a short time until he was drafted in 1966 into the United States Army. Upon his return home, he formed his second group, The Night Shift, with Harold Brown. In 1969, the Night Shift was performing at the Rag Doll club in North Hollywood , when Eric Burdon and Lee Oskar stopped in to hear them play. Lee Oskar went to the stage to join in on a jam, and the next day Eric Burdon, Lee Oskar, Charles Miller, Papa Dee Allen, Lonnie Jordan and Peter Rosen joined with Scott and Brown to form the band War.
Scott contributed lyrics, music, and co-produced some of War’s greatest hits, such as Cisco Kid, Slipping into Darkness and Why Can’t We Be Friends?. He was also the frontman and leader of the group. Scott and other members eventually left the original band in the 1990s, losing the right to use the band's name.
Scott now performs regularly with his nephew, B.B. Dickerson, Lee Oskar, and Harold Brown as the Lowrider Band. Scott now lives in Arlington, Texas with his family.
