By Joe Gagliardo

When Andre Howard was growing up, he had an uncle who would regularly visit his home and play blues guitar and sing.

Andre’s dad had a house full of instruments too, and Andre would sometimes join in with his with his uncle, playing trumpet or drums.  Then one day his uncle arrived with a friend who brought along his bass guitar, and everything changed for Andre!  With minimal instruction that day, Andre learned to play a basic blues pattern, and he never looked back.

With his Teisco bass, Andre began soaking up the plentiful blues, soul and rhythm and blues music being played on Chicago radio.  While still in high school, Andrew was gigging five nights a week in the clubs.

Eventually Andre’s pursuit of music took him to Nashville, where he did studio work, and performed regularly with Victor Wooten’s talented Family at 3rd and Lindsley, one of the great authentic blues bars outside of Chicago.

Since returning to Chicago in 2000, Andre has been a mainstay at the top Chicago blues clubs, including the Kingston Mines, B.L.U.E.S., Blue Chicago, and Buddy Guy’s Legends, often playing 5 nights a week.

He has played with a virtual who’s who of blues royalty, including, Lonnie Brooks, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, Liz Mandeville, and Big Time Sarah.

These days, Andre’s basses of choice are a 7-string Ibanez, a 5- string Schack, or a 4 string Steinberger.

If you have been in a Chicago blues club in the last twenty years, there is a good chance that you have seen and heard Andre perform.

You can catch him supporting a blues legend, playing with Frank Bang and the Cook County Kings, or with his critically acclaimed Andre Howard Band.

Check out Andre’s soulful grooves with Frank Bang & The Cook County Kings, and it’s is readily apparent why he has become known as “Da Funky One!”

The Blues Don’t Care LP  https://youtu.be/t3KCYVa18s4

Live at “The Funky Biscuit”  https://youtu.be/qyHY8hnRhA0