Christy Howard Band Releases New CD

Feb. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- Detroit-based Blues singer Christy Howard has released her third CD, I CROSSED THE TRACKS, on the independent No Cover label.  The CD contains 13 original Chicago-Style Blues and Blues-Rock songs by Christy and Jeff Howard.  It was recorded in Oak Park, MI by Mike Boulan (No Cover Productions), and mixed and mastered at Streeterville Music (Nashville, TN).  The CD includes guest appearances by John Lee Hooker’s former guitarist, Chicago Bluesman Jim Kahr, who currently lives in Germany; and by Rock guitar pioneer Billy Davis who played with 50s Rock & Roll icon Hank Ballard and his band, The Midnighters.  

Originally from Tennessee, and part Cherokee, Christy Howard was a musical prodigy who was singing professionally by age 13.  She spent most of her early musical career singing Gospel, Country and Bluegrass.  Christy burst onto the Detroit Blues scene in 2005, a few years after marrying Butler Twins Blues Band guitarist Jeff Howard, who encouraged her to shift her singing and composing from Country to Blues.  

Howard introduced Christy to the music community in Detroit where she is known as the “country Blues singer.”  Performing as an acoustic duo, Christy and Jeff won the 2006 Detroit Blues Challenge, and competed in the 2007 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.  The title cut from I Crossed The Tracks tells the true story of how Christy was first exposed to the Blues.  When she was ten years old, her family moved to the delta country of Shelby, Mississippi.  She had a black nanny who literally lived “across the tracks.” In the evening, Christy would sneak out and walk over to her house.  Local black plantation workers would be sitting on the porch singing the Blues, and playing guitars and harmonicas.  

Today, Christy sounds like June Carter meets Bonnie Raitt; her music ranges from Chicago-Style Blues and Blues-Rock, to Southern-Rock and Outlaw-Country that sounds like Buddy Guy meets Lynrd Skynrd or Hank III.  Christy is known for her unique vocal sound, which is smooth and sultry, unlike the typical growling or raspy Blues singer.

# # #

Christy Howard, I CROSSED THE TRACKS
Chicago-Style Blues and Blues-Rock (No Cover Productions, 2008)
Websites: www.christyhowardband.net
www.myspace.com/christyhowardband