Photo Credit: Simon Fowler
A defining member of the ’80s synth-rock movement, Howard Jones blended the sound of new technology with the optimism of hippies and ’60s pop. Born in the UK, Jones moved to Canada with his family where he performed with his first band. In the ’70s, Jones returned to the UK to study music, but soon dropped out to play in bands around Southampton.
Jones, who had been playing piano since age seven, eventually moved from the funk and jazz bands to become a solo performer, although he used a mime as an accompanist. The BBC’s John Peel invited Jones for a session, which led to his opening for synthpop bands across the country.
By 1985, the mime was gone in favor of a touring band, and Jones released his second record, Dream Into Action. The backing band Afrodiziac included his brother Martin on bass, who had to add an extra string to the instrument to play Jones’ music.
1985s Dream Into Action would prove to be Howard Jones best selling album – he never cracked the top 50 in the US or the UK again despite releasing 10 more albums. His focus shifted to songwriting and production while also running a restaurant in the 1990s. In 1996, he undertook his first acoustic tour, and would repeat that several times over the next decades.
Howard Jones also toured with Ringo Starr and His All Star Band in the 2000s. Starr was one of Jones’s heroes growing up along with the classic rock piano legends. However, it is Keith Emerson that Jones says was the biggest influence on his own work. On the Ringo Starr tour, he was able to play the ELP classic “Karn Evil #9” with Starr and Greg Lake.
Jones says that “It was absolutely such an amazing thing. I can tell you that it took me two months to learn it. It’s got to be one of the hardest things to play for a keyboard player.”
