COMMUNIQUE ... editors: Beverley Cairns & Patricia Reimer

 

 

PROFILE

      __________________ Summer    2009 

Howie Southwood

Musician, Drummer

interview by Patricia Reimer

 

Music is a big part of the collective psyche.  Just imagine what the world would be like without any music.  Life has a soundtrack and it includes everything from the music we listen to deliberately and consciously at concerts and on the stereo to having the radio on while we drive.  It also includes the music we hear subconsciously like the soundtrack of a movie or the background musak in the grocery store or while on hold on the phone.  It’s easy even for musicians to take music for granted however local resident and professional drummer Howie Southwood has spent much of his adult life connecting with music on a daily basis.   

        Howie Southwood was born in Cape Town, South Africa and made his way to Canada in 1963, via England.  He is the middle son of three boys.  His father who was a school teacher and carpenter and his stay-at-home mom were not particularly musical and did not even encourage him to pursue a career in music.  Howie became interested in music is his high school years and remembers seeing a snare drum in the window of Woolworths in Renfrew.  “I was immediately fascinated by its shiny, red-rimmed appearance.”  At the same time, he had a friend named Paul who had a rec room filled with musical instruments – guitars and all sorts of drums.

         When he was around 15, his parents bought him that snare drum from Woolworths and a cymbal to go along with it.  To that, Howie added one piece at a time until he had his own drum kit.  He began playing at home and although he didn’t study music at school, he began to be influenced by the slow, romantic ballads of Glen Campbell, and the guitar playing of Jimmy Hendricks.  He also liked Chicago with its horn band sound and Blood Sweat and Tears.  Later he recalls being intrigued with swing jazz and developed into a “rock player with jazz sensibilities.”  

         In 1972, and without any formal training, Howie auditioned for York University’s jazz program.  Here he studied with Robin Engelmann of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and began to master the drummer’s challenge of the independence of 4 limbs.  “People think that anyone can just sit down and play drums, but there is a reason why percussionists spend years learning how. ” Playing a full complement of drums and cymbals in a trap set is like playing many instruments each with its own separate rhythm - all at the same time.       
         Howie went on to study with the renowned jazz drum teacher Jim Blackly in 1974.  He was told to never turn down a gig no matter what kind of music it is, so he worked playing every night and touring with rock and pop groups.  “I had to make money, so I figured I might as well play drums.”  He learned how to play a wide variety of musical styles and in many different situations.  “A lot of doors opened up for me in those years – you just never know who’s listening in the audience.”
           In 1982, Howie moved to the east coast, settling in St. John’s, Newfoundland where he played in four different bands.  He did a lot of recording session work for the CBC and other recording studios and taught many students.  He became known as the “go-to guy” on the east coast; if a drummer was needed, A-list Howie got the first call. 

Howie was catapulted into international success when he joined the East Coast Canadian Celtic rock group Rawlins Cross.  This six-member group became very popular all across Canada because it straddled a unique position:  “…one foot in the elegant Celtic traditions of Scots and Irish music, the other boldly planted in the pop and rock world…”  They write all their own music pushing the limits of pop music.  Their sound is produced from a diverse assortment of instruments including vocals, guitars, mandolin, banjo, piano, accordions, harmonica, Chapman Stick, highland bagpipes, tin whistles, trumpet and of course drums. 

Rawlins Cross has toured extensively – through South America, Mexico, Europe including Germany, France and Denmark, the United States and Canada.  They have produced seven albums, won 6 East Coast Music Awards and been nominated for two Junos.  A personal highlight for Howie was the band’s performance at the East Coast Music Awards to an audience of more that two million viewers.  “It was nice to finally be asked to perform on the actual show.”

                 In 1989, Howie married artist Marilyn Koop and later that year their daughter Katie was born.  Five years after that, the family moved to Elora.  They wanted to be closer to their Ontario relatives and Elora seemed like the perfect place.  “It’s a great artistic community with a rich musical identity.”  He continued to tour with the band, doing a little carpentry on the side to fill in the gaps.  By the turn of the millennium, the members of Rawlins Cross decided to wind down the band.  “It wasn’t the end, just a hiatus so the musicians could pursue other projects.”

Meanwhile, Howie began jamming at the Dalby with Randal Coryell, Kevin Breit and Jeff Bird.  It was out of these “Coal bin improvising sessions” that the Potion Kings (the official band of the Village Idiots) was born.  Howie is one of the founding members of the Village Idiots – an artist-run production company.  Together with visual artists Marilyn Koop and Trish Breit, and musicians Gwen Swick, Randall Coryell and Kevin Breit, he produces arts events and shows.  “With such a wealth of local talent, we not only have great access to amazing soloists, but  have the Potion Kings to back them up.”

In the spring of 2008, the six original members of Rawlins Cross reunited to produce a retrospective CD entitled Rawlins Cross:  Anthology.  It is a compilation of remastered songs from their previous albums as well as four new tunes.  The group is making plans to tour in the 2010; check out their website at http://www.rawlinscross.com/ for further updates. 

Locally, Howie may be heard (almost) every Saturday night from 6:00 – 9:00 at 13 Mill Street.  There he plays in a jazz trio which includes guitarist Dave Thompson and bass player Mark Heine. “We play some jazz standards but also some more obscure tunes – to keep thing interesting and challenging.” 

Howie enjoys living in Elora.  “Both Marilyn and I love that we can just walk downtown and compared to the coast, the weather is great!”  He appreciates the local audiences as well.  “They are really supportive and enthusiastic.  The Village Idiots is a nice group of people to work with and it’s easy to find volunteers to help out.”  Whether you listen to his numerous Rawlins Cross recordings or hear him playing his drums live in an intimate jazz setting, you can always be sure that you will hear a musician with a passion and energy that will keep you coming back for more.

  http://www.villageidiots.ca/

              

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

 

 

The newsletter of the Elora Arts Council is published four times a year. It is distributed by mail to EAC members. It is also available at information offices, libraries and numerous galleries and stores throughout the area.

The Communique has been in constant publication since the founding of the Elora Arts Council in 1985.

Featured in each issue is the Profile of a local artist, musician, performer, or craftsperson in the Centre Wellington area.

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