Maria Howell comes home for vacation
Soulful singer's R&B influences popular in Japan
M aria Howell hasn't performed her sweet brand of jazzy r&b in Charlotte since 1995.
Living in Okinawa, Japan, kinda keeps you from hitting the club scene on the weekend. But Howell, once a staple of Charlotte's musical night life, is back.
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Maria Howell |
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She'll be performing at the Vault, a swanky new jazz club on Kings Drive, Friday at 8 and 10 p.m. If you miss that, she'll be at "Old Funk Friday," Oct. 1 at the Sheraton Airport.
"It was time for a visit so I decided to make it a working vacation," Howell said in a recent phone
interview. " I haven't performed here in four years, so I'm itching."
Howell moved to Japan in 1995 with her husband Louis Stukes, a Marine Gunnery Sergeant.
"Louis was being relocated," Howell said. "He had a couple of choices so we decided on Japan. We decided that would be the best choice to try to put some international flavor in my career.
"Plus, I've always wanted to live in another country," she said. The move has been successful.
Howell's acting career has been placed on hold, but musically she's flourished. She has performed in Okinawa, Tokyo, Singapore, Hiroshima and Sapporo. So how's she been accepted? "Wonderfully," Howell said. "I can't believe it. (The Japanese) are so receptive. They put the
fan in the word 'fanatic.' They seem to love the style of music I do. I've spent a lot of time signing autographs after performances. I've signed T-shirts, programs - even a cell phone," she said. Howell has also continued her recording career.
She recently released a mini album in Japan called "Peace of Mind." It's produced by Rodney Shelton (he wrote Keith Washington's "Kissing You"). Ironically, it was recorded in Charlotte
at the White Room. Howell was leery of the mini album at first, but is now glad she made the recording. "It's a whole different music world in Japan," Howell said. "There are so many opportunities.
They want mini albums, singles, extended singles - you name it."
"It's a good way to promote a full length CD...It sold out of the first printing and is on the second," she said. But Howell doesn't know how many copies have been sold. And doesn't care. "I told them not to get me into the numbers," she said. "I want to concentrate on the music." Howell's music is used in two Japanese commercials, one she appears in. That's the only acting she's done since leaving the states.
"I don't get the chance to act as much. That's the part I miss," she said. "I'm very happy in a lot of ways, but I do miss the states. Louis has two more years to stay there, so I want to
establish a presence so they would ask me to come back once we leave."
Howell's latest CD and more information can be found on her web site www.mariahowell.com. Howell is best known for her choir soloist performance in "The Color Purple." Since she has appeared in TV movies and sitcoms.
Howell is dedicated to her career. She says that if she couldn't sing in some kind of capacity she wouldn't know what to do with herself.
"If I couldn't sing I would either act full-time or fall back on my college degree," said Howell, who has a bachelors in Biology.
Howell loves performing. "When I walk on stage it's as if this place is where I was born to be." Howell's mother has played a great part in her daughter's career and life. "My mother has had the greatest influence on my life. My mom taught me harmony, plus she
inspired me at an early age to go for whatever I wanted out of life," Howell said.
At times Howell said she wanted to quit the industry. "This is a tough field I chose. The competition is stiff and it sometimes take a very long time to
see good things happen for you. But the thrill of doing something new and the chance to see things I have created in my mind come to fruitation is enough to keep me motivated," she said. Eventually she plans to do a full length CD and solidify herself even more internationally.
"I have want to make a mark in other countries in addition to Japan," she said.
Whenever a person listens to Howell sing it's evident that she has been influenced by r&b. She is a fan of Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Nancy Wilson and a Luther Vandross. She has
had the opportunity to meet a lot of performers and she says that out of all the entertainers she has m et, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Patti Labelle and Najee have had the greatest influence on her career. Howell says the hardest thing about living in Japan is being away from her family and friends.
She says she keeps in contact with her family by making many phone calls and through email.
Howell says she had a culture shock when she first moved to Japan, but its easy to live their because the Okinawans treat her nice. "It's kind of strange for people to recognize me on the
streets but at the same time it's kind of nice," Howell said.
Anyone that has an opportunity to see Howell perform live should definitely do so. She heads back to Japan Oct. 2.
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