TUCSON— George G. Howard Jr. passed away peacefully in Tucson on 14 April 2023. George was born to the late George G. Howard Sr. and Gertrude E. Howard in Asbury Park, NJ.
George was a Buena graduate and was active in sports and photography. After high school, he moved to Tucson and graduated from Pima College and the U of A and received a business degree.
After graduating from the U of A, he had a photography business and was a scuba diver instructor, but his real passion was music. He loved the Blues. His motto was no matter what, you have to keep the Blues alive. Whether you funk it up, jazz it up or blues it up. His first band was called the Statesboro Blues Band and the George Howard and the Roadhouse Hounds.
George has been involved in music for over 45 years. His participation includes teaching workshops and photographing events of other musicians. He was personally involved with legends such as Johnny Lee Hooker, James Brown, Bo Diddly, Muddy Waters, Albert Lang, Willie Nelson and a host of others. George has produced/co-produced record labels and managing bands. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, Tucson Music Awards Hall of Fame and to the Tucson Musicians Museum as well as being on the advisory board for the U of A Centennial Hall. He was also the Founder and President of the Tucson Musicians Museum.
George is survived by his sisters Barbara Blankenship and Allyne McFalls; his partner Wendy Girdosky; and a host of nieces and nephews.
His celebration of life will be held in Tucson Arizona at Hotel Congress on the 21 May at 3pm; in Sierra Vista on June 19th at the Rothery Education Center, time tbd.
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