Howard Erwin Stange (March 3, 1924 – December 4, 1990) was an American musician, singer, and pianist who played Rockabilly and Country music, in which possessed a distinctive vocal and playing style. Howie was a musical virtuoso who had the ability to be pick up any instrument and play with a high degree of technical proficiency, despite the fact that he never learned how to read music. Howie was born with four sisters and two brothers who include: Gertrude 'Kiki' Stange, Doris Stange, Frank Anthony Stange, Raymond Christopher Stange, Esther Madelyn Stange and Kathleen Leona Stange. Among the six siblings, only his youngest sister, Kathleen, lives to date, age 85. Howie achieved both national and international fame recognition,"Connecticut Rocks" retrieved on January 1, 2014 for his hit 45 record, "Real Gone Daddy/This Old Bomb of Mine", released in 1957. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential Rockabilly musicians of his era, Howie's music currently resides on over 100 record compilations of the best rockabilly music ever produced.Record Album 'Hot Rod Gang' released in 1993 featuring most popular Rockabilly music of all time including "Real Gone Daddy", Sirus Radio "Willie's Roadhouse Howie's song "Real Gone Daddy" has achieved "Maybelline" status among fans. Additionally, in 1958 he went on to record "Are You Lonesome To-Night?" which was subsequently picked up by Elvis Presley Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song) who later went on to chart this song at number 1 on the Billboard Charts in 1960. Howie Stange did not achieve significant fame or fortune during his lifetime: however, his music left a lasting impression on a generation of young listeners who were first being introduced to rock and roll music in the 1950s.
Life and Career (Childhood 1924–1938) Born in Meriden, Connecticut, Howie Stange grew up and lived his entire life in his home town.Howie Stange's Younger sister in an exclusive interview on January 19, 2015, Ancestry.com "Howie Stange Family Story" Retrieved on July 23, 2014 His family lived a hard-scrabble life; very little to eat, no indoor plumbing, and no money for medical care. Howard suffered from severe asthma, and the family always lived in fear of an asthma attack, for they did not have the $3.00 it cost for a doctor to make a house call. The family survived the Great Depression by hard work and frugality. Howie's father, Thomas Anthony Stange, worked during the 1930s at the Works Progress AdministrationThomas Anthony Stange Death Certificate April 16, 1938, Ancestry.com "Howie Stange Family Story" Retrieved on July 23, 2014 as a laborer. Prior to this, Thomas spent much of his younger days working the Vaudeville circuit. Thomas started in New York City as a theater foreman,Ancestry.com "Howie Stange Family Story" Retrieved on July 23, 2014, Howie Stange's Younger sister in an exclusive phone interview on November 7, 2014 and was able to land himself a stage role, ultimately working alongside Al Jolson's troupe playing the 'end-man' minstrel role. Howie's father was multi-talented, being able to sing, tap, and play a variety of instruments.Howie Stange's Younger sister in an exclusive phone interview on January 16, 2012 Thomas also performed "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" with spoken part, as part of his Vaudeville performance. Howie would later find his father's sheet music for "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" while cleaning out the attic and bring it to the next studio session in NYC and convince Jim Flaherty to record the song. Thomas would move to Connecticut in 1916 where he continued to perform in Vaudeville at the Meriden Jacques Opera HouseGus French in an exclusive phone interview on April 28, 2014, Howie Stange's Younger sister in an exclusive phone interview on November 7, 2014, Jerry Roccapiore in an exclusive phone interview on June 15, 2014 and the Leows Poli Palace Theater.Gus French in an exclusive phone interview on April 28, 2014, Howie Stange's Younger sister in an exclusive phone interview on November 7, 2014, Jerry Roccapiore in an exclusive phone interview on May 4, 2014 Thomas Anthony also appeared on the Major Bowes amateur Hour Edward Bowes as a singer, performing his favorite tune 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen'.Kathleen Spath, November 7, 2014 Music was part of the fabric of the household, with a piano set up in the front room, and dad spending evenings and weekends singing and entertaining his family. His musical talents certainly were passed down to his children, and at a very early age the boys; Frank, Howie, and Raymond, all began to play music. At a very young age, Howie learned the rudiments of playing the guitar from a neighbor, Herbert LaMontagne.June Coffey in an exclusive phone interview on July 24, 2014 Howie attended school at St. Stanislaus School in Meriden for elementary and grammar school. Born a left-hander, the school nuns felt that writing with the left hand was improper, so they would bind Howie's left hand so he couldn't use it, and forced him to write with his right hand. Howie would spend the rest of his life writing with his right hand, and performing all other tasks with his left.interview with Karen Stange, daughter of Howie Stange, October 20, 2014 Howie's mother, Mary Stange, would work at New Departure , and remained a dutiful wife, mother, and homemaker her entire life. Howie's father died in 1938 when Howie was at the young and impressionable age of 14. His father's death would have a profound impact on young Howie, and shape his life in many ways, from his personal relationships to his love of music.
Life and Career (Youth 1938–1948) After Thomas died in 1938, Howie left school in pursuit of work after completing eighth grade in order to help support the family. Brothers Frank and Raymond did the same. Howie and his family moved into a fourth floor apartment on top of a grocery store in downtown Meriden. This spot became the neighborhood hangout, as each weekend, the Stange siblings and friends would play music at jam sessions. During these early years, Howie was already expressing exceptionally rare musical talent, and excelled at playing the piano. During the summer of 1940, and free piano was offered to Howie, with the caveat 'if you can get it into the apartment, it's yours.' The boys spent the better part of the afternoon with the window frame removed, hoisting this piano up to the fourth floor apartment on the corner of Cook Ave and Summer Street, above an Italian Restaurant. This musical collaboration amongst the brothers would remain for a lifetime; Frank and Raymond would often join Howie up on stage as well as in the studio. The Stange family musicians had an inauspicious start: Warren Sattler relates a story from 1939, where he competed at a local talent show hosted at a Meriden movie theater, resulted in pitting four-year-old Warren performing yodeling against the three teenage Stange boys performing country music. The young yodeler won out over the Stange family band. The local kids played the usual boyhood activities, such as playing football as part of the 'Acorn' gang, hanging out at Spencer's garage on Main Street, and attending events at the Meriden Boys Club. It was at the Boys Club that Howie took up boxing, a sport he would pursue in earnest after World War II. The start of World War II disrupted Howie's life and propelled him, like many in his generation, to enlist when he turned eighteen. He chose to sign up for the Coast Guard, the same service as his brother Frank. Stationed for two years on Long Island, New York, Howie's time was spent with beach patrols, inspections, training, and drills. It was during this period that Howie married his first love, Jane Webster, on July 15, 1943. Howie and the other men of his unit would let off steam by participating in Coast Guard boxing matches. Howie received a medical discharge from the Coast Guard on January 5, 1944 for chronic asthma.United States Coast Guard Personnel Records as secured by the Freedom of Information Act In 1944, Howie settled down with his new family, wife and soon to be two children. During the day Howie worked at New Departure in the guard shack, but his passion at the time was with boxing. Howie was a promising you bantamweight fighter with a strong left punch. He earned the nickname of 'Lefty' during this time which stuck with him for the remainder of his life. Howie was good friends and sparring partner to Joe Coffee. In late 1947 Joe broke his left hand in 2 places in a fight, ending his career. Howie took this as a sign that he too should find other pursuits, as Howie knew that an injury such as Joe suffered would end his musical aspirations.
Village Playboys (1949–1955) It was during the late 1940s and early 1950s that Howie ventured forth and began his solo act playing at clubs and small venues. His strong vocals and aggressive piano playing style really took the local community by surprise. As his popularity grew, offers of playing in a band soon arrived. Howie's break would come in 1952, when Andy Calabrese, Harold 'Slim' Huntley and Gus French, came looking for a vocalist. The trio had heard of a singer and piano player named Howie Stange. Slim and Gus went in search of Howie to see if they could interest him in joining the band. The two went to visit Howie while he was living in a trailer behind the Greenwood Lodge. Howie did not need much convincing, as he desperately wanted to get out and play his music for the public. Shortly thereafter, Andy left to form his own very successful group, The Top Hatters, and Bob Guyette was recruited, and the Village Playboys were born. Gus played on the big bass, Slim on the rhythm guitar, Bob on the lead guitar, and Howie on the piano, mandolin, rhythm guitar, banjo, fiddle, or vocals, or a combination thereof. Over the next four years, the group would play constantly, mainly in Connecticut and Massachusetts, at any venue they could get booked in. Clubs, diners, halls, auditoriums, restaurants, and family gatherings all became home away from home for the Playboys. The band kept a grueling schedule, with Howie earning $12.00 a show and each of the bandmates $10.00. They would play hour and a half sets, and then help move off all the tables and chairs for dancing the rest of the evening. Over time Robert Kowalczyk, aka Bob 'Cat' Gibson (Bob would go on to play lead guitar for Bill Flagg), came in to replace Bob Guyette.