Member Profile

Howard Hugh Laravea / Three Dog Night

At an early age Howard showed interest in music. His mother, SuElla, was youth director at church. Being there with her allowed him time to slip away to the old Chapel and play the piano and Hammond C2 organ. At 10 years, a Silvertone electric guitar began the journey. Switching to bass at the age of 13 and after two years of music theory in High School, he continued his music education at the University of Oklahoma. Later, moving back to Tulsa to pursue music and perform, he migrated to the piano. Within a year on keyboards, Howard had joined the popular regional band ‘El Roacho’. Clive Davis would go on to sign the band to a album deal with Columbia Records. The band relocated to the east coast and recorded at ‘Electric Lady’ Studios iNYC and then moved to Marin Co. near San Francisco. Howard later moved to Los Angeles study Composing & Arranging with Dick Grove at ‘Dick Grove School of Music’ Studio City and began touring with bass legend Rick Danko of ‘The Band’, performing some memorable gigs with Rick including Carnegie Hall with John Prine opening. In Los Angeles he joined up on keys and vocals with Frankie Valli and later with Gary Puckett on keys, vocals, and then as music director and producer.. 

In the 90’s Howard moved to Nashville where he appeared on numerous recordings such as “Big and Rich” and “Gretchen Wilson” and then as musical director, piano, organ, vocal and guitar for Gretchen’s live shows opening for Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Big & Rich, Montgomery & Gentry, and Keith Urban. Voted 'Blues Keyboardist of the year 2003'.

With appearances on all the major late night TV and award shows including American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, CMA (Country Music Awards), and CMT Music Awards, Howard is proud to have performed at many iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, the SuperBowl, Ryman Auditorium, Radio City Music Hall, and Grand ‘Ole Opry.

A partial list of the artists Howard has worked with

Rick Danko (The Band), Tori Amos, Andy Fraser (Free), Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Kenny Rogers, Gary Puckett-musical director, The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams, Deborah Allen, Gretchen Wilson-band leader, John Rich (Big & Rich), Tanya Tucker, Raul Malo (The Mavericks), Joe Diffie, Bill Champlin (Chicago), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Delbert McClinton, and Three Dog Night. The journey continues…

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