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| Steve Howe (musician) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Steve Howe |
| Caption | Howe performing in 2017 |
| Birth name | Stephen James Howe |
| Birth date | 1947-04-08 |
| Birth place | Bray, Berkshire |
| Occupation | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Instruments | Guitar, lap steel, dobro, mandolin, piano |
| Labels | Atlantic Records, Eagle Records, Castle Communications |
| Associated acts | Yes, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Asia, GTR, Fragile |
Steve Howe (musician) is an English guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. Renowned for his technical facility and stylistic versatility, he has contributed to landmark albums and collaborations across rock music, progressive rock, pop music and classical music. Howe's career spans session work, supergroups and a prolific solo output, earning recognition including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Born in Bray, Berkshire in 1947, Howe grew up amid the post-war cultural shifts that also shaped contemporaries such as David Bowie and Eric Clapton. His early exposure included local skiffle and blues scenes linked to venues in London and influences from artists like Les Paul, Chet Atkins and Django Reinhardt. Howe received informal instruction from session musicians active in the British Invasion era and attended local music workshops before launching into professional work in the mid-1960s.
Howe's professional career began with The Syndicats and progressed through bands including Tomorrow and The In Crowd, leading to session work alongside artists tied to Pye Records and Deram Records. He joined Yes in 1970, contributing to albums such as The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge, and later participated in offshoots and reunions like Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and 90125 era permutations. During the 1980s and 1990s Howe worked with supergroups including GTR alongside Steve Hackett-adjacent musicians and collaborated with Asia-era figures; he also maintained extensive session credits with producers connected to Atlantic Records and Arista Records.
Howe's style synthesizes elements from flamenco, classical music, jazz, country music and blues, reflecting study of figures such as Andrés Segovia, John McLaughlin, Les Paul and Chet Atkins. His approach on albums like Fragile and The Yes Album blends contrapuntal lines and harmonic layering reminiscent of Johann Sebastian Bach counterpoint and Maurice Ravel-inspired texture. Critics compare his tonal palette and phrasing to peers including Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, while his compositional sensibilities align with progressive contemporaries such as Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman and Chris Squire.
Howe is noted for using a wide array of instruments and gear, including Gibson ES-175, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul models, custom Carl Thompson-style instruments, and acoustic guitars from luthiers tied to Martin (guitar company) and Gibson. He has employed amplification associated with Marshall (company), Vox (company), and boutique builders, plus effects units used by Brian May and Robert Fripp. Technique-wise he utilizes fingerpicking, hybrid picking, economy and alternate picking, lap steel approaches and classical right-hand technique influenced by Andrés Segovia and Django Reinhardt.
Beyond Yes and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Howe collaborated with artists and groups such as Bill Bruford, Alan White, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Hackett, GTR partners, and session roles supporting singers linked to Polydor Records and Island Records. He participated in projects with members of Genesis-adjacent circles and joined occasional tribute performances honoring figures like John Lennon and George Harrison. Side projects include appearances at festivals alongside players from King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer alumni, and assorted studio sessions for film composers connected to BBC Music productions.
Howe's solo discography features instrumental albums such as Beginnings, The Steve Howe Album, Turbulence, and Homebrew series releases, issued on labels including Eagle Records and Shock Records. His solo work ranges from orchestral arrangements to improvisational trio recordings, showcasing compositions that appear on compilations associated with Progressive rock anthologies and reissues by Rhino Entertainment-style catalog houses. Notable releases include collaborations with orchestras and chamber ensembles, live documentation from tours through venues in Europe and North America, and archival collections emphasizing unreleased sessions from the 1970s and 1980s.
Howe's influence is reflected in generations of guitarists cited in polls by Guitar World, Rolling Stone and Classic Rock, and he has been honored by inductions and lifetime achievement acknowledgments tied to institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has mentored musicians active in progressive rock and fusion circles and continues to tour and record, maintaining residences in the United Kingdom and participating in masterclasses linked to conservatories influenced by Royal Academy of Music curricula. His legacy is preserved through reissues by catalog labels, tribute recordings by artists across rock music and jazz, and ongoing recognition from peers including Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, and Chris Squire.
Category:1947 births Category:English rock guitarists Category:Yes (band) members