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Howard Jones (British musician)

From Alfawiki
Howard Jones
Born (1955-02-23) February 23, 1955 (age 71)
Hythe, Hampshire, England
Occupation(s)Vocalist, instrumentalist, composer
Years active1983–present
Known forHits such as "Like to Get to Know You Well", "What Is Love?", "New Song", "Things Can Only Get Better"

John Howard Jones (born 23 February 1955) is a British vocalist, instrumentalist, and composer. From 1983 to 1986, he secured ten UK singles within the top 40, with six reaching the top ten, including notable tracks such as "Like to Get to Know You Well," "What Is Love?," "New Song," and "Things Can Only Get Better." His first album, Human's Lib (1984), claimed the number one spot on the UK Albums Chart. Internationally, Jones attained 15 top 40 singles between 1983 and 1992, highlighted by the 1986 release "No One Is to Blame," which peaked at No. 4 in the United States alongside four additional singles entering the US top 20.

As a prominent contributor to the 1980s Second British Invasion in America, Jones was characterized by AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "one of the defining figures of mid-'80s synth-pop." He appeared at Live Aid in Wembley Stadium in 1985 and has sold more than eight million albums worldwide.

Early life

Born on 23 February 1955 in Hythe, Hampshire to Welsh parents, John Howard Jones was raised in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, attending Heol Llanishen Fach primary school and later Whitchurch Grammar School. The eldest among four brothers—all musicians—Jones began piano lessons at seven years old and subsequently enrolled at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

The family relocated twice to Canada, initially settling in Nepean, Ontario, where Jones formed and performed with a progressive and classic rock ensemble from 1971 to 1972 before permanently returning to England. In the mid-1970s, he studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester but departed after two and a half years, opting not to pursue a career as a classical pianist. During this time, he developed a connection with Buddhist practitioner Bill Bryant, who influenced his songwriting approach. Meanwhile, his siblings established the band Red Beat in the late 1970s.

1980s

Jones started his solo performances in High Wycombe and later collaborated with mime artist Jed Hoile for improvised choreography during live shows. In 1983, he rented London's Marquee Club to present his abilities to record companies, which resulted in a contract with Warner Music Group (then known as WEA). Drawing inspiration from artists like OMD, Keith Emerson, and Stevie Wonder, Jones rapidly gained recognition.

His debut single, "New Song" (September 1983), climbed into the UK top five and broke into the US top thirty. After appearances on BBC's Top of the Pops and supporting acts such as China Crisis and OMD on tour, Jones released Human's Lib (1984), an album that reached number one on UK charts and achieved double platinum status internationally. This record featured popular songs including "New Song," "What Is Love?", and "Pearl in the Shell." His teenage fan following was notably managed by his parents.

In 1984, Jones unveiled "Like to Get to Know You Well", a worldwide hit inspired by Olympic themes that peaked at number four in the UK. The song gained additional exposure through its inclusion in the film Better Off Dead and later appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

At the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985, Jones performed alongside prominent musicians Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Thomas Dolby.

His remix collection The 12″ Album (1985) presented extended versions of earlier hits including a multilingual rendition of "Like to Get to Know You Well," earning gold certification in the UK.

The studio album Dream into Action (1985), featuring backing vocals from Afrodiziak and bass contributions from his brother Martin Jones, became his most commercially successful work. It reached number two on UK charts and number ten in the US. Singles such as "No One Is to Blame"—which was later re-recorded with Phil Collins—and "Things Can Only Get Better" were part of this release. That year also saw Jones perform at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid and embark on an international tour.

In 1986, the EP Action Replay included a re-recorded version of "No One Is to Blame," which became his highest-charting single in the US at number four. However, subsequent singles experienced diminished success in the UK; "All I Want" marked his final entry into the UK top forty. His third studio album, One to One (1986), reached number ten on UK charts and earned gold status despite less impressive chart performance overall. Conversely, he maintained a solid presence in America with "You Know I Love You... Don't You?" entering the Billboard Hot 100 top twenty.

In June 1988, Jones took part in Amnesty International's Festival of Youth held in Milton Keynes. His 1989 album Cross That Line did not perform well commercially in the UK but produced Adult Contemporary chart-topping hits in the US such as "Everlasting Love," marking his second number one on that chart, along with "The Prisoner." He continued performing at major venues across America during his Cross That Line Tour.

1990s

Jones participated in the One World collaborative project contributing to the One World One Voice album, which attained the 27th position on the UK Albums Chart in 1990.

His fifth studio effort, In the Running (1992), did not initially appear on UK charts but a remastered edition entered the top 100 in 2021. Meanwhile, the single "Lift Me Up" achieved top 40 status on both the US charts and the UK Network Chart in 1992.

Following ten years with Warner Music, a greatest hits collection titled The Best of Howard Jones (1993) reached number 36 on UK charts and earned a silver certification from the BPI by 2005 for sales exceeding 60,000 units.

Jones gained recognition as a songwriter for other performers, co-creating dance tracks "Heaven Give Me Words" and "Your Wildlife" for Propaganda’s album 1234 (1990), both of which appeared on Adult Contemporary and Dance Music charts.

After parting ways with Warner, Jones shifted his focus toward production, songwriting, and business ventures, founding his own label Dtox. He produced albums such as Working in the Backroom, recorded at his Maidenhead studio known as 'The Shed', which sold over 20,000 copies mainly through live shows and his official website.

He maintained an active touring schedule throughout the US and Europe, releasing live and studio albums including Live Acoustic America (1996) and People (1998).

2000s

In 2001, Jones joined the ranks of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band as their keyboardist during their tour.

On 20 September 2003, he marked two decades since his debut single with a special concert at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire, featuring guest appearances by artists such as Ultravox's Midge Ure and Nena. This performance was subsequently released on DVD. During this era, Jones collaborated with Robbie Bronnimann to co-write and co-produce tracks for Sugababes, while also releasing his own album Revolution of the Heart (2005). His international touring included appearances at events like the Edinburgh Festival in 2006.

Jones lent his vocals to Ferry Corsten’s track "Into the Dark" on the album L.E.F., and was featured on Katrina Carlson’s rendition of "No One Is to Blame," which charted on US Adult Contemporary in 2007.

Adopting digital platforms for promotion, Jones released "Building Our Own Future" as a podsafe song in October 2006. It debuted at number one on the PMC Top10 chart and held that spot for four consecutive weeks. His song "Revolution of the Heart" also reached the top position on PMC charts in 2007.

In 2007, he toured Australia performing acoustically and issued Revolution Remixed & Surrounded followed by Live in Birkenhead. He took part in Retrofest alongside other prominent '80s musicians.

As musical director for Sōka Gakkai International’s Glorious Life Chorus, Jones incorporates his compositions into their musical selections. He returned to Australia in 2009 accompanied by vocalist Laura Clapp and technologist Robbie Bronnimann. That year also saw him debut Roland’s V-Piano in Bristol and continue touring engagements, including participation in the 'Big Hair Affair' festival.

His album Ordinary Heroes was released in November 2009; subsequent tours included performances in London, Cardiff, and Manchester featuring string arrangements and collaboration with the Morriston Orpheus Choir. The track "Soon You'll Go" addresses personal themes of change inspired by his daughter leaving for university.

Jones holds a position on the board of directors for the Featured Artists' Coalition, an organization founded in 2009 dedicated to advocating for musicians’ rights.

2010s

On 29 November 2011, it was announced that Howard Jones would embark on a UK tour in April 2012, performing his albums Human's Lib and Dream into Action at eight different locations. Concurrently, he hosted a weekly radio show titled Electronic 80s with Howard Jones on Absolute Radio to complement the tour.

In 2012, Jones made an appearance on BYUtv’s program "The Song That Changed My Life."

The year 2015 saw the release of Engage under his own label, D-tox Records.

During 2016, Jones joined Barenaked Ladies as a supporting act on their Last Summer on Earth tour across the United States, marking a reunion with OMD.

In 2018, he collaborated with Steve Hogarth from Marillion at the ceremony unveiling a tribute sculpture dedicated to David Bowie in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Transform, which was released on 10 May 2019, includes three tracks produced in partnership with American electronic artist BT. This album represents the second installment in a planned series of four electronic albums following Engage. The third album in this sequence, titled Dialogue, was launched in 2022 and comprises eight songs.

2020s

Released on 23 May 2025, Piano Composed is Howard Jones’s third piano-centered album, available in both vinyl and CD formats. This collection features ten carefully crafted pieces composed during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The vinyl version, named Piano Composed Ivory, contains the original compositions, whereas the CD edition, called Piano Composed Spirio, presents reinterpreted versions that utilize the advanced technology of the Steinway Spirio, allowing for intricate arrangements that surpass what is possible to perform live.

In the media

Howard Jones has spoken openly about his challenging relationship with media portrayal. In 2006, he remarked: "My music does not revolve around themes like drug consumption, excessive partying, or typical rock and roll lifestyle. Instead, it focuses on optimism and encouraging people to rethink their perspectives. I was never trendy nor did I receive favorable reviews. However, I take pride in not being embraced by the media... Pop music tends to be very reactionary and prejudiced. Often what is deemed 'cool' is superficial and fleeting."

Personal life

Howard Jones is married to Jan Smith, and together they have three children named Osheen, Mica, and Jasper. In the late 1980s, he adopted Nichiren Buddhism through membership with Soka Gakkai International, attributing his daily practice of chanting since 1991 as having a deeply beneficial impact on his life.

As of 2006, Jones resided in Creech St Michael, near Taunton, in Somerset. After following a vegetarian diet for over four decades, he transitioned to a vegan lifestyle in 2019.

Studio albums

  • Piano Composed Ivory (2025) (Vinyl)
  • Piano Composed Spirio (2025) (CD)

Extended plays

Bibliography

External links

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