Howard New

b. c.1966, Washington, DC, USA. Signed by Parlophone Records in the mid-90s, New was heavily promoted as a new artist specializing in traditional R&B. The youngest of four siblings, New picked up his musical influences from his brothers' record collections. A diet of Led Zeppelin and Free was augmented by the soul of Atlantic, Stax and Motown Records, before he became a huge fan of the Jam in the 80s. By contrast, one of the most acclaimed songs in his own live set was an interpretation of Nick Cave's "Straight To You". New was eventually signed to Parlophone after A&R director Keith Wozencroft saw him play in a working men's club in Warrington, Lancashire, England. He spent 18 months in "development" with the artist, before he made his debut in the autumn of 1996 with the single, "Battlefield".