“You can play 30,000 notes for 30 people or play three chords for 30,000 people.” “… And you want to pay me how much money?” “… And I get to go to the Eiffel Tower tomorrow?!” That’s how guitar legend Greg Howe encapsulated his career as a professional musician. This provocative comment was made in the context of Mr. Howe’s speaking about his high-profile gig with one Justin Timberlake, which he ultimately left to search for something more creatively satisfying. The decision to do so speaks volumes about the man’s integrity.
I recently attended Mr. Howe’s clinic, at which he impressed me greatly, both musically and more importantly as a person. I don’t know what I expected, but Greg Howe was as accessible and warm as one could imagine. Of course, his talent is uncanny, but as evidenced by the anecdote recounted above the man himself is pretty special in his own right.
The clinic was hosted by Guitar Center for the purpose of promoting Mr. Howe’s signature DV Mark Maragold amplifier. Humorously, not one of those amplifiers was on hand at the store that night. One had to be imported from another location. This made for a rather inauspicious beginning to the clinic, but no one seemed to mind and Mr. Howe took it all in his stride. He explained how he has obtained that skill in an entertaining story about his time playing with pop music icon Michael Jackson.