Clayton B. Howell
Professional Bio
Clayton B. Howell is a 1980 graduate Magna Cum Laude from the former Gulf-Coast Bible College of Houston, Texas
(now Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) with a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance.
He calls it the most worthless degree you can have, saying "If you can perform, who needs the degree; and if you can't,
having one won't help."
Clay has performed in every venue from concert halls to New York style cabaret, to Church and Youth camp, singing and
playing almost every type of music known to man. He has worked with powerful names in the Cabaret circuit, such as
Keith Caldwell (one of NYC's most popular male cabaret artists for over 10 years) and Miss Marsha Carlton (former Miss
Texas and diva of Theatre Under The Stars in Houston). He has also sung and backed Lisa Whitley, winner of "Gimme the Mic
Houston, 2002" and has been the leader and lead arranger of Gary R. Smith's (Houston's own Male Country Gospel artist of
the year for three years in ICGMA and also for the secular group Airplay International) bands and recording arrangements
for several years.
Clay's writing commenced at an early age while he was still in high school. He was performing his original works at various
venues by the time he was 15 years of age. In 1978, he released two of his songs with Tim Bruner of 1st Timothy and had
limited success with them. He has worked with writing and singing great Stephanie Booshada, who was one of Oklahoma's most
prolific Christian artists for several years. In 1979, Clay and Katherine Weinaug released "The White Lamb Adventures,"
a talking book with music based on Ms. Weinaug's best selling children's book for Baker Book House, released under that
same name. The work has been translated into more than ten different languages, including Israeli and Japanese.
Clay began a writing association with Gary R. Smith in 1978 that has resulted in numerous awards and honors being garnered
in the Gospel and Country Gospel arenas. "Comin' Home," has been released three different times with three different
versions by Redeemer Records in Houston, published through Gospel Senders Music Publishing. "Comin' Home" was featured song
of the month in Australia on one of the three secular music stations that played gospel music in 1979. It has reached
number 5 in the Country Gospel Music Association Charts and hit number 2 on the Country Gospel Connection Radio
Show with Micki and Gene Farington. It has also been in the top 10 on Airplay International's charts, an independent
secular country chart for which Clay won his first Trailblazer award through Airplay International. He has three other
documented top 10 songs including "The Picture," which was number 4 on the CGMA charts, "Choose Me," which was a
collaboration with Randy DeLeFuente and Gary R. Smith and hit number 3 on the CGMA Charts, and
"Walking Toward the Cross," which reached number seven on the CGMA Charts. He has won several awards for arranging and
writing. In 1999, he was presented with Best Arranger award for his work on "The Gambler," a number one hit for
Gary R. Smith. In 2000, he was awarded a King Eagle Award from Airplay International, the Trailblazer Award for
outstanding writing in the Country Gospel field. In 2000 he was also awarded the Christian Leadership Award in Country
Gospel Music from the Lone Star Music Awards and also Up and Coming Songwriter of the Year. In 2001 and 2002, he won
King Eagle Award of Golden Pen for his chart-topping songs with Gary R. Smith. In 2002, they awarded him Songwriter
of the Year for his work with Gary R. Smith and Redeemer Records. He has also received various community service
awards for his work with Montrose Clinic (now Legacy Health Services) and Westbury UMC for his dedication to their
music program.
Clay has held numerous positions on various non-profit boards such as Adventures Inc. a non-profit children's ministry
group, The Children's Theatre of Houston where he sat on the advisory board as well as being a contributing composer
and also held the position of Secretary to the Board of Directors for Shared Resources Credit Union.
Currently, Clay is actively promoting KCCH Music's A God of Second Chances and building the KCCH Music
Publishing Co. Online Store of published sheet music. Clay is also working with his writing partner, Keith Caldwell, on a
second KCCH Music CD production scheduled to be released later this year.
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Clay@ClayHowell.com
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