Description
. hard way
Artist
US rhythm & blues and soul singer.
Howard Tate was born August 13, 1939 in Macon Georgia, but his family relocated to Philadelphia when he was just a few years old. In his teens he befriended Garnet Mimms and joined him in his gospel group called The Gainors. Mimms also introduced him to songwriter and producer Jerry Ragovoy who recorded Tate and secured a deal at Verve Records, who released the album Get It While You Can, and a total of nine singles between 1964 and 1968. Three of the singles became top 20 rhythm & blues hits, including “Get It While You Can” which was later recorded by Janis Joplin. In 1972 he released a self-titled album for Atlantic, also produced by Ragavoy.
He later walked away from his career, feeling that he was not receiving the royalties he deserved, and he became an insurance salesman in suburban Philadelphia.
Then, his daughter died in a fire, and his marriage fell apart. He began drinking heavily, then became addicted to crack, and ended up homeless in Camden, N.J. Ragavoy even thought he'd died. But by the mid-1990s Tate had overcome his addictions and become a minister. In 2003 he released the album “Rediscovered,” with Mr. Ragovoy once again writing and producing, and the album was nominated for a Grammy for best contemporary blues record. Over the next five years Mr. Tate toured and released four more albums.
He died on December 2, 2011 at his apartment in Burlington, N.J at the age of 72.
Tracks
A1
Get It While You Can
A2
You're Lookin' Good
A3
Ain't Nobody Home
A4
Baby, I Love You
A5
Shoot 'Em All Down
A6
Stop
A7
Night Owl
A8
I Learned It All The Hard Way
A9
Sweet Love Child
B1
Question
B2
These Are The Things That Make Me Know You're Gone
B3
My Soul's Got A Hole In It
B4
She's A Burglar
B5
The Bitter End
B6
8 Days On The Road
B7
Brand New Me
B8
Ain't Got Nobody To Give It To