Band Research*

Howie Day is an American singer-songwriter. He began his career as a solo artist in the late 1990s, he became known for his touring and in-concert use of samplers and effects pedals in order to accompany himself. He self-financed and self-released his first album, Australia, in 2000.

Howie started his career as one of todays "New Breed" of unsigned musicians looking to break into the music industry. Promoting, touring, building a fan base writing and recording his own songs without a recording contract, he soon attracted the attention of the powerful Chris Blackwell. Blackwell went to see one of Day's shows in Rhode Island and thought he was, in his words, "very very good". He was further impressed by the attendance, the venue being packed out with around 800 people. Blackwell spoke with Day after the show and told him, "You are the model of tomorrow's recording artist. You own your own records, you own your own copyrights, your playing to an audience which is growing all the time....what can I do for you? But word spread, and a bidding war broke out between major labels.

Day eventually signed a $2million recording contract with major label Epic Records in 2002 and has since re-released his debut as well as producing a follow up, Stop All The World Now. Despite initially sluggish sales, Stop All The World Now was certified gold in early 2005 [2] and has produced a number of singles, including "Collide", Day's most successful to date, and the hit "She Says".[3]

Day has received significant negative attention over two high profile arrests. In 2004, Day was arrested and charged over an incident in which he was accused of locking a fan in the bathroom of his tour bus and destroying the cellular phone of another, for which he was fined.[4] In December 2005, Day was arrested in Boston after reportedly verbally abusing the flight crew while under the influence of alcohol and sleeping pills. He was sentenced to one year's probation on April 26, 2006.[5]




*taken from wikipedia