Howie Damron has recorded a new album entitled Hiram’s Call. This album highlights Howie’s affiliation with the fraternity. Howie has been a spokesperson for sporting and outdoor associations throughout Ohio and West Virginia. One special song, “The Masonic Ring” has been a touching experience for many of Howie’s fellow Masonic Brethren. In addition to “The Masonic Ring,” Howie has recorded the songs “The Rite Stuff,” and “Hiram’s Call” on his newly released album. Masons everywhere will enjoy his casual and friendly musical style.

Howie Damron has been a musician all his life. He was eight years old in Chesapeake, Ohio when his dad brought home Howie’s first guitar. Lessons from his grandfathers and his uncles, along with hours each day devoted to practice allowed Howie’s skill to improve quickly. He played folk, country, and rock music and quickly developed a passion for performing, playing anywhere he could find a crowd; he received his first standing ovation at the age of twelve. He has been playing, singing, and writing music ever since.

In 2002, after years of performing at clubs, concerts, events and touring throughout the United States, Howie gave up singing cover tunes completely, and committed to producing music of his own. The first fruit of that commitment is “From the Heart”, an album filled with creative energies and rich stories from his vast accumulation of experience and insight. On “From the Heart”, Howie sings about his home in the hills of Ohio, about personal heroes, family and life as an avid outdoorsman. “This album is like me; its real stories and real music, about real people,” Howie says.

John Denver, James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot have been inspiration for Howie’s musical style. His early inspiration, though, was from his two grandfathers; one was a bluegrass musician from Appalachia, and the other a saxophonist. His paternal grandfather in particular supported Howie’s early career as a musician, and urged Howie to record a demo. On the day that Howie was in a Nashville studio to record for the very first time, his grandfather Damron passed away. Howie headed right back to Ohio to sing at the funeral.

Over the past twenty years, Howie has played with over 70 country and folk artists, including Ricky Scaggs, Ronnie Milsap, Skip Ewing, Johnny Paycheck, Gordon Lightfoot, Marty Stuart and 4-Him. Howie also played his own show in Las Vegas as the headline act with his Top Priority band.
In his home state of Ohio, Howie was awarded the key to Lawrence County, where he has played numerous concerts benefiting children’s charities in the area. Howie has been nominated for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Independent Record Industry. He has received many other honors too numerous to list from communities around the United States.

With the road behind having been transformed into understanding for the present and a clear vision of the future, Howie looks forward to telling his stories in song for many years to come. “I believe life is meant to be an adventure,” he says, “ through music, both on albums and live on stage, I hope to share my adventures with each listener and friend in Ohio, Appalachia, and far beyond.”

Howie was most recently featured at the Scottish Rite Leadership conferences held in 2006, where he played his music and shared his story of joining Masonry and the Scottish Rite. As stated on the inside cover of his new CD, Howie says, “Not for fame or fortune have I undertaken this very important mission to promote Freemasonry and attempt to restore the precious light that our forefathers shown so brightly through their own pride and creativity...I pray these songs will inspire and motivate my Brothers to simply start sharing and talking about Freemasonry.”

To purchase Howie’s new CD, visit our online store: www.scottishritestore.org To hear Howie sing “The Masonic Ring,” click here.

Images (Top): Cover artwork from Hiram’s Call CD, featuring “Time for Lodge” painting by Robert White. (Left): Howie Damron performing live at the Scottish Rite Leadership conference in Atlanta, Georgia.