Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies

Tate

HOWARD TATE, a PHILADELPHIA-based singer who recorded widely-praised but little-noticed albums in the 1960s and 1970s and made a comeback from drug addiction and homelessness to performing and critical acclaim in recent years, died FRIDAY (12/2) of multiple myeloma and leukemia in BURLINGTON, NJ at 72, reports the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER's DAN DE LUCA.

TATE was a member, with GARNET MIMMS, in THE GAINORS, a group that recorded for MERCURY and CAMEO-PARKWAY in the early 60s and sang with organist BILL DOGGETT, then worked with producer JERRY RAGAVOY on records for VERVE and ATLANTIC, reaching number 63 on the BILLBOARD Hot 100 with "Ain't Nobody Home" in 1966 (R&B chart number 12), his highest chart position.   He also recorded for EPIC before dropping out of the music business and developing a cocaine addiction that left him homeless.  Recovering and going into counseling other drug users, he became a preacher, which is when he was rediscovered by PHIL CASEM, the host of an Oldies show on FORSYTHE BROADCASTING Brokered WNJC-A/WASHINGTON TWP., NJ.  TATE returned to performing and recorded three albums in the 2000s.

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