Van Howard (born Clifton Howard Vandevender; March 1, 1929 - October 2, 2012) was an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the front man for Ray Price from 1954 through 1958 with Price's band, The Cherokee Cowboys. Personal life Howard was born into a musical family in Grady, New Mexico, some 35 miles north of Clovis). Howard grew up on a so-called 'dry land' farm during The Great Depression with an older brother and sister, learning responsibility at a young age. His family life was centered around school, basketball and the country church where often he sang and played. His mother taught him a few guitar chords when he was about 8 that opened an entirely new world for him. The family tuned into WSM Radio's Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night on a battery-powered radio, exposing Howard to the country hits while dreamed of someday performing. When Howard was 13, an uncle sponsored a Saturday radio program heard over KICA in Clovis, featuring Howard playing guitar and singing, and filling mailed-in requests. He began singing more and more for special events, as well as school and church. A serious scholastic athlete, Howard played basketball through high school, making several all-star teams. He was recruited by Eastern New Mexico University, but during his first game tripped and broke an ankle. Sidelined from the sport, the University asked him to join a choral group which promoted the college. At the end of the year, Howard returned to Clovis and began working in a local bank, though he still regularly sang on weekends and evenings. Early life and career In 1951, Howard travelled to Dallas, Texas to make a demo record. A talent scout for the Louisiana Hayride broadcast was there and by happenstance heard his singing. He invited Howard to relocate to Shreveport and join The Hayride as one of its new artists. The pay was only $5 per week, so he also helped Howard find a job in a local bank. Working closely with stars like Jim Reeves, Johnnie & Jack, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Red Sovine and Hank Williams was invaluable experience, and positioned him well when Lefty Frizzell came to the Hayride in 1954 seeking a band to back him on a six-month West Coast tour. Floyd Cramer (piano), Jimmy Day (steel), D.J. Fontana (drums), Bill Peters (fiddle), Chuck Wiginton