Frank Howell
drums, harmonica, vocals

Frank Howell was born (the oldest of five) in New Bern, NC, in 1955. In elementary school he moved to Norfolk, Virginia where he hung out at the beach surfing up into his teenage years. He had an early taste for surfing music and classic rock and roll.

For his 12th birthday, Frank was given a snare drum and six free lessons. In April 1967, his instructor immediately took him to the sound proof room and started his lessons on a set of Ludwigs. By December of 1967 he owned his own set. Frank started playing in a local Virginia Beach teen band called Crystal Blues at age 13.

Throughout the years, Frank continued to play in several local bands and even joined the Musicians Union by age 16. He also featured in different gigs with various well-known bands and came across sounds new to his own personal style. Frank's last major gig was playing in the Battle of the Bands contest on base in Norfolk. On base he got his first look at a pair of dress Blues and quickly joined the USMC at age 17 during the end of the Vietnam war.

During his "journey," if you will, Frank learned to play the blues on the harmonica while traveling over seas on a ship. Frank took a twenty year break before he ever picked up drum sticks again. Recently, Frank has been filling in for other bands. With the RetroRockets, he has come to find the old sound that takes him back to his surfing days. Currently, Frank owns a set of Tama Super Stars.

He has been reunited with his roots, where he now lives back in New Bern, NC. Frank is also very happily married  and the proud father of five children,  ranging in ages from 7 to 21. He also owns an English Mastiff and a dozen goldfish!!

Frank's snare drum is a 1980 Master Craft Artwood. The Master Craft Artwood is made of 6 plies of rock maple for a warm, woody tone.

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