Playing for change logo
  • Videos
  • Musicians
  • Band
  • Music
  • About
  • Shop
  • Blog
Português
Become a Member

Back to All Musicians

Mel Semé

Alfred Howard

San Diego, CA, USA

Biography

Alfred Howard knows what it’s like to perform in front of a rough crowd. The lyricist, percussionist and independent record label guru got his start performing spoken word in venue parking lots around San Diego, hoping to catch the attention of random patrons searching for their cars. But while most performers would struggle to find an audience in a dingy parking lot, Al thrived. His skillful wordplay quickly attracted musicians, poets, and fans alike, and Al became a sought-after lyricist and percussionist for bands around San Diego.

In 2015, he decided to take his passion for poetry and music to the next level, forming an independent record label collective called The Redwoods. The idea behind the label is simple: To bring together a core group of the best performers in San Diego and make amazing, vintage-inspired tunes. If The Redwoods are a body, then Alfred Howard is the brain — for the seven different bands on the label’s roster, he contributes lyrics or beats, playing to each performer’s strength and encouraging constant experimentation. The Redwoods’ music ranges from soul to psychedelic to spectral folk, and every musician brings a fresh perspective to these records. The result is an eclectic collective of bands that aren’t afraid to evolve and blend together unusual genres. Alfred has inspired a group of heavy hitting artists and in doing so, has lead The Redwoods to become San Diego’s musical lifeblood.

 


How we met:

Playing For Change was first introduced to Al Howard through our great fiends and founders of Guyaki and Come to Life, David Carr and Alex Pryor. They turned us on to his original version of “I Love America” and we knew he was the poet we had been searching for to contribute to our UN 75 Peace Through Music Event! 

Hometown

Follow Alfred Howard

PFC Videos Featuring Alfred Howard
I Love America | Alfred Howard | Peace Through Music

Feb 05, 2021

Alfred Howard Videos
Discover Musicians
  • Colton James

    location_onTexas, United States
  • Marcus King

    location_onGreenville, SC, USA
  • Daryl Simpson

    location_onOmagh, United Kingdom
Explore Videos
When the Music Comes to Life: Natural Mystic/Just a Little Bit | Documentary

Nov 16, 2018

Queen Bee feat. Taj Mahal, Ben Harper, Rosanne Cash | Song Around The World

Dec 16, 2021

No Cure | Zoe’s Shanghai | Live Outside

Mar 19, 2021

Recently From Our Blog
Protected: PFC BAND Live in Brazil

Posted on June 16, 2014


There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Continue reading
Want to see behind the scenes of PFC?
Become a Member
    • About
    • Contact
    • Team
    • Events
    • PFC Foundation
    • Blog
  • Become a Member
Playing for Change

Copyright © 2025 Playing for Change | Terms | Privacy