Jackson, Michigan initated its First Annual Juneteenth Music Festival with a bang on June 18. (Editors note: Juneteenth is the celebration of the African American holiday that marks emancipation and the end of slavery. June 19 is the official holiday, but many locations celebrate the days leading up to recognized holiday.)

The downtown Riverwalk Amphitheater and a hot late spring evening blended to provide a real laid back backdrop for local acts that included the Spoken Word Poets, comedian, Cornell Peal , the jazz music of Too Smooth For Notes and soul balladeer Howard Hewett.

Although he has not released a new song in many years, Hewett showed that he could still move a crowd. He asked, “How many people love-love songs? They call me a balladeer, and I’m not mad at’em.” His expressive hands illustrated the beautiful song, “Show Me.” Before he sang “This Is For The Lover in You.” He spoke to the young men, saying, “I don’t know if you understand this concept? - The more you give the more you get – If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home.” Hewett crooned, This is for the lover in you baby… As he moved through the crowd brushing shoulders, sections gathered around him standing and swaying in their seats…with this ring I’ll show you that it ain’t no maybe…The crowd willingly sang the break down, So much love between ussss…

As a solo artist Hewett has ten solo CD’s and three with Shalamar that represent millions in album sales worldwide. Solo projects include 1986 I Commit To Love, 1988 Forever & Ever, 1988 Howard Hewett, 1992 Allegiance, 1996 It’s Time, 2001 The Journey, The Journey Live From The Heart, The Very Best of Howard Hewett, Howard Hewett - Intimate Greatest Hits, Intimate Live; Shalamar hits include For The Lover In You, Second Time Around, It’s Time, Dancing In The Sheets, A Night To Remember that are all available on Amazon.com. He was a Soul Train dancer, before joining Shalamar. Hewett is a low-key, high spirited, confident R&B icon, as handsome as ever. Dressed in the simple elegance of a black shirt, and black pants he granted the following interview.

MB: When and where did you begin singing?
Hewett: I was 10, in Akron, Ohio with my sisters in a gospel group. I began singing with Shalamar (Jodi Watley & Jeffrey Daniels) at about 23, around 1980. I was Shalamar’s third lead vocalist. Jeffrey and I perform together in India and Japan on occasion.

MB: How many years have you been recording gospel? What about secular music?
Hewett: I’ve always done R&B mixed with inspirational love songs about man and God, about men and women. When I want to set a mood that respects romanticism, standing on responsibility, I don’t need anyone to tell me how to sex a woman up. I’m a grown person. I know how to do that.

Secular means without God and there’s nothing I’ve ever done without God. Every album I’ve ever done has always had an inspirational song in it, beginning with Say Amen (An original composition from his first album).

MB: What formal training if any have you had?
Hewett: Blessings…Praise the Lord.

MB: Do you write your own lyrics?
Hewett: For The Lover In You, I’m For Real, you never know where a good song will come from. I don’t limit myself.

MB: What legends have you been most impressed with?
Hewett: Marvin Gaye of course. I remember the first and only time I met Marvin. He said, “I love your stuff.” And my mouth was wide open in awe. Stevie, Prince to me is a musical genius, a lot of different people for different times.

MB: What artists do you enjoy collaborating with? The song with you and Temorah is very nice, is she new, or has she been around?
Hewett: She’s relatively new in her early twenties. And she’s dedicated to her craft. She has a good work ethic. I came in for a day to do my part and she recorded hers.

MB: Who else would you like to work with?
Hewett: Prince…yea. I think Prince makes you step up to a level you may not even know you have. At this stage in the game I could learn even more working with him.

MB: Who do you enjoy listening to.
Hewett: Mariah Carey’s vocal delivery on the Emancipation of MiMi CD (He listens to it daily). This to me is her best work ever! It’s gut wrenching, she put it out there, if you have a voice you can (take it to a new plane)!

MB: What advice would you give talented youth seeking a musical career?
Hewett: I would say it’s hard to really talk about advice, as far as the music business. Because there are no rules in this day and age where you can say do this and that will happen. There’s never been that sure thing, because different things work for different people. All I can say is focus, have a plan of what you want to be, and have spiritual grounding. I believe in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. When I started (in music) my goal was to achieve longevity, and to do that you have to be centered enough to be humble during your highs, so you have something to pull you up during your lows and to me that’s the most important thing. Focus…hard work…and dedication and don’t get side tracked, and keep your spirituality together. God made us (as long as you keep him in mind you’ll be alright).

It’s amazing how many men wanted a picture with Howard Hewett. He’s a man’s man and a woman’s dream. In concert he held every hand that reached out to him. He gave a few delighted ladies his healing touch as he breezed through the crowd like the “piped piper,” dancing and singing with alternate segments of the crowd. After the concert he briefly rubbed one pregnant ladies stomach, sending good vibes to the baby to come, before he signed an autograph for her. As he signed autographs, and I wrote, someone asked a question. He said, “I have three girls, and one son. I always know someone will love me.”

Howard Hewett is a gentleman, a wonderful balladeer and the star of a story. www.howardHewett.com.