Howard Leese

Howard M. Leese (born June 13, 1951 in Hollywood, California) is an American guitarist, record producer and musical director who played with Heart for 22 years (1975–1997). He continues to record and tour as a solo artist, and as guitarist with The Paul Rodgers Band and Bad Company. Howard received his inspiration to pick up the guitar during the 1960s after seeing Dick Dale, the guitarist in the surf band "the Del-Tones", and feeling the excitement from his playing. He studied violin and music theory at the City College, Los Angeles, and also played in a band called The Zoo. Leese had his first recording contract with Ed Cobb’s Sunburst label at the age of 15, as the band The Zoo with friend and drummer Mike Flicker. Later, when...