"MIKI HOWARD" - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW-THUR, APR 16, 2015 - 5:00PM PST

Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard (born September 30, 1960) is an American R&B/jazz singer and actress who had a string of Top 10 hit songs in the late-1980s and early-1990s, including "Baby, Be Mine", "Come Share My Love" and "Love Under New Management". "Ain't Nobody Like You" and "Ain't Nuthin' in the World" both peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.

Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of gospel singers Josephine Howard[1] of The Caravans, and Clay Graham of The Pilgrim Jubilees.[2][3] Howard's mother took her to the homes of various stars such as Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples. At the age of nine, Howard and her family moved to Los Angeles where Howard's mother sung in a choir led by Caravans member and arranger James Cleveland. Among those who visited Howard's Los Angeles residence were Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, Billy Preston and Fats Domino. Howard was also influenced by jazz greats, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson.

As a teenager, she often visited Maverick's Flat, a popular night club in Los Angeles, and a venue for music acts such as Rufus and Chaka Khan and Earth Wind & Fire, who were influential in her pursuit of a professional singing career.

At the age of 16, she performed in a teen pageant. After the show, she met singer Augie Johnson,[4] leader and member of R&B group Side Effect,[5] who happened to be in the audience and began working with Howard on music. Johnson charmed Howard and later chose her as the vocalist for the group.