Howard Jones

Howard Jones scored some of the biggest, most easily recognizable hits of the 1980s and in the process introduced new wave synth pop to easy listening airwaves. Trans-Atlantic chart-toppers "Things Can Only Get Better" and "What Is Love" showcased Jones's soaring soprano and keyboard finesse. When New Wave's Aquanet glory days capitulated to fads of the nineties, Jones was forced out of the limelight, but he continued to perform and record. Trading in his synthesizer for a piano, Jones's sound became increasingly intimate, eschewing techno-tinsel for a more organic feel. His 1998 release People is not only one of his most mature, but also his most eclectic. The album incorporates strong jazz elements and dabbles in exotic world music rhythms.