Biography: Howie Day Like Patty Griffin before him, Howie Day emerged from the country quietude of Bangor, ME, into Boston's coffeehouse scene and the world of folk music, proving his amazing talent on his first release, Australia. Singer/songwriters come a dime a dozen, but the truly eloquent ones are priceless, and like Griffin, Day has found a place in that lineage. Born in 1981, Day started playing piano as a youngster and eventually took hold of a guitar when he was 14. By the next year, he had his first live gig at Captain Nick's. Within another two years, Day was touring full-time in support of his independently released debut. Citing the likes of Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and Dave Matthews among his influences, Day incorporates much of their greatness into his style, making him original in his own right. Being without the resources of a major label's backing never hindered his touring schedule, as Day has opened for everyone from the Wallflowers to Shawn Mullins to Remy Zero to David Gray. Holding his own in the company of such artists is what earns Day great accolades from critics and audiences alike. His debut, Australia, was originally released in 2000 by Daze Records, but two years later he found himself being courted by Sony, who eventually won him over and reissued the album that summer. ~ Kelly McCartney,