THE HOWDY BOYZ

Linzay Young, Ben Cooper, Rick Good

Linzay, Rick & Ben

Lifelong purveyors of American Roots Music—Appalachian, Country, Western Swing, Cajun and Blues, Linzay, Ben and Rick keep the good stuff alive with their well-seasoned vocals, fiddles, guitars, accordion, banjo and bass.

The Howdy Boyz at Blind Bob’s in Dayton

Linzay Young is a 9th generation Louisianian descended from French Canadians who settled in South Louisiana in 1769, after being expelled from Acadie (Nova Scotia) in the Grand Dérangement. He is only the second generation in his family to speak English as a first language, and has long prided himself on carrying the torch of his heritage. Linzay began his musical journey after being given a fiddle by his grandfather and learning to play Cajun music at the age of 13. He has shared his music and culture with folks around the world while touring with his former band, the Red Stick Ramblers. In addition to countless live performances, Linzay’s music with the Ramblers and others has been featured on radio, television, and the big screen, including the critically acclaimed HBO series Tremé, No Reservations and Parts Unknown with the late Anthony Bourdain, and more. Linzay moved to Southwest Ohio with his family in 2021, and now plays with his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Rick Good and Ben Cooper, respectively, in The Howdy Boyz, as well as Rhythm in Shoes offshoots Good & Young and The Family Business. If you’re lucky, you will find Linzay fiddling or stirring a pot of gumbo at a gathering near you.

Ben Cooper spent many a summer as a boy going with his mother, Sharon Leahy, to music festivals and camps where people gathered to play and dance to traditional American music. By the time he started playing himself, Ben had readily absorbed the heart and soul of it, fueling his journey to becoming a versatile musician with an intuitive gift for playing in a band. After several years of touring with his mom’s company, Rhythm in Shoes, and playing great oldtime music with blue ribbon bands like Gary Harrison’s Muleteam and The Buvas, Ben became a much in demand bass player and a fixture of the Dayton area music scene. He continues to play in several Southwest Ohio bands, with his family and friends in The Family Business, and The Howdy Boyz.

Rick Good is a veteran performer and creative artist. Having formed his first band in grade school, shortly after picking up the guitar and the banjo, Rick started putting in his 10,000 hours. He was a founding member of the Hotmud Family, an actor with the Mad River Theater Works, and co-director, with his partner Sharon Leahy, of the critically acclaimed music and dance company, Rhythm in Shoes. A 2010, Ohio Heritage Fellow, Rick is recognized and respected for his accomplished banjo playing, swinging guitar, heartfelt singing and crafty songwriting. In his nearly sixty years as a professional musician, Rick has released sixteen albums and played in nine bands, including the aforementioned Hotmud Family and Rhythm in Shoes, as well as The fabulous Rugcutters, The Uncles, Shoefly, The Red Clay Ramblers, Good & Young, The Elements, The Family Business and The Howdy Boyz.

Live on Charlie’s Stage at Natalie’s

Put these three rounders on stage together, hold on to your hats and seats and great music will fill your ears. Then, just like a tasty bowl of Linzay’s gumbo, The Howdy Boyz will have you coming back for more.

Hear the Howdy Boyz play an old Jack Teagarden favorite,
Meet Me Where They Play the Blues.