Cutee Howlett was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas on May 2, 1921, one of 13 children born to Wiley and Hallie Howlett. During his early years, the family moved to Sikeston, Missouri, and that is where he spent the majority of his childhood. He confessed a hope in Christ at an early age, which would lay the foundation for the steadfast soldier he would later become.
He graduated from O’Bannon High School in New Madrid, Missouri. In 1945, with his sights set on bigger and better things, he moved to St. Louis. He spent four years serving as a cook for hundreds of men in the U.S. Navy before becoming the recipient of an honorable discharge. Upon returning home, he united in holy matrimony with Alberta Sloan, and they remained husband and wife until 1984, when God called her home to Glory.
He was then married to Norris Jean Robinson, who would be beside him as his wife until God said, “Good and gaithful servant, well done.”
Cutee was the proud father of seven boys, Albert, Cutee Jr., Gene (Yolanda), Jimmie, Larry, Darryl (Janet) and Sheldon Jackson (LaToya); and three girls, Shirley Wilks, Janice Daniels and Lydia Jones (the Rev.William Jones), all natives of St. Louis. He also assumed an integral father figure role in the lives of his stepchildren Tisha Little (the Rev. Rod Little), Tiffany Brown and Jerome Robinson.
Throughout the course of his life, he has had an immeasurable impact not only on the lives of his children, but also on the lives of many of his grandchildren, his cousins, his nieces, and his nephews. He was affectionately referred to as “Daddy” by many, and “Unca Cutee” by many more.
As a means of supporting his family, in 1954, Cutee became one of the first African Americans to be employed by the public transportation service known as Bi-State. He would work there for 28 years before retiring in 1982 and is felt by many to have been very instrumental in obtaining equal rights for all minority drivers.
It is not, however, his bus driving, that made Cutee Howlett one of the most well-respected men in St. Louis. This distinction would instead come from the more than 47 years he spent performing as a gospel singer/manager with the Gates of Heaven, his multiple years of service as a deacon, and the time and effort he spent becoming the most highly sought-after program M.C. within the gospel community.
He is also well-known for his work as a gospel deejay, whose broadcast aired live on WGNU radio every Sunday, and for the time he spent as a gospel promoter. It is through these roles that he became known by many of his fans as “208 pounds of beauty” and, shortly after that, “The Hook.”
During his musical career, Cutee recorded several records, most notably “I Need the Lord” and “Sign Me Up,” and appeared with many national recording artists such as The Jackson Southernaires, The Canton Spirituals, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Slim and the Supreme Angels, just to name a few.
He has been a longtime, active member of Strangers Home Missionary Baptist Church, where the Rev. Flem E. Bronner is pastor. He has served as chairman of the deacon board since 1975 and has seen many different pastors come and go. Over the years, he has received numerous awards, most recently a proclamation from the Aldermanic Board of the City of St. Louis recognizing him for his many contributions to the community.
Cutee Howlett departed this life on March 10, 2005 at 12:45 p.m. and leaves to cherish his memory his wife Norris Jean Howlett; a sister, Pauline Kenner of Carbondale, Il.; five sons, three daughters, three stepchildren, 44 grandchildren, and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alberta Howlett, three sisters, eight brothers, and two sons, Albert and Cutee Jr. He will be greatly missed by all.
