Houston Simmons earned his Bachelor of Music from Loyola University of the South and Master of Church Music degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, both in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has arranged, composed and orchestrated music for the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the New York Orchestra.
As an entrepreneur, Houston Simmons began his own music record company, Kingdom Enterprises, Inc. in New Orleans, Louisiana. From this, he produced seven full-length album recordings, one of which received a Grammy Nomination.
In 1999 Houston Simmons wrote and conducted his off-broadway production, “Hark! Christmas in the Raw !!” . From this, he was highlighted in a full-page feature of “Spotlight” on City People in the December 11, 2000 issue of The Daily News newspaper.
Twice has Houston Simmons been invited to bring a group of singers as the sole representatives of the USA in the largest international music festival in London , England, Music Village. He was featured in an interview on a global radio broadcast of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the autumn/winter 2002 issue of The London Arts Cafe Magazine.
Some of the celebrities Houston Simmons has worked with include:
2006 GrammyBest New Artist,John Legend
Broadway conductor, TV actor and composer Jester Hairston
The father of gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey
and produced music for Comedy Central
Houston Simmons taught voice at The Harlem School of the Arts and piloted a “World Music” course at The High School of Art and Design, both in New York City. His other activities include;
- private voice teacher, vocal coach and piano instructor
- authored the book and video series “4 Simple Steps to Singing”
- composed a work of varying musical compositions for choir, “Singing the Songs of Zion, Vol. I”
- travels as a Music Workshop Clinician