Howard begin recording songs for her debut album, Come Share My Love released in 1986. The album was produced by LeMel Humes, would peak to number 19 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums. The first single, “Come Share My Love” would become her first U.S. hit single. The song peaked to number five on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. By the fall, the follow up single was a cover version of Glenn Miller’s 1940’s tune “Imagination”, peaked to number 13 on the R&B Singles and would become Howard’s first video. With two hit singles from the album, she embarked on her first concert tour in 1987, opening for funk band Cameo. The final single, “Come Back to Me Lover” was released charting to number 33, on the R&B singles chart.