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New Bern's ‘Music Man’ recovering after weekend assault

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston

Published March 6, 2025 at 7:11 AM EST

Matthews is known as the ‘Music Man’ and is often seen on the benches on Middle Street near Baker’s Kitchen playing guitar.

A fund drive has been set up for a downtown New Bern musician who was assaulted last weekend.

New Bern police say Howard Matthews was attacked at about 9:00 a.m. Saturday on Neuse Boulevard.

Matthews is known as the ‘Music Man’ and is often seen on the benches on Middle Street near Baker’s Kitchen playing guitar.

He was treated at the hospital and released; police said Tyrek Briley was charged with simple assault.

A GoFundMe page to help Matthews said he was shoved off his bicycle and beaten.

Annette Weston

Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.

See stories by Annette Weston