Mike Holcomb
- For the Arkansas politician, see Mike Holcomb (politician)
Michael Terry Holcomb (born February 2, 1954) is a Southern Gospel bass singer, best known for his forty plus years of work with The Inspirations.[1] He is noted for his extraordinary deep voice, able to reach an extreme full three octaves below Middle C (C4), one of the lowest voices in the world.
Biography
Holcomb was born in Pickens County, Georgia on February 2, 1954 to Alfred Carl Holcomb Jr. and Sarah Piccola Padgett. He began singing at the age of 4 in church.[2] He attended Tate Elementary School grades 1-5 and then moved to Jasper, Georgia where he attended the Jasper Elementary School. in the 6th grade and Talking Rock Elementary in the 7th grade.[2] Holcomb was saved on Wednesday, July 22, 1964 at Price Creek Baptist Church.[2] He then attended Pickens County High School from the 8th grade through to the 12th grade and graduated from high school in 1972. Along the way he had sung bass in groups such as the Happy Harmony Quartet and the Deliverance Quartet.[2] He had begun at a vocational college but dropped out in September 1972 to join The Inspirations.[2][3] The group he attained success in the Southern Gospel genre with such songs as "Shouting Time In Heaven", "When I Wake Up To Sleep No More", "A Rose Among The Thorns" and "We Need To Thank God" "Jesus is Coming Soon" and have sold over a million records. Mike has been featured on several top southern gospel songs including the following:"Hide me Rock of Ages", "I Get Happy", "Everybody will be happy", "The Son Came Down", "I'll have a New Life" "If You Only Knew", "God Makes No Mistakes" "Talk about Dying" and many many more. He married Bavaria Lynn Mitchell on April 25, 1976. He has two children Jeremy Nathan (born 1977) and Olivia Niccole (born 1979). Holcomb has two grandchildren Aubrey is the daughter of Niccole and Nathan Pierce. The newest addition to the Holcomb family is Jackson Holcomb, son of Nathan and Brandy Holcomb. He resides in Bryson City, North Carolina. He is a strongly committed Christian. Congrats to Mike for receiving the Marvin Norcross (Norcross-Templeton) award at the Singing News Fans Award Show on October 5, 2012. This is the highest honor anyone in Southern gospel can receive. The Marvin Norcross Award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor an individual selected by the staff of the Singing News magazine who has made distinct contributions to Southern Gospel over his or her career.
More important to Holcomb than his time traveling with the quartet is his evangelism ministry "Heart's Desire Ministries". Holcomb is an independent fundamental baptist. Holcomb has seven years of pastoral experience and has heeded the call of evangelism. Holcomb is a dedicated Christian and has a love for souls. He has been known for having a special touch of God upon him every time he stands to preach or sing. [citation needed]
Mike resigned his position as bass singer of the Inspirations' quartet on Tuesday, October 1, 2013. He is seeking God's will in full time evangelism and preaching.
See also
References
- ^ Graves, Michael P.; Fillingim, David (February 2005). More than precious memories: the rhetoric of Southern gospel music. Mercer University Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-86554-955-5. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Biography". Mikecolomb.org. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Goff, James R. (March 2002). Close harmony: a history of southern gospel. UNC Press Books. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-8078-5346-7. Retrieved 30 March 2011.