The Holmes Brothers: Difference between revisions
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| Background = group_or_band |
| Background = group_or_band |
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| Origin = |
| Origin = Christchurch, Virginia; [[Harlem, New York]] |
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| Genre = [[Blues]], [[Soul Music|Soul]], [[Gospel Music|Gospel]], [[Rhythm & Blues]] |
| Genre = [[Blues]], [[Soul Music|Soul]], [[Gospel Music|Gospel]], [[Rhythm & Blues]] |
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| Years_active = 1979 - Present |
| Years_active = 1979 - Present |
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| Label = [[ |
| Label = [[Alligator Records]], [[Rounder Records]], [[Real World Records]] |
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| Associated_acts = [[Joan Osborne]], [[Blues Traveler]], [[Peter Gabriel]] |
| Associated_acts = [[Joan Osborne]], [[Blues Traveler]], [[Peter Gabriel]] |
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| URL = [http://www.theholmesbrothers.com/main.html The Holmes Brothers Official Site]<br/> |
| URL = [http://www.theholmesbrothers.com/main.html The Holmes Brothers Official Site]<br/> |
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'''The Holmes Brothers''' are a vocal trio originally from |
'''The Holmes Brothers''' are a vocal and instrumental trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia.<ref name=AMG>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifyxq95ldke~T1 AllMusic: The Holmes Brothers]</ref> Mixing sounds from [[blues]],[[Soul Music|soul]], [[Gospel Music|gospel]], and [[rhythm & blues]], they have released nine original albums, with two reaching the top 5 on the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] Blues Albums chart.<ref name=BB>[http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/the-holmes-brothers/discography/albums/1306 Billboard Magazine: Discography]</ref> They have gained a following by playing regularly at summer folk, blues, gospel, and jazz festivals.<ref name=AMG/> They’ve recorded with [[Van Morrison]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Odetta]], [[Phoebe Snow]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Roseanne Cash]], [[Levon Helm]] and [[Joan Osborne]], and have gigged all over the world—including performing for President Clinton. They won the [[Blues Music Award]] from the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]-based [[Blues Foundation]] for Band of the Year in 2005 and for the Soul Blues Album of the Year in 2008.<ref>[http://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_pastyears Past Blues Music Awards Winners]</ref> ''USA Today'' calls The Holmes Brothers’ music “Rootsy R&B, gospel and country. They are glorious, full of soul and surprises.”<ref>Mansfield, Brian. [http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2007/01/this_weeks_revi_1.html USA Today], ‘’Listen Up’’, January 16, 2007</ref> ''The New Yorker'' says, “The Holmes Brothers are capable of awesome achievements.”<ref> Donahue, John. [http://www.newyorker.com The New Yorker], January 15, 2007</ref> '''National Public Radio''' adds, “Their voices are rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church.”<ref>Socey, Matthew, [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6906956 NPR.org], ''Blues You Can Use in the Pews'', January 18, 2007</ref> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Sherman and Wendell Holmes were born and raised in Christchurch, Virginia. Their schoolteacher parents fostered the boys’ early interest in music as they listened to traditional Baptist hymns, anthems and spirituals as well as blues music by [[Jimmy Reed]], [[Junior Parker]] and [[B.B. King]]. They both sang in the church choir. Sherman studied clarinet and piano before taking up the bass, while Wendell learned trumpet, organ and guitar. Sherman studied composition and music theory at Virginia State University, but in 1959, he dropped out and headed to New York for a job playing with a singer named [[Jimmy Jones]] (of ''Handy Man'' fame). His younger brother Wendell joined him after completing high school. The two brothers played in a few bands before forming The Sevilles in 1963. The group lasted only three years, but they often backed up touring [[Blues music|blues]] and [[Soul music|soul]] acts such as artists like [[The Impressions]], [[John Lee Hooker]] and [[Jerry Butler (singer)|Jerry Butler]], gaining experience. After The Sevilles disbanded, Sherman, Wendell and a fellow Virginian, drummer Popsy Dixon, continued to play in a variety of Top 40 bar bands—Wendell even toured with Inez and Charlie Foxx (Mockingbird)—until 1979.<ref name=CE>[http://www.concertedefforts.com/artists_bros.html Concerted Efforts: The Holmes Brothers Bio]</ref> |
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Sherman, Wendell, and Popsy convened in the form of a new group known as the Holmes Brothers in 1979. |
Sherman, Wendell, and Popsy convened in the form of a new group known as the Holmes Brothers in 1979. The three share vocals (some solo and some in gospel-inspired harmony), with Sherman playing bass, Wendell on guitar and piano, and Popsy on drums.<ref name=CE/> The band frequently plays with additional musicians as well.<ref name=AMG/> The trio moved from their hometown of Christchurch, Virginia to Harlem where they regularly performed at blues clubs, most notably Dan Lynch's, a center of the local New York City blues scene. Here the Holmes Brothers formed working relationships with future blues/folk stars such as [[Joan Osborne]] and members of [[Blues Traveler]].<ref name=CE/> |
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The group signed with [[Rounder Records]] in 1989 and released their first album, '' |
The group signed with [[Rounder Records]] in 1989 and released their first album, ''In the Spirit'' the following year. Four subsequent albums would be recorded for the label.<ref name=AMG/> In 1992, the Holmes Brothers were signed to [[Peter Gabriel]]'s [[Real World Records]] as the first American act on the prestigious world music label. In the mid 1990s the group performed with [[Van Morrison]] and recorded the soundtrack to the independent film ''Lotto Land'', in which they also starred. In 1997, they were hired by [[Joan Osborne]] as her backing band for a tour supporting [[Bob Dylan]].<ref name=CE/> |
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In 2001 the Holmes Brothers signed with [[Alligator Records]]. Their first album for the label was the critically-acclaimed ''Speaking in Tongues'', produced by Joan Osborne. Greg Kot of the ''Chicago Tribune'' called it a “joyous, foot-stomping carnival…a gift to the world of music.”<ref>Kot, Greg. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/69431550.html?dids=69431550:69431550&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+9%2C+2001&author=Greg+Kot%2C+Tribune+Rock+Critic&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=43&desc=MAKING+A+JOYFUL+NOISE+HOLMES+BROTHERS%27+%60SPEAKING+IN+TONGUES%27+RAGGEDLY+GRACEFUL The Chicago Tribune], Review of ''Speaking In Tongues'', March 9, 2001</ref> ''The Chicago Sun-Times'' called it, “A Breathtaking and heartfelt journey through gospel-drenched soul, blues, funk and country.”<ref>Bessman, Jim. ''The Chicago Sun-Times'', Review of ''Speaking In Tongues'', March 30, 2001</ref> The Holmes Brothers appeared on television on ''The Late Show With David Letterman'' and ''The CBS Saturday Early Show'', as well as on [[National Public Radio|NPR]]’s ''[[Weekend Edition]]'', ''[[A Prairie Home Companion]]'' and ''[[Mountain Stage]]''. In addition, The Holmes Brothers appeared on the M.C. Records tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, ''Shout, Sister, Shout'', backing Joan Osborne, Odella, Victoria Williams and Phoebe Snow. |
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In 2003 the group recorded two songs for the soundtrack album for the TV series ''[[Crossing Jordan]]''.<ref>[http://www.theholmesbrothers.com/bio.html The Holmes Brothers Official Biography]</ref> Also in 2003, Peter Gabriel released the single, “Burn You Up, Burn You Down,” featuring backing vocals by The Holmes Brothers. |
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Following their next album for [[Alligator]], ''Simple Truths'', they appeared on ''Outlaws And Angels—The Willie Nelson and Friends 3rd Annual Birthday Concert'' (televised on [[USA Network]] and released on CD and DVD), ''Late Night With Conan O’Brien, World Cafe, Mountain Stage'', as well as the nationally broadcasted [[National Public Radio|NPR]] programs ''All Things Considered, On Point and Here And Now''. ''Simple Truths'' and its followup Alligator album, ''State of Grace'', became the first two Holmes Brothers albums to reach the Billboard charts, with both reaching the top five of the Blues Albums chart.<ref name=BB/> After the release of ''State of Grace'', the band again performed on ''Late Night With Conan O’Brien''. Features and reviews ran in ''USA Today, The New York Times, Billboard, Time Out New York, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker'' and many other publications. The album won the [[Blues Music Award]] for Soul Blues Album Of The Year. ''Rolling Stone'' called the album “impressive, fervent country soul.”<ref name=RS> Fricke, David. ''Rolling Stone'', [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theholmesbrothers/albums/album/13144996/review/13232243/state_of_grace Album review of ''State of Grace''], February 27, 2007</ref> |
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In 2001 the Holmes Brothers signed with [[Alligator Records]]. Their first album for the label was the critically-acclaimed ''[[Speaking in Tongues (Holmes Brothers album)|Speaking in Tongues]]'' (2001). In 2003 the group recorded two songs for the soundtrack album for the TV series [[Crossing Jordan]].<ref>http://www.theholmesbrothers.com/bio.html The Holmes Brothers Official Biography</ref> Their next two albums for Alligator, ''[[Simple Truth]]'' (2004) and ''[[State of Grace (Holmes Brothers album)|State of Grace]]'' (2007), became the first two Holmes Brothers albums to reach the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] charts, with both reaching the top 5 of the Blues Albums chart.<ref>http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/the-holmes-brothers/chart-history/1306 Billboard Magazine: Chart History</ref> |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
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'' |
* 2007 ''State of Grace'' ([[Alligator Records|Alligator]]) <BR> |
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'' |
* 2004 ''Simple Truth'' (Alligator) <BR> |
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* 2002 ''Righteous: The Essential Collection ([[Rounder Records|Rounder]]) |
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''[[Speaking in Tongues (Holmes Brothers album)|Speaking in Tongues]]'' (2001) <BR> |
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* 2001 ''Speaking in Tongues'' (Alligator) <BR> |
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''[[Promised Land (Holmes Brothers album)|Promised Land]]'' (1997) <BR> |
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'' |
* 1997 ''Promised Land'' (Rounder)<BR> |
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* 1996 ''Lotto Land'' (Stony Plain Music)<BR> |
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''[[Soul Street (Holmes Brothers album)|Soul Street]]'' (1993) <BR> |
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* 1993 ''Soul Street'' (Rounder)<BR> |
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''[[Jubilation (Holmes Brothers album)|Jubilation]]'' (1992) <BR> |
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* 1992 ''Jubilation'' ([[Real World Records]])<BR> |
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''[[Where It's At (Holmes Brothers album)|Where It's At]]'' (1991) <BR> |
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* 1991 ''Where It's At'' (Rounder)<BR> |
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''[[In the Spirit (Holmes Brothers album)|In the Spirit]]'' (1990) <BR> |
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* 1990 ''In the Spirit'' (Rounder)<BR> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 16:06, 2 December 2009
The Holmes Brothers |
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The Holmes Brothers are a vocal and instrumental trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia.[1] Mixing sounds from blues,soul, gospel, and rhythm & blues, they have released nine original albums, with two reaching the top 5 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.[2] They have gained a following by playing regularly at summer folk, blues, gospel, and jazz festivals.[1] They’ve recorded with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cash, Levon Helm and Joan Osborne, and have gigged all over the world—including performing for President Clinton. They won the Blues Music Award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation for Band of the Year in 2005 and for the Soul Blues Album of the Year in 2008.[3] USA Today calls The Holmes Brothers’ music “Rootsy R&B, gospel and country. They are glorious, full of soul and surprises.”[4] The New Yorker says, “The Holmes Brothers are capable of awesome achievements.”[5] National Public Radio adds, “Their voices are rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church.”[6]
Biography
Sherman and Wendell Holmes were born and raised in Christchurch, Virginia. Their schoolteacher parents fostered the boys’ early interest in music as they listened to traditional Baptist hymns, anthems and spirituals as well as blues music by Jimmy Reed, Junior Parker and B.B. King. They both sang in the church choir. Sherman studied clarinet and piano before taking up the bass, while Wendell learned trumpet, organ and guitar. Sherman studied composition and music theory at Virginia State University, but in 1959, he dropped out and headed to New York for a job playing with a singer named Jimmy Jones (of Handy Man fame). His younger brother Wendell joined him after completing high school. The two brothers played in a few bands before forming The Sevilles in 1963. The group lasted only three years, but they often backed up touring blues and soul acts such as artists like The Impressions, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Butler, gaining experience. After The Sevilles disbanded, Sherman, Wendell and a fellow Virginian, drummer Popsy Dixon, continued to play in a variety of Top 40 bar bands—Wendell even toured with Inez and Charlie Foxx (Mockingbird)—until 1979.[7]
Sherman, Wendell, and Popsy convened in the form of a new group known as the Holmes Brothers in 1979. The three share vocals (some solo and some in gospel-inspired harmony), with Sherman playing bass, Wendell on guitar and piano, and Popsy on drums.[7] The band frequently plays with additional musicians as well.[1] The trio moved from their hometown of Christchurch, Virginia to Harlem where they regularly performed at blues clubs, most notably Dan Lynch's, a center of the local New York City blues scene. Here the Holmes Brothers formed working relationships with future blues/folk stars such as Joan Osborne and members of Blues Traveler.[7]
The group signed with Rounder Records in 1989 and released their first album, In the Spirit the following year. Four subsequent albums would be recorded for the label.[1] In 1992, the Holmes Brothers were signed to Peter Gabriel's Real World Records as the first American act on the prestigious world music label. In the mid 1990s the group performed with Van Morrison and recorded the soundtrack to the independent film Lotto Land, in which they also starred. In 1997, they were hired by Joan Osborne as her backing band for a tour supporting Bob Dylan.[7]
In 2001 the Holmes Brothers signed with Alligator Records. Their first album for the label was the critically-acclaimed Speaking in Tongues, produced by Joan Osborne. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune called it a “joyous, foot-stomping carnival…a gift to the world of music.”[8] The Chicago Sun-Times called it, “A Breathtaking and heartfelt journey through gospel-drenched soul, blues, funk and country.”[9] The Holmes Brothers appeared on television on The Late Show With David Letterman and The CBS Saturday Early Show, as well as on NPR’s Weekend Edition, A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage. In addition, The Holmes Brothers appeared on the M.C. Records tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Shout, Sister, Shout, backing Joan Osborne, Odella, Victoria Williams and Phoebe Snow.
In 2003 the group recorded two songs for the soundtrack album for the TV series Crossing Jordan.[10] Also in 2003, Peter Gabriel released the single, “Burn You Up, Burn You Down,” featuring backing vocals by The Holmes Brothers.
Following their next album for Alligator, Simple Truths, they appeared on Outlaws And Angels—The Willie Nelson and Friends 3rd Annual Birthday Concert (televised on USA Network and released on CD and DVD), Late Night With Conan O’Brien, World Cafe, Mountain Stage, as well as the nationally broadcasted NPR programs All Things Considered, On Point and Here And Now. Simple Truths and its followup Alligator album, State of Grace, became the first two Holmes Brothers albums to reach the Billboard charts, with both reaching the top five of the Blues Albums chart.[2] After the release of State of Grace, the band again performed on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Features and reviews ran in USA Today, The New York Times, Billboard, Time Out New York, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker and many other publications. The album won the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Album Of The Year. Rolling Stone called the album “impressive, fervent country soul.”[11]
Discography
- 2007 State of Grace (Alligator)
- 2004 Simple Truth (Alligator)
- 2002 Righteous: The Essential Collection (Rounder)
- 2001 Speaking in Tongues (Alligator)
- 1997 Promised Land (Rounder)
- 1996 Lotto Land (Stony Plain Music)
- 1993 Soul Street (Rounder)
- 1992 Jubilation (Real World Records)
- 1991 Where It's At (Rounder)
- 1990 In the Spirit (Rounder)
References
- ^ a b c d AllMusic: The Holmes Brothers
- ^ a b Billboard Magazine: Discography
- ^ Past Blues Music Awards Winners
- ^ Mansfield, Brian. USA Today, ‘’Listen Up’’, January 16, 2007
- ^ Donahue, John. The New Yorker, January 15, 2007
- ^ Socey, Matthew, NPR.org, Blues You Can Use in the Pews, January 18, 2007
- ^ a b c d Concerted Efforts: The Holmes Brothers Bio
- ^ Kot, Greg. The Chicago Tribune, Review of Speaking In Tongues, March 9, 2001
- ^ Bessman, Jim. The Chicago Sun-Times, Review of Speaking In Tongues, March 30, 2001
- ^ The Holmes Brothers Official Biography
- ^ Fricke, David. Rolling Stone, Album review of State of Grace, February 27, 2007