Eddie Holland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie Holland
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| Birth name | Edward James Holland Jr. |
| Also known as | Edward Holland Edward Holland, Jr Edward James Holland Edward J. Jr. Holland Edward J. Holland Jr. James Edward Holland Jr. |
| Born | October 30, 1939 Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, funk, soul |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | Motown, Mercury, United Artists, Invictus, Hallmark |
| Associated acts | Holland–Dozier–Holland |
Edward James Holland Jr. (born October 30, 1939), known as Eddie Holland, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the brother of Brian Holland, another famous musician.
Eddie Holland was born in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States. He started his career as a singer for Motown Records. He even had a small hit song called "Jamie." However, he later decided to work more behind the scenes. This was partly because he experienced stage fright, which is a fear of performing in front of people.
Eddie became a very important part of a songwriting and production team called Holland–Dozier–Holland. This team also included his brother Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. They were responsible for creating many of the famous songs that defined the "Motown Sound." Their music was known for its catchy melodies and soulful feel.
Holland–Dozier–Holland wrote hit songs for many popular groups. These included Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Isley Brothers. Eddie Holland was mainly the lyricist for the team. This means he wrote the words for the songs. He also wrote lyrics for songs produced by Norman Whitfield for groups like the Marvelettes and the Temptations. Some of these songs include "Too Many Fish in the Sea" and "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep."
His Work and Achievements
Eddie Holland has written or co-written a huge number of hit songs. He contributed to 143 songs that made it onto the US music charts. He also had 80 songs that became hits in the UK. This shows how successful and influential his songwriting was.
He also helped compose songs for the musical First Wives Club. This shows his talent extended beyond just pop and soul music.
Becoming an Author
In 2019, Eddie Holland, along with his brother Brian and writer Dave Thompson, co-authored a book. This book is an autobiography about the Holland–Dozier–Holland team. It is called Come and Get These Memories, named after a famous song by Martha and the Vandellas.
Music Releases
Eddie Holland released several albums during his career. These include:
- Eddie Holland (1962)
- The Complete Eddie Holland (1995)
- It Moves Me – The Complete Recordings 1958–1964 (2012)
- From Mercury to Motown 1958–1962 (2021)
He also released many singles, which are individual songs. His song "Jamie" was one of his most well-known hits as a singer.
