The Holmes Brothers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Holmes Brothers
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The Holmes Brothers, at The Grand, Wilmington, Delaware, 2009
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Christchurch, Virginia; Harlem, New York |
| Genres | Blues, Gospel, Soul, R&B, Americana |
| Years active | 1978 – 2015 |
| Labels | Alligator, Rounder, Real World |
| Associated acts | Joan Osborne, Blues Traveler, Peter Gabriel, Freddie Roulette |
| Past members | Sherman Holmes Wendell Holmes Popsy Dixon |
The Holmes Brothers was an American music group. They started in Christchurch, Virginia. The group played a mix of music. Their sound included blues, soul, gospel, country, and R&B.
They released twelve studio albums. Three of their albums reached the top 5 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. The band became popular by playing at many summer music festivals. These included folk, blues, gospel, and jazz events.
The Holmes Brothers recorded with famous artists. Some of these were Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, and Willie Nelson. They performed all over the world. They even played for President Bill Clinton. In 2005, they won the Blues Music Award for Band of the Year. They also won for Soul Blues Album of the Year in 2008.
Music critics loved their sound. USA Today called their music "glorious, full of soul and surprises." The New Yorker said they were "capable of awesome achievements." National Public Radio noted their voices were "rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church."
Contents
The Story of The Holmes Brothers
Sherman and Wendell Holmes grew up in Christchurch, Virginia. Their parents were schoolteachers. They encouraged the boys' early interest in music. The brothers listened to Baptist hymns and spirituals. They also enjoyed blues artists like B.B. King. Both boys sang in the church choir.
Sherman learned to play the clarinet and piano. Later, he started playing the bass guitar. Wendell learned the trumpet, organ, and guitar. Sherman studied music at Virginia State University. In 1959, he moved to New York. He got a job playing with singer Jimmy Jones.
His younger brother Wendell joined him after high school. The brothers played in a few bands. In 1963, they formed a group called The Sevilles. This group lasted for three years. They often backed up touring blues and soul artists. This helped them gain a lot of experience.
After The Sevilles broke up, Sherman and Wendell kept playing. They teamed up with Popsy Dixon, a drummer from Virginia. They played in many different bar bands. Wendell also toured with the group Inez and Charlie Foxx.
Forming The Holmes Brothers
In 1979, Sherman, Wendell, and Popsy formed a new group. They called themselves The Holmes Brothers. All three members sang. They often sang in gospel-inspired harmony. Sherman played bass, Wendell played guitar and piano. Popsy played the drums. The band sometimes played with other musicians too.
The trio moved from Virginia to Harlem, New York. They often performed at blues clubs there. Dan Lynch's was a famous club where they played a lot. Here, they met and worked with future stars. These included Joan Osborne and members of Blues Traveler.
In 1989, the group signed with Rounder Records. They released their first album, In the Spirit, in 1990. They recorded four more albums with Rounder. In 1992, Peter Gabriel's Real World Records signed them. They were the first American band on this well-known world music label.
In the mid-1990s, the group performed with Van Morrison. They also recorded music for the movie Lotto Land. They even acted in the film. In 1997, Joan Osborne hired them. They were her backing band for a tour with Bob Dylan. In 1998, they played on Freddie Roulette's album, Spirit of Steel.
Success and Awards
In 2001, The Holmes Brothers joined Alligator Records. Their first album for this label was Speaking in Tongues. Joan Osborne produced this album. Critics praised it highly. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune called it a "joyous, foot-stomping carnival."
The Holmes Brothers appeared on TV shows. These included Late Show with David Letterman and The CBS Saturday Early Show. They were also on NPR programs. These included Weekend Edition and A Prairie Home Companion. They also appeared on a tribute album for Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
In 2003, the group recorded two songs. These were for the TV series Crossing Jordan. Also in 2003, Peter Gabriel released a song. It was called "Burn You Up, Burn You Down." The Holmes Brothers sang backing vocals on it.
Their next album for Alligator was Simple Truths. After this, they appeared on many shows. These included Outlaws And Angels with Willie Nelson. They also performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Simple Truths and State of Grace were their first albums to reach the Billboard charts. Both albums made it to the top five on the Blues Albums chart. After State of Grace came out, they played on Late Night with Conan O'Brien again. Many newspapers and magazines featured them. These included USA Today, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.
State of Grace won the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Album of the Year. Reviewer David Fricke from Rolling Stone called the album "impressive, fervent country soul."
On March 2, 2010, they released Feed My Soul. This album was partly inspired by Wendell's fight with cancer. Their last album, Brotherhood, came out in 2013. Living Blues magazine praised it. They called it "as soulful and alive as the Holmes Brothers performances." They also said it was "a national treasure."
In 2014, The Holmes Brothers received a special honor. They won an NEA National Heritage Fellowship. This is the highest award for traditional artists.
The End of the Group
Popsy Dixon passed away on January 9, 2015. He had bladder cancer. Wendell Holmes died on June 19, 2015. He had problems from pulmonary hypertension. As of 2021, Sherman Holmes is the only surviving member. He lives in Saluda, Virginia.
Discography
- 1990 In the Spirit (Rounder)
- 1991 Where It's At (Rounder)
- 1992 Jubilation (Real World Records)
- 1993 Soul Street (Rounder)
- 1996 Lotto Land (Stony Plain Music)
- 1997 Promised Land (Rounder)
- 2001 Speaking in Tongues (Alligator)
- 2002 Righteous: The Essential Collection (Rounder)
- 2004 Simple Truths (Alligator)
- 2007 State of Grace (Alligator)
- 2010 Feed My Soul (Alligator)
- 2014 Brotherhood (Alligator)
