John Dee Holeman (April 4, 1929 – April 30, 2021)[2][3] was an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.[1] His music includes elements of Texas blues, R&B and African-American string-band music.[1] In his younger days he was also known for his proficiency as a buckdancer.[4]
Holeman was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina.[2] on April 4, 1929. He was raised on a farm in Orange County.[5] He learned to play the guitar,[5] and listened to traveling bluesmen from other parts of the South, as well as on the radio. Drawing inspiration from Blind Boy Fuller, he began singing and playing guitar at local parties and other community events by the time he was in his mid-teens.[4] He went on to purchase his first electric guitar during his mid-twenties. Holeman relocated to Durham, North Carolina, in 1954, where he played with the pianist Fris Holloway.[1][6] The duo became adept at the Juba dance, also known as the hambone or buckdance, which he had earlier learned at country dances.[4]
Careeredit
During his working lifetime, Holeman had full-time employment as a construction worker, and music was a part-time pursuit.[4] However, he was able to tour in the United States and overseas in the 1980s, including performances at Carnegie Hall, and abroad on behalf of the United States Information Agency's Arts America program.[1] He played at the 42nd National Folk Festival at Wolf Trap, Virginia, in 1980.[7] He performed yearly at the Black Banjo Festival, in Boone, North Carolina. His first album, Bull City After Dark, was nominated for a W. C. Handy award (a predecessor of the Blues Music Awards). He recorded the albumBull Durham Blues in 1988, which featured Taj Mahal. It was re-released on the Music Makerlabel in 1999. Also in 1988, the National Endowment for the Arts presented Holeman with a National Heritage Fellowship.[1]
In 2007, Music Maker issued the album John Dee Holeman & the Waifs Band, on which Holeman was backed by the Waifs, an Australian folk-rock group.[1] He played several shows in 2018 with Cajun/Zydeco musician Mel Melton in Durham.[9]
Personal lifeedit
Holeman was married to Joan until his death.[5] He died on April 30, 2021, at the age of 92.[5]
^ abcdefgSkelly, Richard. "John Dee Holeman". Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
^ abc"John Dee Holeman". Musicmaker.org. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
^Menconi, David (May 1, 2021). "John Dee Holeman, Durham's Last Great Blues Elder, Dies at 92". Indyweek.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
^ abcd. Nea.gov. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
^ abcd"John Dee Holeman, legendary blues musician and NC native, dies at 92". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021. (subscription required)
^"John Dee Holeman". Folkstreams.net. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
^Bastin, Bruce (1995). Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast. Champaign: University of Illinois Press. p. 289. ISBN0-252-01213-5.
^"50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations (Part II)". Variety.com. December 6, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
^"John Dee Holeman with Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos Live at the Bullpen". Cary Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
^Ford, Robert (March 31, 2008). A Blues Bibliography. Routledge. p. 443. ISBN9781135865085.
^ abcd"John Dee Holeman – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
^ abcd"John Dee Holeman – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
External linksedit
John Dee Holeman talks about building a guitar out of a cigar box and screen door wire. NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
john, holeman, april, 1929, april, 2021, american, piedmont, blues, guitarist, singer, songwriter, music, includes, elements, texas, blues, african, american, string, band, music, younger, days, also, known, proficiency, buckdancer, holeman, 1988background, in. John Dee Holeman April 4 1929 April 30 2021 2 3 was an American Piedmont blues guitarist singer and songwriter 1 His music includes elements of Texas blues R amp B and African American string band music 1 In his younger days he was also known for his proficiency as a buckdancer 4 John Dee HolemanHoleman in 1988Background informationBorn 1929 04 04 April 4 1929Hillsborough North Carolina U S DiedApril 30 2021 2021 04 30 aged 92 Roxboro North Carolina U S GenresPiedmont blues 1 Occupation s Musician singer songwriterInstrument s Guitar vocalsYears active1950s 2021LabelsMusic Maker Inedit Music Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Discography 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editHoleman was born in Hillsborough North Carolina 2 on April 4 1929 He was raised on a farm in Orange County 5 He learned to play the guitar 5 and listened to traveling bluesmen from other parts of the South as well as on the radio Drawing inspiration from Blind Boy Fuller he began singing and playing guitar at local parties and other community events by the time he was in his mid teens 4 He went on to purchase his first electric guitar during his mid twenties Holeman relocated to Durham North Carolina in 1954 where he played with the pianist Fris Holloway 1 6 The duo became adept at the Juba dance also known as the hambone or buckdance which he had earlier learned at country dances 4 Career editDuring his working lifetime Holeman had full time employment as a construction worker and music was a part time pursuit 4 However he was able to tour in the United States and overseas in the 1980s including performances at Carnegie Hall and abroad on behalf of the United States Information Agency s Arts America program 1 He played at the 42nd National Folk Festival at Wolf Trap Virginia in 1980 7 He performed yearly at the Black Banjo Festival in Boone North Carolina His first album Bull City After Dark was nominated for a W C Handy award a predecessor of the Blues Music Awards He recorded the album Bull Durham Blues in 1988 which featured Taj Mahal It was re released on the Music Maker label in 1999 Also in 1988 the National Endowment for the Arts presented Holeman with a National Heritage Fellowship 1 Holeman was presented with the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1994 2 A song Holeman wrote Chapel Hill Boogie was featured on the 2007 Grammy Award nominated album 10 Days Out Blues from the Backroads recorded by Kenny Wayne Shepherd 8 In 2007 Music Maker issued the album John Dee Holeman amp the Waifs Band on which Holeman was backed by the Waifs an Australian folk rock group 1 He played several shows in 2018 with Cajun Zydeco musician Mel Melton in Durham 9 Personal life editHoleman was married to Joan until his death 5 He died on April 30 2021 at the age of 92 5 Discography editYear Title Record label1991 Bull City After Dark 10 Silver Spring1992 Piedmont Blues of Carolina 11 Inedit Music1993 John Dee amp Fris Country Girl 11 Mapleshade1999 Bull Durham Blues 12 Music Maker2004 John Dee Holeman with Taj Mahal 11 Music Maker2006 Sunnyland Slim John Dee Holeman Blues Legends Live 11 Mapleshade2007 John Dee Holeman amp the Waifs Band 12 Music Maker2009 You Got to Lose You Can t Win All the Time 12 Music Maker2019 Last Pair of Shoes 12 Music MakerSee also editList of Piedmont blues musiciansReferences edit a b c d e f g Skelly Richard John Dee Holeman Allmusic com Retrieved October 22 2010 a b c John Dee Holeman Musicmaker org Retrieved October 22 2011 Menconi David May 1 2021 John Dee Holeman Durham s Last Great Blues Elder Dies at 92 Indyweek com Retrieved May 1 2021 a b c d 1988 NEA National Heritage Fellow John Dee Holeman Nea gov Archived from the original on October 16 2011 Retrieved October 22 2011 a b c d John Dee Holeman legendary blues musician and NC native dies at 92 The News amp Observer Raleigh North Carolina May 2 2021 Retrieved May 2 2021 subscription required John Dee Holeman Folkstreams net Retrieved October 22 2011 Bastin Bruce 1995 Red River Blues The Blues Tradition in the Southeast Champaign University of Illinois Press p 289 ISBN 0 252 01213 5 50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Part II Variety com December 6 2007 Retrieved October 22 2011 John Dee Holeman with Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos Live at the Bullpen Cary Magazine Retrieved July 23 2018 Ford Robert March 31 2008 A Blues Bibliography Routledge p 443 ISBN 9781135865085 a b c d John Dee Holeman Credits AllMusic Retrieved May 2 2021 a b c d John Dee Holeman Album Discography AllMusic Retrieved May 2 2021 External links editJohn Dee Holeman talks about building a guitar out of a cigar box and screen door wire NAMM Oral History Library 2013 John Dee Holeman discography at Discogs John Dee Holeman at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Dee Holeman amp oldid 1118243545, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
