The Holmes Brothers
NewMusicforOldFolks says …
The Holmes Brothers mixed blues, gospel and R&B into a smooth sounds for decades. Unfortunately, you'll have to settle for recording since both Wendell Holmes and honorary brother Popsy Dixon died this year of cancer. Simple Truths is a good place to start listening.
Artist's info
Website: theholmesbrothers.com
Record company: Alligator Records
Genre: Blues, R&B, Soul
If you like this, look into: Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Aaron Neville, Robert Cray
Bio (From AllMusic.com)
The Holmes Brothers had a unique synthesis of gospel-inflected R&B harmonies, accompanied by good drumming and rhythm-based guitar playing, Gave them a down-home rural feeling that no other touring roots music group can duplicate. Brothers Sherman and Wendell Holmes, along with drummer Popsy Dixon (the falsetto voice), were the group's core members, although they occasionally toured with extra musicians. All three harmonized well together. The Holmes Brothers were so versatile, they're booked solid every summer at folk, blues, gospel, and jazz festivals, as they played a style of music that is a gumbo of church tunes, blues, country, funk, reggae, roots rock, and soul. Although people like Bo Diddley and especially Jimmy Reed were early influences on Wendell and Sherman, gospel music also played an important role in their respective upbringings. Unfortunately, cancer claimed both Dixon and Wendell Holmes in 2015. (more)
Spotify Sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
BROTHERHOOD (2014): The Holmes Brothers' Alligator Records album, Brotherhood, is another stellar chapter in The Holmes Brothers' storied and still-evolving history. It's also their most bluesy album, filled with roadhouse wisdom, late-night doo wop, proto rock 'n' roll punch, soulful R&B and closing with an amazing dose of Sunday morning spirit. Featuring fourteen songs including eight new Holmes Brothers originals and six carefully-chosen covers the album The Holmes Brothers at the absolute top of their game, creating timeless roots music. From the rocking Wendell original ''Stayed At The Party,'' to the sweet harmonies of Ted Hawkins' ''I Gave Up All I Had,'' to Sherman's soulful composition ''Passing Through,'' to the doo wop splendor of Popsy's vocals on the Stax classic ''My Kind Of Girl,'' to Wendell's gorgeous duet with his daughter Felicia on ''Loving You From Afar,'' to the final note of the band's most requested song and a highlight of each and every live performance the soul-stirring ''Amazing Grace,'' Brotherhood is a testament to the uplifting musical power that comes from the close-knit, fraternally telepathic relationship of The Holmes Brothers.
OTHERS
In the Spirit (1990)
Where It's At (1991)
Jubilation (1992)
Soul Street (1993)
Lotto Land (1996)
Promised Land (1997)
Speaking in Tongues (2001)
Righteous: The Essential Collection (2002)
Simple Truths (2004)
State of Grace (2007)
Feed My Soul (2010)
