News

HOLMES BROTHERS TO APPEAR ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN
2/17/2004
The Holmes Brothers – guitarist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes and drummer/vocalist Popsy Dixon – will appear on NBC Television’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” this Wednesday, February 18. They will sing “We Meet, We Part, We Remember” from their new Alligator CD, SIMPLE TRUTHS – a song Entertainment Weekly called, “A timeless original.”

HOLMES BROTHERS TO APPEAR ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN

Produced by Craig Street (Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson) and released on January 13, 2004, SIMPLE TRUTHS is receiving massive amounts of critical acclaim, radio airplay and popular support. Stellar reviews appeared in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, The Washington Post, The Associated Press Newswire, The Detroit Free Press, Guitar World, GuitarOne, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and All Songs Considered. Currently holding the #7 spot on the Billboard Blues Chart, SIMPLE TRUTHS is receiving airplay on over 250 stations nationwide, and was the #1 album on the Friday Morning Quarterback’s Public Radio chart two weeks straight. The album is in the Top Ten on the influential Radio & Records Americana Charts and reached the Top Five on the CMJ Adult Rock chart.

Ever since 1979, The Holmes Brothers have been bringing their brand of gospel-inflected, spiritually moving and funky music to audiences around the world. Their breathtaking harmonies resonate with a passion and conviction matched only by their inspired musicianship and their ability to perform sanctified gospel, low-down roadhouse blues, deep soul, barroom country and pure pop--all in one set.

Originally from Christchurch, Virginia, brothers Sherman and Wendell Holmes grew up listening to traditional Baptist hymns and spirituals as well as country and blues music. After moving to New York, the two formed The Sevilles in 1963, often backing up touring artists like The Impressions and John Lee Hooker. In 1979 Sherman, Wendell and a fellow Virginian, drummer Popsy Dixon, formed The Holmes Brothers band. The sound of The Holmes Brothers is unique; the rhythmic foundation laid down by Sherman's bass playing and Popsy's drumming perfectly compliment Wendell's hard-driving guitar solos. But even more gripping than their instrumental prowess is their amazing three-part harmony singing, mixing Wendell's gruff and gravelly vocals with Popsy's soaring falsetto and Sherman's rich baritone.

The Holmes Brothers have recorded with many artists, including Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, and Joan Osborne, and have gigged all over the world. They joined the Alligator Records family in 2001, and their label debut SPEAKING IN TONGUES amazed and delighted everybody who heard it. The Chicago Tribune called it a "a gift to the world of music."

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Holmes Brothers on Voice Of America
2/12/2004
The Holmes Brothers and their new Cd, Simple Truths, are featured in a five-minute audio feature on the Voice of America Radio Network.
Holmes Brother Feature Story in Billboard.com
2/5/2004
Writer Jason Macneil interviewed the Holmes Brothers about their new CD, Simple Truths, in this feature story for Billboard.com.
B.B. King Set to Headline Living Blues’ Second Annual Blues Today Symposium
1/26/2004
OXFORD, Mississippi – Legendary musician B.B. King returns to his home state February 26-28 to perform at the University of Mississippi’s (UM) second annual Blues Today symposium. Produced by Living Blues magazine – a publication of UM’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture – the event includes everything from a panel discussion on the current state of the blues to a goat roast at a local juke joint.
Holmes Brothers' Simple Truths Reviewed on National Public Radio's All Things Considered
1/20/2004
Critic Meredith Ochs reviewed the Holmes Brothers' CD Simple Truths on the January 19, 2004 edition on the National Public Radio program All Things Considered.
Kenny Neal & Billy Branch's Double Take Reviewed in Billboard
1/19/2004
Philip Van Vleck reviewed the new Kenny Neal & Billy Branch cd, Doubletake, in the January 13, 2004 issue of Billboard.
Holmes Brothers Simple Truths Championed on All Songs Considered
1/14/2004
The Holmes Brothers new cd, Simple Truths, received a glowing endorsement from reviewer Meredeth Ochs on the National Public Radio On-Line program, All Songs Considered. Ochs declares, "This is the best contemporary electric blues record I've heard in a long time." The Holmes segment occurs at the 31:22 point in the show.
Holmes Brothers' Simple Truths Receives 3 1/2 Star Review in USA TODAY
1/13/2004
Writing in the 13 January 2004 edition of USA TODAY, Brian Mansfield says "Simple Truths" features the most eclectic mix of songs you'll hear this year...masterful."
Holmes Brothers' Simple Truths Reviewed in New York Post
1/13/2004
Dan Aquilante checked in with this positive review in the 13 January 2004 edition of the New York Post, declaring Simple Truths "a timeless album."
Holmes Brothers on "Here And Now"
1/13/2004
The Holmes Brothers appeared on the WBUR program "Here And Now." Hear Sherman and Wendell Holmes and Popsy Dixon talk about their new cd, Simple Truths in this 10 minute segment.
EIGHT ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 15 W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARD NOMINATIONS!
1/12/2004
The Blues Foundation today announced the nominees for the 25th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards. Eight Alligator recording artists received a total of 15 nominations. Austin-based singer/songwriter/pianist Marcia Ball (who was recently nominated for a Grammy(c) Award) received four nominations, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Michael Burks followed with three nominations. Singing sensation Shemekia Copeland and Roomful of Blues (who also received a Grammy(c) nomination) followed with two nominations apiece, while Little Charlie and the Nightcats, W.C. Clark, Andra Faye (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women) and Koko Taylor each received one nomination. The Handy Awards ceremony and concert will be held April 29, 2004 at the Cook Convention Center on Main Street in downtown Memphis.

EIGHT ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 15 W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARD NOMINATIONS!

Alligator artists and nominations are as follows:

MARCIA BALL
Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Keyboards
Blues Song Of The Year - "Foreclose On The House Of Love" (John Lee Sanders) from "So Many Rivers"
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year - "So Many Rivers"


MICHAEL BURKS
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Guitar
Blues Song Of The Year - "I Smell Smoke" (Jon Tiven, Sally Tiven and Roger Reale) from "I Smell Smoke"
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year - "I Smell Smoke"


SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Blues Entertainer of the Year
Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year


KOKO TAYLOR
Traditional Female Blues Artist of the Year


W.C. CLARK
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year


ROOMFUL OF BLUES
Blues Band Of The Year
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Horns


LITTLE CHARLIE AND THE NIGHTCATS
Blues Band of the Year


ANDRA FAYE (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women)
Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Violin

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Holmes Brothers' Simple Truths reviewd in Billboard
1/5/2004
The new Holmes Brothers CD, Simple Truths, received a glowing review from writer Chris Morris in Billboard magazine.