Wikipedia

Richard Holmes (organist)

"Groove Holmes" redirects here. For the song by the Beastie Boys, see Check Your Head.

Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes (May 2, 1931 – June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre.[1] He is best known for his 1965 recording of "Misty".[2]

Richard "Groove" Holmes
Holmes in 1965
Holmes in 1965
Background information
Birth nameRichard Arnold Holmes
Born(1931-05-02)May 2, 1931
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 29, 1991(1991-06-29) (aged 60)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • arranger
InstrumentOrgan
Years active1961–1991
Labels

Career

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Holmes's first album, on Pacific Jazz with guest Ben Webster, was recorded in March 1961.[1] He recorded many albums for Pacific Jazz, Prestige, Groove Merchant, and Muse, many of them with Houston Person.[2]

He died of a heart attack after battling prostate cancer, having performed his last concerts in a wheelchair.[2] One of his last gigs was at the 1991 Chicago Blues Festival with his longtime friend, singer Jimmy Witherspoon.

Discography

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As leader

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LP/CD compilations

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  • Richard "Groove" Holmes: Jazz Milestone Series (Pacific Jazz, 1966) (compilation of Pacific Jazz material)
  • The Best of Richard "Groove" Holmes (Prestige, 1969) (compilation of Prestige material)
  • The Best of Richard "Groove" Holmes: For Beautiful People (Prestige, 1970) (another compilation of Prestige material)
  • Hunk–a–Funk (Groove Merchant, 1975) (compilation of Night Glider + New Groove)
  • Supa Cookin' (Groove Merchant, 1975) – with Jimmy McGriff (compilation of Giants of the Organ Come Together + Giants of the Organ in Concert)
  • Groovin' With Groove (LRC [Lester Radio Corporation], 1994) (compilation of Groove Merchant albums: American Pie, Night Glider, New Groove)
  • Blue Groove (Prestige, 1994) (compilation of Get Up & Get It! + Soul Mist!)
  • After Hours (Pacific Jazz, 1996) (compilation of After Hours + Tell It Like It Is)
  • Legends of Acid Jazz: Richard "Groove" Holmes (Prestige, 1997) (compilation of The Groover! + That Healin' Feelin')
  • Groove's Groove (32 Jazz, 1998) (compilation of Muse albums: Shippin' Out, Good Vibrations, Broadway, Blues All Day Long)
  • Legends of Acid Jazz: Richard "Groove" Holmes – Spicy (Prestige, 1999) (compilation of Living Soul + Spicy!)
  • The Best of the Pacific Jazz Years (Pacific Jazz/EMI, 2001) (compilation of Pacific Jazz material)
  • Timeless: Richard "Groove" Holmes (Savoy Jazz/Denon, 2003) (compilation of Muse material)
  • Super Soul (Prestige, 2004) (compilation of Soul Power! + Super Soul)

As sideman

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With Earl Bostic

  • Jazz As I Feel It (King, 1963; reissued as Complete Quintet Recordings on Lone Hill Jazz in 2006) – with Joe Pass
  • A New Sound (King, 1964; reissued as Complete Quintet Recordings on Lone Hill Jazz in 2006) – with Joe Pass

With Bumble Bee Slim

  • Back in Town (Pacific Jazz, 1962)

With Willis Jackson

  • In Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1980 [also released as Ya Understand Me?] (Disques Black And Blue, 1980; Muse, 1984; reissued as Live On Stage (The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions) on Black & Blue in 2003 with 3 bonus tracks)

With Eric Kloss

With Les McCann

With Lou Rawls

  • Black and Blue (Capitol, 1963)

With Dakota Staton

With Gerald Wilson

References

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  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 615. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "Richard "Groove" Holmes". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
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