Artist description Rooted in blues and gospel, The Holmes Brothers developed a sound unto themselves. The rhythmic foundation laid down by Sherman Holmes' bass playing and Popsy Dixon'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, creating a multi-layered and ornately textured sound. 'DownBeat' described their singing as "nothing short of heavenly."

Artist History Sherman and Wendell Holmes were born and raised in Christchurch, Virginia. Their schoolteacher parents fostered the boys' early interest in music, as they listened to traditional Baptist hymns, anthems and spirituals as well as blues music by Jimmy Reed, Junior Parker and B.B. King. They both sang in the church choir. Sherman studied clarinet and piano before taking up the bass, while Wendell learned trumpet, organ and guitar. Sherman studied composition and music theory at Virginia State University, but in 1959, he dropped out and headed to New York for a promising job with a singer named Jimmy Jones. His younger brother Wendell joined him after completing high school. The two brothers played in a few bands before forming The Sevilles in 1963. The group lasted only three years, but they often backed up touring artists like The Impressions, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Butler, gaining a wealth of experience. After The Sevilles disbanded, Sherman, Wendell and fellow Virginian, drummer Popsy Dixon, continued to play in a variety of Top 40 bar bands until 1980, when The Holmes Brothers band was formed. Since their debut on Rounder Records in 1989, The Holmes Brothers have worked virtually non-stop. In addition to their four critically acclaimed Rounder albums, they released 'Jubilation' for Peter Gabriel's Real World label in 1992, becoming the first American group to record for the standout world music imprint. In 1994 they joined Van Morrison in the studio on the song "That's Where It's At" for the Real World compilation album 'A Week Or Two In The Real World.' 1996 found The Holmes Brothers starring in the independent motion picture, Lotto Land, for which they also recorded the soundtrack. The albums all received massive praise. "Mind-blowing," said the Boston Herald. "Rich and satisfying," raved The Washington Post. In 1997, Joan Osborne asked The Holmes Brothers to be her backing band when she opened for Bob Dylan. Now, the new millennium finds them recording for the stand-out Blues label, Alligator Records. Moving into their 30th year, Alligator is lucky to have such talented and well-respected artists among their roster!

Group Members Sherman Holmes, Wendell Holmes, Popsy Dixon

Press Reviews "Inspired, warm and soulful. One listen and you'll adopt this family as your own." (Rolling Stone) "The Holmes Brothers are the real thing: rugged, honest and undeniably soulful. What one hears in these voices is something round, real and even by turns ecstatic." (People) "The Holmes Brothers," said the Philadelphia Inquirer, "suggest holiness but breathe late-night juke joint air."

Location New York, NY - USA

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