Rolan Webster Holden (August 7, 1939 – January 22, 1997) was
an American pop and rhythm and blues singer from Seattle, Washington. Ron
appeared on The Lloyd Thaxton Show, Mike Douglas Show, American Bandstand (with
Connie Francis, The Crests, Bobby Freeman and Conway Twitty) and The Dick Clark
Show. He performed at the Apollo Theater with artists Jackie Wilson, the Crests
and Redd Foxx. Most notable were USO tour-stops with Elvis Presley, Pat Boone
and Connie Francis.
A self-described "dancehall singer," Ron was born Rolan
Holden on August 7,1939 in Seattle, Washington, Ron came by his love of music
honestly as his father, Oscar, widely known as the patriarch of Seattle jazz,
once played clarinet in the great Jelly Roll Morton band. A Garfield High
School (Class of ’58) football star, Ron also co-founded one of the town's very
first teenage rockin' '50s R&B groups, the Playboys, who helped establish
the song "Louie Louie" as a regional standard.
Ron Holden was discovered by Larry Nelson, who had just left
work as a police officer to start his own record label. Ron spread the rumour
that he had been heard singing by Nelson while being held in the King County
jail after being arrested for marijuana and alcohol possession, but the story
has not been confirmed. Holden was then joined by The Thunderbirds and released
the single "Love You So", which became a hit in the U.S., peaking at
#11 on the R&B Singles chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.Donna
Records, owned by record company producer Bob Keane, bought the rights to
Holden's recordings shortly after and issued a full LP entitled Love You So;
this record was re-issued by Del-Fi Records in 1994.
After five Donna releases, the company dropped him. He made
records over the next few years for the Eldo, Baronet, Rampart and Challenge
labels, but the momentum was lost and it didn't appear there would be another
hit record.
Between 1960 and 1965, Ron Holden toured with Hank Ballard
& the Midnighters, James Brown, Brook Benton, Etta James, Cleve Duncan
& the Penguins, Rosie and the Originals, the 5 Royales, the Coasters,
Freddy Cannon, the Crests, Marvin & Johnny, Don and Dewey, Big Joe Turner,
Marv Johnson, Mickey & Silvia, Harvey Fuqua & the Moonglows, Jimmy
Clanton, the Olympics, Donnie Brooks and Bill Haley.
In 1969, Ron, as singer/entertainer, formed a six piece rock
and R&B band: Ron Holden & Good News. Good News performed at various
clubs in the Seattle/Tacoma area for about eight months. The group members were
Bob Cozzetti (trumpet), Tim Gemmill (tenor saxophone & flute), Steve Swartz
(drums), Toby Cyer (electric guitar) and Gary Snyder[ (bass guitar). Influences
included James Brown, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears.
In 1970 Holden entered LA City College to study theatre
arts. Then, in 1972, he was hired to join the first Rock & Roll Revival
show at the Hollywood Bowl (along with Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and other
stars), and in 1973 he cut the “pick hit” soul 45, “Can You Talk,” and began
performing (and gigging as MC) at Art Laboe’s Oldies Club on Sunset. Exhausted
by showbiz, he moved to Seattle in 1977 and later ran his own popular
nightclub, Ron’s 5th Ave., while also participating in oldies concerts far and
wide.
Ron Holden & Buddy Knox 1993 |
Along the way, Holden had begun accepting gigs at numerous far-flung venues -- and it was while booked at a club in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, that he died of a heart attack on January 22, 1997.
2 comments:
For “Ron Holden - Love You So (1960)” go here:
http://www92.zippyshare.com/v/Bp9b9fME/file.html
1. Here I Come
2. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
3. Gee, But I'm Lonesome
4. Susie Jane
5. Let No One Tell You
6. Love You So
7. My Babe
8. True Love Can Be
9. Seeing Double
10. Do I Have the Right
11. Your Line Is Busy
12. Love You So (Original Nite Owl 45 Pressing)
A big thank you to daysofbrokenarrows blogspot for link
Many thanks Bob
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