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Holmes Brothers

Over the course of their 30-plus year career, The Holmes Brothers (bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes, guitarist/pianist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, drummer/vocalist and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixon) have been feeding the souls of their devoted and ever-growing fan base with a joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and country. Their amazing three-part harmony singing, mixing Wendell’s gruff and gravelly vocals with Popsy’s soaring falsetto and Sherman’s rich baritone brings the soul and spirit of gospel music into everything they perform. Equally gripping is the rhythmic foundation laid down by Sherman’s bass playing and Popsy’s drumming, perfectly complementing Wendell’s blues-soaked guitar solos and church-inspired piano playing. The band easily blends Saturday night’s roadhouse rock with the gospel fervor and harmonies of Sunday morning’s church service.

Sherman and Wendell Holmes were 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. 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 (of Handy Man fame). His younger brother Wendell joined him in New York 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. Sherman and Wendell met drummer Popsy Dixon, a fellow Virginian, at a New York gig in 1967.” They continued to play in a variety of Top 40 bar bands

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166
Album Review

The Holmes Brothers: State of Grace

Read "State of Grace" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Wendell Holmes plays guitar, piano and sings, and Sherman Holmes plays bass and sings. When Popsy Dixon joins on drums and vocals, this trio transforms into the Holmes Brothers, the Blues Foundation's 2005 Band of the Year. Their three-part harmonies are honeyed country gospel, but their front-stoop funk and dark, broken-hearted tales are pure country blues.

The Holmes Brothers make every song they sing sound gospel sacred and gutbucket funky. Look no further for an example than Wendell's ...

113
Album Review

The Holmes Brothers: Simple Truths

Read "Simple Truths" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


The Holmes Brothers play rock 'n’ roll like a band that grew up playing the blues on Saturday night and then gospel in church on Sunday morning. Drummer Popsy Dixon, guitarist/keyboardist Wendell Holmes, and bassist Sherman Holmes play rough and tumble with the blues—but their vocal harmonies, most often casting Sherman’s baritone and Popsy’s falsetto in harmony with Wendell’s rough leads, ring like a churchbell with sweet, sweet gospel (their hometown: Christchurch, Virginia).

Simple Truths rings both simple ...

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12

Event

The Holmes Brothers With Sol Roots In Washington DC

The Holmes Brothers With Sol Roots In Washington DC

Source: 9th Floor Music

The Holmes Brothers with Sol Roots perform Friday April 11, 2014 at Gypsy Sally's in Washington DC. 
“Great songs, whether we write them or not, bring great things,” says guitarist/pianist/vocalist/songwriter Wendell Holmes. “And we are all about striving to write, find and perform great songs.” The Holmes Brothers—Wendell, bassist/songwriter/vocalist Sherman Holmes and drummer/vocalist and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixon—are true treasures of American roots music. For 35 years, The Holmes Brothers’ joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ ...

Performance / Tour

The Holmes Brothers to Perform in Schwenksville at Philly Folk Fest

The Holmes Brothers to Perform in Schwenksville at Philly Folk Fest

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

The Holmes Brothers - bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes, his brother, guitarist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, and drummer/vocalist Popsy Dixon - will give a live performance at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville on Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19, 2012. The trio will play songs from their latest CD, Feed My Soul. Feed My Soul features the band's exhilarating, spine-tingling harmonies, boundless energy and telepathic musicianship over the course of nine originals (the most they've ever penned for an album) and four ...

106

Performance / Tour

The Holmes Brothers Celebrates New Release with Live Performance in Camden

The Holmes Brothers Celebrates New Release with Live Performance in Camden

Source: Michael Ricci

The Holmes Brothers -- bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes, his brother, guitarist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, and drummer/vocalist Popsy Dixon -- will celebrate the release of their new CD, Feed My Soul, with a live performance in Camden on Sunday, July 18, 2010. Feed My Soul features the band's exhilarating, spine-tingling harmonies, boundless energy and telepathic musicianship over the course of nine originals (the most they've ever penned for an album). Concert information is as follows:

Sunday, July 18: 88.5 WXPN presents: Xponential Music ...

141

Performance / Tour

Alligator Artists the Holmes Brothers to Perform in Philadelphia

Alligator Artists the Holmes Brothers to Perform in Philadelphia

Source: All About Jazz

"Brazenly borderless American music...timeless purity and rapturous harmonizing." -- Entertainment Weekly

“The undisputed masters of blues-based American roots music." -- Chicago Tribune

The Holmes Brothers -- bassist / vocalist Sherman Holmes, his brother, guitarist / vocalist Wendell Homes, and drummer / vocalist Popsy Dixon -- will perform a series of dates live in Philadelphia. OffBeat declares the group possesses “great spirit and outstanding vocal harmonies with a jam band aesthetic that anticipated the 'sacred ...

128

Performance / Tour

Alligator Artists the Holmes Brothers, Koko Taylor and Shemekia Copeland to Perform in Philadelphia

Alligator Artists the Holmes Brothers, Koko Taylor and Shemekia Copeland to Perform in Philadelphia

Source: All About Jazz

Performance information is as follows:

The Holmes Brothers Saturday, May 14th: Annenberg Center, Zellerbach Theater 3680 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA www.annenbergcenter.org 8:00 p.m. Ticket Price: Please check website for details “Shout Sister Shout: A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe" with Special guest Marie Knight!

Koko Taylor and Shemekia Copeland Saturday, May 21st: Keswick Theatre 291 Keswick Avenue Glenside, PA www.keswicktheatre.com/ ...

115

Performance / Tour

Alligator Recording Artists the Holmes Brothers to Perform in Doylestown PA

Alligator Recording Artists the Holmes Brothers to Perform in Doylestown PA

Source: All About Jazz


71

Recording

The Holmes Brothers Celebrate New Release in Philadelphia!

The Holmes Brothers Celebrate New Release in Philadelphia!

Source: All About Jazz


Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Feed My Soul

Alligator Records
2010

buy

State of Grace

Alligator Records
2007

buy

Simple Truths

Alligator Records
2004

buy

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