The Holmes Brothers

The Holmes Brothers
The Holmes Brothers, at The Grand, Wilmington, Delaware, 2009
The Holmes Brothers, at The Grand, Wilmington, Delaware, 2009
Background information
OriginChristchurch, Virginia; Harlem, New York
GenresBlues, gospel, soul, R&B, Americana
Years active1978 – 2015
LabelsAlligator, Rounder, Real World
Past membersSherman Holmes
Wendell Holmes
Popsy Dixon
WebsiteThe Holmes Brothers Official Site

The Holmes Brothers were an American musical trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia.[1] Mixing sounds from blues, soul, gospel, country, and rhythm & blues, they have released twelve studio albums, with three reaching the top five on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.[2] They have gained a following by playing regularly at summer folk, blues, gospel, and jazz festivals.[1] They have recorded with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, Willie Nelson, Freddie Roulette, Rosanne Cash, Levon Helm and Joan Osborne, and have gigged all over the world—including performing for President Bill Clinton. They won the Blues Music Award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation for Band of the Year in 2005 and for the Soul Blues Album of the Year in 2008.[3]

USA Today calls the Holmes Brothers' music "Rootsy R&B, gospel and country. They are glorious, full of soul and surprises."[4] The New Yorker says, "The Holmes Brothers are capable of awesome achievements."[5] National Public Radio adds, "Their voices are rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church."[6]

  1. ^ a b The Holmes Brothers at AllMusic
  2. ^ Billboard Magazine: Discography
  3. ^ "The Blues Foundation". Blues.org. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Mansfield, Brian. USA Today, Listen Up, January 16, 2007
  5. ^ Donahue, John. The New Yorker, January 15, 2007
  6. ^ Socey, Matthew, NPR.org, Blues You Can Use in the Pews, January 18, 2007