Richard Holmes (organist)

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]

"Groove Holmes" redirects here. For the song by the Beastie Boys, see Check Your Head.
Richard "Groove" Holmes
Birth nameRichard Arnold Holmes
Born(1931-05-02)May 2, 1931
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 29, 1991(1991-06-29) (aged 60)
Saint Louis, Missouri
GenresJazz, soul
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
InstrumentsOrgan
Years active1961–1991
LabelsPacific Jazz, Prestige, World Pacific, Groove Merchant, Flying Dutchman, Muse

Career

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

As leader

LP/CD compilations
  • 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

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