Wendy Holcombe

Wendy Lou Holcombe (April 19, 1963 - February 14, 1987) was an American banjo player[1][2] and singer.[3]

Holcombe was born in Alabaster, Alabama and began playing the banjo at age eleven.[4]

As a child, Holcombe appeared on NBC's The Big Show[5] the Country Boy Eddy Show,[6] and later in 1977 The New Mickey Mouse Club[7] and was featured on Kids are People Too.[8]

At the age of twelve she was a regular performer on the television program Nashville on the Road.[9][10][11][12]

Holcombe performed at the Grand Ole Opry[13] and on the Eddie Rabbitt Show.[14] As well as the banjo she also played the fiddle, dobro and bass.[15]

Holcombe toured throughout the United States, singing and playing the banjo, including The Strip in Las Vegas.[14][16] She performed at Wembley Festival in London, England. She also appeared regularly on the show Nashville Swing, and recorded a television special, Wendy Hooper, US Army that aired on NBC in 1981.[4] She frequently performed duets and comedy sketches with Buck Trent, and the pair were nominated for a Music City Award.[14]

Holcombe died of a congenital heart defect at the age of 23.[17]