Waldo Holmes

Waldo T. "Wally" Holmes (born October 27, 1928)[1] is an American musician and songwriter. He is the writer of the hit song "Rock The Boat" that was originally a hit for The Hues Corporation. His composition "I Got Caught Dancing Again" appears on the album Falling in Love by Rachelle Ann Go

Waldo Holmes
Born (1928-10-27) October 27, 1928
San Diego, California, United States
GenresR&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz
Occupation(s)Songwriter, producer, musician
InstrumentsTrumpet
Years active1968-present
LabelsRCA Records
Associated acts

Background

In 1968, Holmes was a trumpeter and songwriter residing in Los Angeles. A friend of his that he surfed with was St. Clair Lee who he would later work with in the music business.[2] At that time Holmes was a school teacher.[3]

Music career

Holmes formed a group in 1968 called Brothers and Sisters that featured his friend Lee as lead singer. Brothers and Sisters were a soul pop group. He had plans to book them info the Las Vegas clubs with an eight piece backing group. The group would break up due to a wrong combination of singers. On Lee's suggestion they formed another group. In 1969, a trio called Children of Howard Hughes was formed and they played the Circus Circus in Vegas. Later they became The Hues Corporation.[4]

Holmes wrote their biggest hit "Rock The Boat" and then another song "I Caught Your Act".[5]

It was reported in the February 1975 edition of Billboard magazine that he was signed to Famous Music and even though he was going to be involved in other assignments for Famous Music, he was going to retain his position as executive producer and writer for The Hues Corporation.[6]

Compositions (selective)
  • "Hold The High Ground", "Lookin' Around" appears on The Inrhodes - (single) - "Hold The High Ground" / "Lookin' Around" - Dunhill D-4055 (1966)

"Lookin' Around" co-written with Marjorie Brooks [7]

  • "Try And Stop Me" appears on The Inrhodes - (single) - "Try And Stop Me" / "Lookin' Around" - RCA Victor D-4078 (1967) [8]
  • "Boy Meets Girl" appears on Chico Holiday - (single) – "Now I Taste The Tears" / "Boy Meets Girl" - Shamley – S 44018 (1969) [9]
  • "Hello, Hello, Hello" appears on Misty Moore - (single) - "Hello, Hello, Hello" / "Wherefore And Why" - Pzazz 036 (1969) [10]
  • "Off My Cloud" appears on The Hues Corporation - (single)- "Freedom For The Stallion" / "Off My Cloud" - RCA Victor – 74-0900 (1973) [11]
  • "Rock The Boat" appears on The Hues Corporation - (single) - "Rock The Boat" / "All Goin' Down Together" - RCA Victor – APBO-0232 (1974) [12]
  • "I Caught Your Act", "Natural Find" appears on The Hues Corporation - (single) - "I Caught Your Act" / "Natural Find" - Warner Bros. / Curb WBS 8334 (1977) [13]

Later years

Holmes was the director of the Sweet and Hot Music Festival in 2008 [14] and the 2011 event that was held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel.[15]

He was the leader of the traditional jazz group Yankee Wailers from Santa Monica that have played together in venues during 1988 and 2014.[16][17]</ref>[18] and singer-songwriter Ruby Fradkin.[19][20] The Yankee Wailers play every year at the Sweet & Hot Music Festival.[21]

One of the furthest reaches his song "Rock The Boat" has made has been on the Australian series, Playschool, in a program theme about water.[22]

References
  1. Myers, Mark (2014). "Anatomy of a Song: 'Rock the Boat' (The Hues Corporation's 'Rock the Boat')" The Wall Street Journal April 2, 2014. Retrieved 8-22-2015.
  2. The Wall Street Journal April 2, 2014 Anatomy of a Song: 'Rock The Boat' By Marc Myers
  3. The Independent Monday 13 June 2011 Obituaries St Clair Lee: Baritone singer with The Hues Corporation, of 'Rock The Boat' fame by Pierre Perrone
  4. The Wall Street Journal April 2, 2014 Anatomy of a Song: 'Rock The Boat' By Marc Myers
  5. Billboard 26 Feb 1977 Page 75 General News, Soul Source
  6. Billboard 15 Feb 1975 Page 6 Holmes Signs Pact With Famous Music
  7. 45cat The Inrhodes - Hold The High Ground / Lookin' Around - Dunhill - USA - D-4055
  8. 45cat The Inrhodes - Try And Stop Me / Lookin' Around - RCA Victor - Canada - D-4078
  9. Discogs Chico Holiday – Now I Taste The Tears / Boy Meets Girl
  10. 45cat Misty Moore - Hello, Hello, Hello / Wherefore And Why - Pzazz - USA - 036
  11. Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Freedom For The Stallion
  12. Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Rock The Boat / All Goin' Down Together
  13. 45cat The Hues Corporation - I Caught Your Act / Natural Find - Warner Bros. / Curb - USA - WBS 8334
  14. Argonaught Online The Sweet & Hot returns Posted August 28, 2008 by The Argonaut in News - Features
  15. 89.3KPCC August 28, 2011 Sweet and Hot Music Festival brings jazz, classic pop songwriting to LA by Brian Watt
  16. Los Angeles Times September 06, 1988 L.A. Classic Jazz Fest Greets New Generation Charles Champlin Times Arts Editor
  17. SLO Jazz Festival February and March 2014 Central Coast Jazz Calendar Santa Barbara Jazz Society presents the Yankee Wailers Sunday, March 30, 2014
  18. Scott Yanow, Jazz Historian and Journalist website Festival Reviews - Sweet and Hot Jazz Festival 2010
  19. The Rose Leaf Ragtime club Ruby Fradkin Features and Reviews My First Festival! By Ruby Fradkin
  20. Reno Gazette Journal October 17, 2014 5 questions with singer-songwriter Ruby Fradkin Mike Sion
  21. Argonaut Online September 8, 2004 by rahnepistor in News - Features
  22. ABC Theme Notes Water - ABC
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