Richard Holmes (organist)


Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of "Misty".

Career

Holmes's first album, on Pacific Jazz with guest Ben Webster, was recorded in March 1961. He recorded many albums for Pacific Jazz, Prestige, Groove Merchant, and Muse, many of them with Houston Person.
He died of a heart attack after battling prostate cancer, having performed his last concerts in a wheelchair. One of his last gigs was at the 1991 Chicago Blues Festival with his longtime friend, singer Jimmy Witherspoon.

Discography

As leader

  • "Groove" – with Ben Webster
  • Groovin' with Jug – with Gene Ammons
  • Somethin' Special – with Les McCann
  • After Hours
  • Tell It Like It Tis
  • Book of the Blues Vol. 1 – with Onzy Matthews' orchestra
  • A Bowl of Soul – with Onzy Matthews' orchestra
  • Blues For Spoon And Groove – with Jimmy Witherspoon
  • Soul Message
  • Living Soul
  • On Basie's Bandstand
  • Soul Mist!
  • Misty
  • Spicy!
  • Super Soul – with Richard Evans
  • Get Up & Get It!
  • Soul Power!
  • The Groover!
  • That Healin' Feelin' – with Rusty Bryant
  • Welcome Home
  • Workin' on a Groovy Thing
  • X–77: Richard "Groove" Holmes Recorded Live at the Lighthouse
  • Come Together – with Ernie Watts
  • Comin' on Home
  • American Pie
  • Night Glider
  • Giants of the Organ Come Together – with Jimmy McGriff
  • Giants of the Organ in Concert – with Jimmy McGriff
  • New Groove
  • Onsaya Joy
  • Six Million Dollar Man
  • I'm in the Mood for Love
  • Shippin' Out
  • Good Vibrations – with Houston Person, Bob DeVos, Idris Muhammad
  • Dancing in the Sun
  • Star Wars/Close Encounters
  • Broadway – with Houston Person
  • Swedish Lullaby
  • Blues All Day Long – with Cecil Bridgewater, Houston Person, Jimmy Ponder
  • African Encounter
  • Hot Tat – with Cecil Bridgewater, Houston Person, Jimmy Ponder

    LP/CD compilations

  • Richard "Groove" Holmes: Jazz Milestone Series
  • The Best of Richard "Groove" Holmes
  • The Best of Richard "Groove" Holmes: For Beautiful People
  • Hunk–a–Funk
  • Supa Cookin' – with Jimmy McGriff
  • Groovin' With Groove
  • Blue Groove
  • After Hours
  • Legends of Acid Jazz: Richard "Groove" Holmes
  • Groove's Groove
  • Legends of Acid Jazz: Richard "Groove" Holmes – Spicy
  • The Best of the Pacific Jazz Years
  • Timeless: Richard "Groove" Holmes
  • ''Super Soul''

    As sideman

With Earl Bostic
With Gerald Wilson
With others