Richard “Groove” Holmes

Revered in soul-jazz circles, Richard “Groove” Holmes was an unapologetically swinging Jimmy Smith admirer who could effortlessly move in the grittiest of blues towards the most sentimental of ballads. Holmes, an extremely accessible, simple and warm participant who was specifically well-known in the dark community, have been well reputed over the Philadelphia/Southern NJ circuit by enough time he agreed upon with Pacific Jazz in the first ’60s and began receiving national interest by documenting with such greats as Ben Webster and Gene Ammons. Holmes, most widely known for his strike 1965 edition of “Misty,” involved in some motivated organ fights with Jimmy McGriff in the first ’70s before embracing electric powered keyboards and fusion-ish materials a couple of years afterwards. The body organ was Holmes’ concern in the middle- to past due ’80s, when he documented for Muse (he also acquired stints throughout his profession with Prestige Information and Groove Product owner) . Holmes was still providing high-quality soul-jazz for Muse (frequently offering tenor titan Houston Person) whenever a heart attack stated his lifestyle at age 60 in 1991 after an extended have a problem with prostrate cancers. He was a musician to the finish, playing his last displays within a wheelchair.