Post by 1finemrg on May 26, 2023 6:27:44 GMT -5
Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt passed away May 23, seven days after he celebrated his 91st birthday.
Redd was a part of the Chicago jazz scene in the 50s. He joined the Ramsey Lewis trio in the mid-60s, and was behind the kit for their four Top 40 hits including their Top 10 take on "The In-Crowd".
Redd was later a member of the Young-Holt Trio, whose instrumental "Wack-Wack" would peak at #40 in the mid-60s.
Upon the departure of pianist Don Walker, the remaining duo recruited Ken Chaney and renamed the trio Young-Holt Unlimited. Brunswick records took Barbara Acklin's "Am I The Same Girl", removed her vocals and replaced it with a piano solo by Floyd Morris. The song was released as "Soulful Strut" credited to Young-Holt Unlimited and peaked at #3 in the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1968. It is unknown whether the members of Young-Holt Unlimited actually played on the recording. The session players were only identified as the Brunswick Studio Band.
"Am I The Same Girl" would have a life of its own. Barbara Acklin's recording would peak at #79 on the Hot 100 in 1969, around the same time as Dusty Springfield's version became a minor hit in the UK. In 1992, Swing Out Sister's version would top the Adult Contemporary chart and reach #45 on the Hot 100.
Holt and Young would part ways in 1974. Continuing as Redd Holt Unlimited, he would continue on both performing and becoming actively involved in jazz education in Illinois. He founded the Gumption Artist Workshop as a place for artists to advance their talents, which was active from 1980-85.
In his latter years, Holt spent a lot of time in Chicago as a jazz educator, actively involved with Urban Gateways, serving as an arts ambassador to school children exposing them to music and engaging them in both appreciating and creating music; having received numerous honors for his work.
Forward to 2018. At age 85, Holt could still be heard playing, having been serving residence for the past 15 years on Friday nights at the East Bank Club in Chicago. He headed back into the studio that year producing the album It’s a Take!.
Redd was a part of the Chicago jazz scene in the 50s. He joined the Ramsey Lewis trio in the mid-60s, and was behind the kit for their four Top 40 hits including their Top 10 take on "The In-Crowd".
Redd was later a member of the Young-Holt Trio, whose instrumental "Wack-Wack" would peak at #40 in the mid-60s.
Upon the departure of pianist Don Walker, the remaining duo recruited Ken Chaney and renamed the trio Young-Holt Unlimited. Brunswick records took Barbara Acklin's "Am I The Same Girl", removed her vocals and replaced it with a piano solo by Floyd Morris. The song was released as "Soulful Strut" credited to Young-Holt Unlimited and peaked at #3 in the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1968. It is unknown whether the members of Young-Holt Unlimited actually played on the recording. The session players were only identified as the Brunswick Studio Band.
"Am I The Same Girl" would have a life of its own. Barbara Acklin's recording would peak at #79 on the Hot 100 in 1969, around the same time as Dusty Springfield's version became a minor hit in the UK. In 1992, Swing Out Sister's version would top the Adult Contemporary chart and reach #45 on the Hot 100.
Holt and Young would part ways in 1974. Continuing as Redd Holt Unlimited, he would continue on both performing and becoming actively involved in jazz education in Illinois. He founded the Gumption Artist Workshop as a place for artists to advance their talents, which was active from 1980-85.
In his latter years, Holt spent a lot of time in Chicago as a jazz educator, actively involved with Urban Gateways, serving as an arts ambassador to school children exposing them to music and engaging them in both appreciating and creating music; having received numerous honors for his work.
Forward to 2018. At age 85, Holt could still be heard playing, having been serving residence for the past 15 years on Friday nights at the East Bank Club in Chicago. He headed back into the studio that year producing the album It’s a Take!.