Though details are lacking, US sources are reporting the recent death of JAMES HOLLAND, a member of Detroit vocal group, The Holidays. It seems that James was 81.
The group were active in the late 50s through to the late 70s but confusingly there were numerous groups called “The Holidays”. James Holland’s Holidays are probably the best known. He was at the core of the group with his brother Jack and they recorded for labels, like Soul Hawk, Marathon, Ron-Hol and Rob-Ron and they worked with writers/producers of the calibre of “Popcorn” Wylie. Indeed it was Wylie who produced their in-demand ‘Maybe So, Maybe No’ on which they were billed as the “New” Holidays. The line up on that one was Jack and James Holland, Maurice Wise and former Motown group ‘The Contours’ ex member Joe Billingslea. We believe that Billingslea was later replaced by Elliot Smith after which there were several more personnel changes.
In the 70s the group also recorded as The Fabulous Holidays, though for the last release in 1980 they were simply known as Holiday.
In 2017 Soul Junction released a Holidays’ compilation. Here’s our review… https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/reviews/the-devil-is-dope-and-in-the-rain/ . Copies may still be available @ https://www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk/
