Ron Holloway

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Ron Holloway

Ronald Edward "Ron" Holloway ( born August 24, 1953 in Washington, D.C.) is an American tenor saxophonist known for his ability to adapt to virtually any musical environment. In the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz renowned jazz critic Ira Gitler describes Ron Holloway as "a bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling."

Holloway was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's final quintet until Diz' passing on January 6th, 1993. Today he is one of the busiest tenor saxophonists on today's music scene in any genre. A member of Susan Tedeschi's Band, Ron also appears as a frequent guest of the Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, the Derek Trucks Band, Little Feat and Taj Mahal (musician).


Biography

Growing Up

Ron Holloway grew up in a household where listening to jazz was a favorite pastime. His parents, Winston and Marjorie Holloway were and remain avid jazz listeners. "My parents met while attending Howard University in Washington, D.C. They both loved jazz and would frequently attend concerts at the Howard Theatre. I'm sure I heard jazz in the womb. In my pre-teen years I remember my dad coming home from work, at least a couple of times a week with the latest Prestige Records or Blue Note albums. He's a big fan of saxophone and trumpet led groups, so I heard all of the great horn soloists." During these early years Ron listened to and enjoyed his fathers albums but had no interest in becoming a musician himself.


Enter the Saxophone

In October of 1966, at thirteen years of age Ron attended Carter G. Woodson Jr. High School. It was there he was introduced to the saxophone. "It was the very first day at Woodson Jr. High and I was seated between two good friends during orientation. Amongst several speakers that day was the school band director, Mr. Arthur Capehart. After introducing himself Mr. Capehart informed us he didn't have enough instrumentalists to form a complete band and invited students to come upstairs to the bandroom the following morning to select and learn how to play the instrument of their choice. My two buddies were ecstatic! They immediately decided they wanted to go up the next day. I, on the other hand had no interest whatsoever. The two of them kept after me until I agreed- more to shut them up than anything else."

"The next morning the three of us went upstairs together. Mr. Capehart pulled out three instruments: A clarinet, a french horn and an alto saxophone. He asked us if we had a preference. I was quick to speak up because I had been exposed to the sound of the saxophone my whole life. It turned out to be a good choice because I became attached to the instrument immediately! The irony is my two friends both quit playing the clarinet and the french horn after a mere two years. Forty-one years later I'm still playing the saxophone and that's how I make my living."

"I started taking the school horn home everyday so I could practice. I was very eager to learn and improve. As soon as I got home I'd take the horn out of it's case and start playing. Before I knew anything three hours had gone by and it was dinner time."

Ron played the alto saxophone for only a few months. "Mr. Capehart needed me to change to the larger tenor sax." By the end of the year Ron had made the switch to the instrument that was to become his voice; the tenor saxophone. In December of 1966 the Holloway's moved from Washington, D.C. to Takoma Park, Maryland. "We had been living in a modest apartment in D.C. and suddenly we were in a house with a nice roomy basement. It was the perfect place for me to practice without disturbing anyone. At that point in my life I was very excited about pursuing music and starting that journey toward reaching my full potential. I was only thirteen but I felt I had found my life's work."


Discovering the Masters / Influences Begin to Take Shape

In January of 1967 the Holloway family began a new chapter in their lives. Ron was very excited and pleased to be living not only with his parents and younger brother Gerald, but with his Grandmother, Thelma Whitfield. Ron was now attending Takoma Park Jr. High School and playing in the school band. Each day upon returning home he would go down to the basement and absorb valuble lessons from his dad's vast record collection. "One of the first tenor sax players to make an impression on me was Willis "Gatortail" Jackson. His style was more R&B based and therefore easier for me to grasp at that early stage. As my hearing became more advanced I heard and identified the voices that spoke to me most profoundly. I came under the sway of Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Miles Davis, who remain my principle influences to this day. I was mesmerized by their music! As I listened to these players I noticed something very important: They all had their own distinctive styles and sounds. I realized this was the thing to strive for; a personal expression that people could recognize as me."


First Woodshed / Jamming and Sitting In / First Group

It wasn't long before Ron Holloway began to find his own voice on the tenor saxophone. When school let out in the summer of 1967 Ron would practice anywhere from 8 to 10 hours each and everyday. "I didn't mind devoting the whole day to practicing. I was thoroughly consumed by my instrument and my musical heroes." Over the next few years Ron would regularly participate in jam sessions with school buddies and joined his first top 40/R&B band; the Speculations. More and more the practice of sitting in with all types of groups became an important element in Ron's development and the main reason for his versatility. It wasn't unusual to find him sitting in with a jazz, R&B, funk, rock, fusion, blues or even a country band all in the space of a week. The Washington D.C. music scene continued to thrive into the early 1970's and Holloway took full advantage of it. However, despite all the local activity Ron eventually felt the need for greater musical challenges.


Mid '70's Milestones - Sitting in w/ Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie

In the summer of 1974 Ron and his dad were excited to see Freddie Hubbard was appearing at the short lived Etcetera Club in dowtown D.C. On the Friday night they went to hear him the younger Holloway brought along a cassette player and a tape of himself practicing along with one of Hubbard's recordings. During the break Ron went up to the dressing room and introduced himself to Freddie. After hearing the tape Freddie told Ron to come back to the club on Sunday night and sit in. Holloway did and the result was an open invitation to sit in anytime Hubbard was in town.


The next year, 1975, Ron and his mom went to Howard University to attend a packed clinic given by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Sonny was backed by a rhythm section comprised of area musicians. At one point during the performance/clinic Sonny invited local horn players to join him onstage. Holloway played on the Rollins tune "Playin' in the Yard". The solo went well enough where Ron received a standing ovation from the audience. Sonny and Ron kept in touch afterwards and the two became good friends. Years later Sonny would send Holloway's demo to his record label (Fantasy/Milestone) which resulted in Holloway being signed by the label.


1977 proved to be a most pivotal year in Ron Holloway's career. This was the year Ron met and sat in with one John Birks Dizzy Gillespie. "By '77 I was making my living playing music. I was living in an apartment close to my old high school and a couple of miles from my parents house. Late one morning I was recovering from playing until the wee hours when the phone rang. It was my dad informing me of a new jazz club that was about to open about a mile from where I was living. The name of the club was the Showboat Lounge and Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie were among the scheduled performers."


On the first night of Dizzy's first week Ron went to the Showboat armed with a tape recorder. "I arrived about 45 minutes before showtime, asked where the dressing room was and headed in that direction. As I approached I realized the door was ajar because I could hear Dizzy warming up. He was holding long tones, starting from the lowest notes and coming up the chromatic scale. When I got to the door I stood in the frame for a second. Dizzy looked up, saw me and immediately said 'Whatcha got on the tape?' I said; Mr. Gillespie this is a tape of myself sitting in with Sonny Rollins at Howard University. He said 'Let's hear it!' He patted the chair next to his with his hand as if to say 'sit here'. I sat down, pressed play and Dizzy listened intently. After he'd heard my solo he whirled around in his chair and with all of the enthusiasm of a child asked 'You got your horn?' I said 'No sir, I didn't want to appear presumptuous.' Dizzy grinned widely and said 'Presumptuous-- now THERE'S a word!' We both burst out laughing."


Selected Discography

Ron Holloway (as leader)

  • (2003) Ron Holloway - "Ron Holloway & Friends / Live at Montpelier" - Jazzmont Records - CD
  • (1998) Ron Holloway - "Groove Update" - Fantasy / Milestone - CD
  • (1996) Ron Holloway - "Scorcher" - Fantasy / Milestone - CD
  • (1995) Ron Holloway - "Struttin'" - Fantasy / Milestone - CD
  • (1994) Ron Holloway - "Slanted" - Fantasy / Milestones - CD


Ron Holloway (as sideman)

  • Dizzy Gillespie - "The Symphony Sessions" - Pro Arte
  • Dizzy Gillespie - "Live! at Blues Alley"
  • Gil Scott-Heron - "The Best of Gil Scott-Heron Live" - Compendia
  • Gil Scott-Heron - "Moving Target" - BMG International
  • Gil Scott-Heron - "Minister of Information: Live" - Castle Music UK


Television Appearances


Filmography

- Pacific Arts Video - VHS (Directed by Michael O'Donoqhue)


Awards

  • Ron Holloway is the recipient of 42 Washington Area Music Association awards (Wammies). 2 of them for Musician of the Year.

References

  • The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz by Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler___Oxford University Press (U.S.A.)
  • Living the Jazz Life: Conversations with Forty Musicians about Their Careers in Jazz by W. Royal Stokes___Oxford University Press (U.S.A.)
  • Dizzy: The Life and Times of John Birks Gillespie by Donald Maggin___Harper Entertainment
  • Bebop:Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion by Scott Yanow___Miller Freeman Books
  • The Great Jazz Day by Charles Graham, Dan Morgenstern, Whitney Balliett, Gary Giddins and Ralph Ellison___Da Capo Press
  • Bebop and Nothingness: Jazz and Pop at the End of the Century by Francis Davis___Schirmer Books
  • All Music Guide to Jazz by Scott Yanow___Backbeat Books
  • Musichound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide edited by Steve Holtje and Nancy Ann Lee___Schirmer Trade Books


External links

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