Dick Holler


Richard Louis Holler is an American songwriter, pianist, and performer, best known as the writer of the folk-pop standard "Abraham, Martin and John". The song has been recorded by numerous artists including Dion, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, Andy Williams, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, and Moms Mabley, among others.
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Biography

Early life

Holler was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. He moved with his family to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1951, where he later graduated from University High School and attended Louisiana State University for five years. It was while attending LSU that he began to play piano and organize bands and writing songs with his college friends.

Career

Holler performed for two years on the local award-winning record rating TV teen show Hit or Miss along with movie critic Rex Reed and future actresses Donna Douglas and Elizabeth Ashley. During a January 1956 Teen Town Rally TV show he met musician brothers Ike, Tommy, and Jimmy Clanton. Holler was successful in signing the then under-aged guitar player and vocalist Jimmy Clanton to play with his band at that time, as well as Clanton's own neighborhood band, the Dixie Cats. In May 1956, the four-piece band of Holler on piano, Clanton on lead guitar, Mike Bankston on drums, and Ed Winston on tenor sax was formed to play a four-night-a-week gig. A club owner later changed the band's name to Dick Holler and the Carousel Rockets, shortened to the Rockets.
The Rockets at times also included Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack, Grady Caldwell, Bobby Loveless, Jack Bunn, Junior Bergeron, Lenny Capello, Bill Dunnam, Merlin Jones, Don Smith and Cyril Vetter, a book by Ace Collins.
"Abraham, Martin and John" also received the BMI Four Million Airplay award.

Later years

In October 2007, at a performance in Baton Rouge, Dick Holler was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Holler shares time between Switzerland and Georgia, U.S. He has had several releases enter the European top 5 and top 10. Each year, Holler returns to Baton Rouge for a one night reunion with his old friends and musicians at the Baton Rouge Eagles' Club.

Discography

Albums

  • ''Someday Soon''

Singles