Music
Major Holley
1924–1990 · jazz double bassist
Detroit-born bassist, a Cass Tech student, known for humming along with his bowed solos, who played with Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Maplewood, New Jersey
aged 66- Birth name
- Major Holley Jr.
- Also known as
- Mule
- Detroit years
- 1924–1940s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Major Holley grew up in Detroit playing violin and tuba and attended Cass Technical High School, the magnet school that trained many of the city's jazz musicians. He took up the bass during Navy service in World War II, in a band at Camp Robert Smalls that included Clark Terry. In the late 1940s he played with Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald, and in 1950 he recorded duets and trio sides with Oscar Peterson. He then worked for the BBC in England. Back in the United States he toured with Woody Herman in 1958 and with Al Cohn and Zoot Sims in 1959–1960, and became a busy studio bassist, working with Duke Ellington, Kenny Burrell, Coleman Hawkins and Quincy Jones. He taught at Berklee from 1967 to 1970. His trademark was singing or humming in unison with his bowed solos, a style he shared with Slam Stewart, with whom he made two albums. In 1977 he joined Detroit friends on Jivin' with the Refugees from Hastings Street.
Highlights
- Attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit
- Recorded duets with Oscar Peterson in 1950
- Played with Duke Ellington (1964) and the Coleman Hawkins Quartet
- Taught at Berklee College of Music, 1967–1970
- Two albums with Slam Stewart, fellow master of hummed arco solos
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · late 1930s–early 1940s
Cass Technical High School
The magnet high school Holley attended before his Navy service.