John Dee Holeman Hambone — DeepCutsArchive

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John Dee Holeman Hambone — DeepCutsArchive

John Dee Holeman (April 4, 1929 – April 30, 2021) was an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His music includes elements of Texas blues, R&B and African-American string-band music. In his younger days he was also known for his proficiency as a buckdancer. Holeman was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina. on April 4, 1929. He was raised on a farm in Orange County. He learned to play the guitar, and listened to traveling bluesmen from other parts of the South, as well as on the radio. Drawing inspiration from Blind Boy Fuller, he began singing and playing guitar at local parties and other community events by the time he was in his mid-teens. He went on to purchase his first electric guitar during his mid-twenties. Holeman relocated to Durham, North Carolina, in 1954, where he played with the pianist Fris Holloway. The duo became adept at the Juba dance, also known as the hambone or buckdance, which he had earlier learned at country dances. During his working lifetime, Holeman had full-time employment as a construction worker, and music was a part-time pursuit. However, he was able to tour in the United States and overseas in the 1980s, including performances at Carnegie Hall, and abroad on behalf of the United States Information Agency's Arts America program. He played at the 42nd National Folk Festival at Wolf Trap, Virginia, in 1980. He performed yearly at the Black Banjo Festival, in Boone, North Carolina. His first album, Bull City After Dark, was nominated for a W. C. Handy award (a predecessor of the Blues Music Awards). He recorded the album Bull Durham Blues in 1988, which featured Taj Mahal. It was re-released on the Music Maker label in 1999. Also in 1988, the National Endowment for the Arts presented Holeman with a National Heritage Fellowship. Holeman was presented with the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1994. A song Holeman wrote, "Chapel Hill Boogie", was featured on the 2007 Grammy Award–nominated album 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads, recorded by Kenny Wayne Shepherd. In 2007, Music Maker issued the album John Dee Holeman & the Waifs Band, on which Holeman was backed by the Waifs, an Australian folk-rock group. He played several shows in 2018 with Cajun/Zydeco musician Mel Melton in Durham. Holeman was married to Joan until his death. He died on April 30, 2021, at the age of 92.

About This Footage

The recently uploaded clip "John Dee Holeman Hambone" offers a rare glimpse into the life of an American blues legend. Recorded in 2021, this footage is notable for its documentation of John Dee Holeman's performance of the traditional African-American string-band music and buckdancing.

As one of the last remaining practitioners of the Piedmont blues style, Holeman's music is a unique blend of Texas blues, R&B, and African-American string-band traditions. His proficiency as a guitarist and singer is evident in this clip, which showcases his mastery of the genre. The footage also highlights Holeman's skills as a buckdancer, a tradition that dates back to the pre-Civil War era.

The context provided by the YouTube description offers valuable insights into Holeman's life and career. Born on a farm in North Carolina in 1929, he was exposed to blues music from an early age through traveling musicians and radio broadcasts. His influences are evident in his playing style, which draws from Blind Boy Fuller among others.

Holeman's musical journey is marked by a remarkable balance between his part-time pursuit of music and full-time employment as a construction worker. Despite these demands, he was able to tour extensively throughout the United States and abroad, including performances at Carnegie Hall and on behalf of the United States Information Agency's Arts America program.

The clip itself is a testament to Holeman's enduring legacy. Recorded in 2021, it serves as a poignant reminder of his passing later that year. The footage is all the more significant given the rarity of such documentation, especially for an artist who was active during the mid-20th century.

This clip is also notable for its preservation of traditional African-American string-band music and buckdancing. Holeman's performances at the Black Banjo Festival in Boone, North Carolina, and his nomination for a W.C. Handy award are a testament to his dedication to preserving these traditions.

The National Heritage Fellowship presented to Holeman by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988 is a significant recognition of his contributions to American music. His subsequent awards, including the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1994, further underscore his importance as a blues musician and cultural ambassador.

In conclusion, this clip offers a unique opportunity to experience John Dee Holeman's music and buckdancing firsthand. It serves as a poignant reminder of his passing and the importance of preserving traditional African-American string-band music and buckdancing.

Curated from public records and music databases.