Don Hollinger

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Don Hollinger One of the best of the hoarse voiced southern soul singers, Don Hollinger didn’t have a large number of records issued, but every one has something to commend it and a couple are out and out masterpieces. He was born September 7,1937 in Blakely, GA, but started his singing in church in Newark, NJ as a young boy where he was mainly brought up. Graduating to semi-pro status he may have sung with the Heavenly Lights, a group that also included Nappy Brown and Roy Hamilton at various times. There are rumours that he sang lead on the groups only Savoy 45 “Lord I’m In Your Hands” in 1954 but aurally it doesn't seem to be him. He also toured with Jimmy Outler’s Sensational Six before moving to Florida where he was encouraged to go secular by Sam Cooke, and where all his solo recordings were cut. His first 45 for the tiny Kelane concern showed that he’d spent a considerable time listening to R & B as well as gospel as it was a straight ahead down home 12 bar blues. And of course his astonishingly grainy voice was ideally suited to the material. “I Had A Nightmare” continued that style, even including a blues harp in the instrumental line-up. His next release is the first of the great ones. “Until I Found You” is a monumental piece of deep soul emoting from Hollinger, his voice cracking with the strain as he ploughs his way through the back drop of guitar and horns. “Let Him Go” is almost in the same league, another dead stop ballad with a classic southern soul arran

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