Milton Howard Clarence Hollimon
b. October 24th, 1937 in Houston (Texas)
d. April 23rd, 2000 in Houston (Texas)
MORE LOUISIANA SWAMP BLUES
Flyright
1984
GULF COAST BLUES vol.1
Black Top
November 1989
Dès le début des années 50, il écume le circuit du Fifth Ward de Houston et joue avec Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, "Big Mama" Thornton et surtout Bill Harvey. Grâce à ce dernier, il trouve l'opportunité d'enregistrer pour le label Duke-Peacock de Don Robey. Il en devient un des guitaristes maison entre 1957 et 1962 travaillant derrière Bobby "Blue" Bland, Joe Hinton, O.V. Wright, "Peppermint" Harris et Junior Parker. Plus tard, chez King, Clarence accompagne le pianiste Charles Brown. Recommandés par le saxophoniste Grady Gaines, Clarence et sa femme Carol Fran trouvent l'opportunité d'enregistrer pour le label Black Top des frères Naumann & Hammond Scott. Sur cette excellente anthologie, Carol Fran (piano et chant) et Clarence Hollimon (guitare) sont en pleine forme, parfaitement accompagnés par Derek O'Brien, Sarah Brown, George Raines, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff entre autres. Ils proposent un superbe "Everyday is not the same" chanté en français et une reprise de son vieux succès "Emmitt Lee".
In the early 1950's, he scoured the Fifth Ward circuit in Houston and played with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, "Big Mama" Thornton and especially Bill Harvey. Thanks to the latter, he finds the opportunity to record for Don Robey's Duke-Peacock label. He became the house guitarist between 1957 and 1962 working behind Bobby "Blue" Bland, Joe Hinton, O.V. Wright, "Peppermint" Harris and Junior Parker. Later, for King label, Clarence accompanies pianist Charles Brown. Recommended by saxophonist Grady Gaines, Clarence and his wife Carol Fran find the opportunity to record for brothers Naumann & Hammond Scott's Black Top label. On this excellent anthology, Carol Fran (piano and vocals) and Clarence Hollimon (guitar) are in great shape, perfectly accompanied by Derek O'Brien, Sarah Brown, George Raines, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff among others. They propose a superb "Everyday is not the same" sung in french and a cover of her old success "Emmitt Lee".
GO GIRL
Black Top
November 1989
SOUL SENSATION
Black Top
September 1991
Premier album complet pour Black Top pour Carol Fran et Clarence Hollimon. Accompagnés de superbes musiciens (George Porter Jr, Lynn August, George Rains, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff), ils délivrent un puissant cocktail louisianais entre Blues, Soul, Gospel, Rhythm & Blues et Zydeco. L'irrésistible "Push pull", la reprise de "I had a talk with my man" de Mitty Collier, des instrumentaux inspirés ("Blues for Carol", "Gristle", "Tin tin de o") et aussi "I needs to be be'd with", "Forgive me but my heart is broken" sans oublier "My happiness" où Carol chante seule au piano.
First complete album for Black Top by Carol Fran and Clarence Hollimon. Accompanied by superb musicians (George Porter Jr, Lynn August, George Rains, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff), they deliver a powerful Louisiana cocktail between Blues, Soul, Gospel, Rhythm & Blues and Zydeco. The irresistible "Push Pull", the cover of "I had a talk with my man" by Mitty Collier, inspired instrumentals ("Blues for Carol", "Gristle", "Tin tin de o") and also "I needs to be be'd with", "Forgive me but my heart is broken" without forgetting "My happiness" where Carol sings alone on piano.
BLUES PAJAMA PARTY
Black Top
October 1991
BLACK TOP BLUES A RAMA vol.7
Black Top
April 1992
Une poignée de titres en public sur la scène du Tipitina's à la Nouvelle Orléans avec leur groupe régulier : "Golden girl", "I needs to be be'd with", "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere".
A handful of live titles on Tipitina's stage in New Orleans with their regular band : "Golden girl", "I needs to be be'd with", "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere".
WOMEN IN (E)MOTION
Tradition & Moderne
August 1993
Concert à Breme (Allemagne) enregistré par une radio locale. Carol Fran (chant et piano) joue en duo avec son mari Clarence Hollimon (guitare) sans leur groupe habituel. Mais, leur inspiration sans faille donne à cet enregistrement une vraie densité. Carol chante parfaitement s'accompagnant joliment au piano. Quant à Clarence, il brille à la guitare avec son jeu souple et subtil. "Lonesome road", "Daddy daddy", "Sunny" (avec la guitare fantastique de Clarence), "Everyday is not the same" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments de ce beau disque.
Concert in Bremen (Germany) recorded by a local radio. Carol Fran (vocals and piano) plays duet with her husband Clarence Hollimon (guitar) without their usual band. But, their flawless inspiration gives this recording a true density. Carol sings perfectly, accompanying herself nicely on piano. As for Clarence, he shines on guitar with his soft and subtle guitar playing. "Lonesome road", "Daddy daddy", "Sunny" (with the fantastic guitar of Clarence), "Everyday is not the same" are among the best moments of this beautiful record.
SEE THERE
Black Top
November 1993
Gravé au Texas et à la Nouvelle Orléans avec deux groupes sensiblement différents, parfaitement produit par Hammond Scott, ce "See there" s'impose certainement comme leur effort discographique le plus abouti. De superbes réussites émaillent cet album très consistant : "Daddy daddy daddy", "I miss you so", "See there", "Lookin' good", "Door poppin'", une remarquable reprise du "Are you serious" de Tyrone Davis, l'instrumental "Blabs" (où Clarence démontre encore une fois son habileté à la guitare). Dans la seconde moitié des années 90, Clarence joue de la guitare derrière LaVelle White ("Miss LaVelle", "It haven't been easy") et Jimmy "T99" Nelson ("Rockin' and shoutin' the blues").
Recorded in Texas and New Orleans with two distinctly different backing bands, perfectly produced by Hammond Scott, this "See There" is certainly their most achieved recording effort. Great titles are included in this very consistent album : "Daddy daddy daddy", "I miss you so", "See there", "Lookin' good", "Door poppin'", a remarkable cover of Tyrone Davis' "Are you serious", the instrumental "Blabs" (where Clarence once again demonstrates his skills on guitar). In the second half of the 90's, Clarence played guitar behind LaVelle White ("Miss LaVelle", "It haven't been easy") and Jimmy "T99" Nelson ("Rockin' and shoutin' the blues").
IT'S ABOUT TIME
JSP
January 2000
Belle séance produite par Jimmy Morello pour le label anglais JSP. Clarence est brillant à la guitare du début à la fin de l'enregistrement. On peut retenir notamment "Texas home", "Booty butt", "Put the blame on me", "Herky jerky", "No one will listen", "Rock bottom" qui méritent une écoute attentive. Malheureusement, Carol Fran ne chante que sur 4 morceaux. Les autres parties vocales sont assurées soit par John Marx, soit par Clarence Hollimon.
Nice session produced by Jimmy Morello for english label JSP. Clarence is brilliant on guitar from the beginning to the end of the recording. We can notably point out "Texas home", "Booty butt", "Put the blame on me", "Herky jerky", "No one will listen", "Rock bottom" which deserve a careful listening. Unfortunately, Carol Fran only sings on 4 tracks. Other vocal parts are provided by either John Marx or Clarence Hollimon.