Birth name Milton Olshansky Role Musical Artist Name Milt Holland | Occupation(s) Musician Genres Jazz | |
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Born February 7, 1917
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. ( 1917-02-07 ) Instruments Drums, percussion, congas, bongos, timbales, tambourine, triangle, shaker, pandeiro, vibraphone, marimba, gong, maracas, tabla, temple blocks, bell-tree, slapstick, wind chimes, xylophone, tubular bells, claves, bells, sleigh bells, cabasa, cimbalom, gourd, African percussion Died November 4, 2005, Los Angeles, California, United States Music group Graham Central Station (1975 – 2005) Albums Ain't No 'Bout‑A‑Doubt It, My Radio Sure Sounds G, GCS 2000, Now Do U Wanta Dance, Mirror | ||
Bud Shank - Brasamba! - ( Full Album )
Milton "Milt" Holland (born Milton Olshansky; February 7, 1917 – November 4, 2005) was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnic musicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene. He pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percussion styles in jazz, pop and film music, traveling extensively in those regions to collect instruments and learn styles of playing them.
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Early life
Holland was born Milton Olshansky in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Theodore Roosevelt High School. His first instrument was the violin. He pursued a passion for percussion, playing in clubs and shows and on CBS Radio in Chicago. By the age of twelve, he was playing at speakeasies for the likes of Al Capone.
Career
In the early 1940s, Holland toured and recorded with The Raymond Scott Orchestra.
He studied tabla at UCLA and with Ramnad Easwaran. In India, Holland studied with tabla master Chatur Lal beginning in 1963. He traveled through India extensively in the early 1960s and 1970s, then spent many years in Africa studying tribal rhythms. He was among the first to introduce the instruments to western recording.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1946, he played on countless jazz and pop albums, film and TV scores. A sampling of the artists he worked with includes Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Chaka Khan, John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Elmer Bernstein, Quincy Jones, Nat King Cole, Henry Mancini, Loggins and Messina, James Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Laurindo Almeida, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Seals and Crofts, Ray Manzarek, Michael Dinner, Gordon Lightfoot, Ringo Starr, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina, Poco, Captain Beefheart, David Blue, Rita Coolidge, Carly Simon, Cal Tjader, the Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, Maria Muldaur, Randy Newman, and Joni Mitchell. He played pandeiro, congas and triangle on Mitchell's hit Big Yellow Taxi and congas and percussion on Light My Fire with José Feliciano.
As part of the so-called "Wrecking Crew," Holland won several gold and platinum records for his contributions. He was perhaps most proud of having helped desegregate the Los Angeles Musicians Union. Eventually, Holland became the first choice for exotic percussion among Los Angeles freelance session musicians.
In films, Holland played bongos on the soundtrack of West Side Story and timpani the soundtrack of Silent Running, to name only a tiny fraction of his output. He was one of seven illustrious percussionists, including Shelly Manne, Jack Sperling, and Larry Bunker, who contributed to the soundtrack of the John Wayne film Hatari!, playing African instruments on the soundtrack album, The Sounds of Hatari, and its title track. He played for the soundtrack of the TV miniseries Roots. He also played the musical accompaniment for Tinker Bell in the 1953 Disney cartoon film Peter Pan and for the nose tinkle in the TV series Bewitched.
Death and personal life
Holland died in Los Angeles at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife Mildred Holland, his sons, Richard Holland and Robert Holland, his grandchildren, Damien and Chloe, and Richard's wife Seiko.
His widow Mildred died on October 21, 2015.
Instruments
Holland played tabla, pandeiro, marimba, congas, cabasa, quica, timbales, maracas, tambourine, claves, shaker, triangle, bongos, timpani, vibraphone, marimba, bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, log drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambura, cimbalom, cowbell, glockenspiel, Latin percussion, agogo bells and other instruments.