Name Waldo Holmes | Years active 1968-present Instruments Trumpet | |
Occupation(s) Songwriter, producer, musician Associated acts Brothers and SistersThe Children of Howard HughesThe Hues CorporationThe Yankee Wailers | ||
♥ "Rock the Boat" - by Hues Corporation
Waldo T. "Wally" Holmes (born October 27, 1928) is an American musician and songwriter. He is the writer of the hit song "Rock The Boat" that was originally a hit for The Hues Corporation. His composition "I Got Caught Dancing Again" appears on Falling in Love album by Rachelle Ann Go
Contents
- Rock the Boat by Hues Corporation
- Background
- Music career
- Compositions selective
- Later years
- Links
- References
Background
In 1968, Holmes was a trumpeter and songwriter residing in Los Angeles. A friend of his that he surfed with was St. Clair Lee who he would later work with in the music business. At that time Holmes was a school teacher.
Music career
Holmes formed a group in 1968 called Brothers and Sisters that featured his friend Lee as lead singer. Brothers and Sisters were a soul pop group. He had plans to book them info the Las Vegas clubs with an eight piece backing group. The group would break up due to a wrong combination of singers. On Lee's suggestion they formed another group. In 1969, a trio called Children of Howard Hughes was formed and they played the Circus Circus in Vegas. Later they became The Hues Corporation.
Holmes wrote their biggest hit "Rock The Boat" and then another song "I Caught Your Act".
It was reported in the February 1975 edition of Billboard magazine that he was signed to Famous Music and even though he was going to be involved in other assignments for Famous Music, he was going to retain his position as executive producer and writer for The Hues Corporation.
Compositions (selective)
"Lookin' Around" co-written with Marjorie Brooks
Later years
Holmes was the director of the Sweet and Hot Music Festival in 2008 and the 2011 event that was held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel.
He was the leader of the traditional jazz group Yankee Wailers from Santa Monica that have played together in venues during 1988 and 2014. His group has also performed with singer, actress Ava Dupree and singer-songwriter Ruby Fradkin. The Yankee Wailers play every year at the Sweet & Hot Music Festival.
One of the furthest reaches his song "Rock The Boat" has made has been on the Australian series Playschool in a program theme about water.