EDDIE HOLMAN

British journalist Tony Cummings once wrote, “Eddie Holman’s voice, an astonishing precision instrument which can leap octaves with the speed of mercury and bend notes into shapes unimagined by lesser singers, has assured its possessor a place in soul history.”

He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 3, 1946, and began to sing at the tender age of two. In 1954, the Holmans relocated to New York City. There, his mother introduced him to the piano and guitar, for which the boy displayed a natural aptitude. As his vocal abilities developed, Holman won the Amateur Night contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. This led to performances at theaters on Broadway and even at Carnegie Hall. His mother subsequently enrolled him in the Victoria School of Music, and he appeared regularly on NBC-TV’s The Children’s Hour.

When Eddie was a teen-ager, the Holmans moved to Philadelphia. There, he attended Cheney State University and graduated with a degree in music. While still a student, Holman got a recording deal with Cameo/Parkway and immediately came out with a hit single. Released at the end of 1965, his falsetto-laden ballad, “This Can’t Be True,” reached #17 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart and #57 pop. Over the next four years, the R&B hits continued, including “Am I a Loser (From the Start)” (1966) and “I Love You” (1969). It was not, however, until the beginning of 1970 that Eddie Holman cracked the pop charts in a big way.

In 1963, Ruby & The Romantics reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Hey There, Lonely Boy.” At the end of 1969, Holman re-did the song (on ABC Records) as “Hey There, Lonely Girl.” His soaring falsetto took it to #4 on the Billboard Soul chart and #2 on the Hot 100. It sold over one million copies and received a gold disc from the Recording Industry Association of America. In late 1974, some five years after its initial release, “Lonely Girl” became a top five smash in England. Other versions of the song include Donny Osmond, Shaun Cassidy, Robert John, Stacy Lattisaw, New Edition, Gerry Woo, Big Fun, the Uptown Band, and Will Downing.

Eddie Holman and his wife Sheila have three children. An ordained Baptist minister, he considers his talent a gift from God and believes it must be used to glorify his maker. As such, Holman uses his musical talents both as a tool of entertainment and of faith. He still lives in Philadelphia and works with the city’s school system, encouraging young people to become involved in the performing arts. Holman also volunteers his time reaching out to those less fortunate.

Charted singles:

“This Can’t Be True” (1965-66) R&B #17, Pop #57
“Don’t Stop Now” (1966) Pop #104
“Am I a Loser (From the Start) (1966) R&B #17, Pop #101
“I Love You” (1969) R&B #16
“Hey There, Lonely Girl” (1969-70) R&B #4, Pop #2
“Since I Don’t Have You” (1970) Pop #48
“Don’t Stop Now” (1970) R&B #24, Pop #80
“I’ll Be There” (1970) Pop #115
“Cathy Called” (1970) R&B #28
“My Mind Keeps Telling Me (That I Really Love You, Girl)” (1972) R&B #20
“You’re My Lady” (1974) R&B #73
“This Will Be a Night to Remember” (1977) R&B #25, Pop #90
“You Make My Life Complete” (1977) R&B #96