While Holcomb is known for his singing and playing in Roanoke bands since the 60s, he is not just a one trick pony. The Vikings performing at Festival in the Park concert, Downtown Roanoke. Along with Joy Ellis, the band was formed in 1975 and attracted a younger audience than patrons who came to attend Holcomb’s original Vikings band shows. The other band that Holcomb was associated with during the 70s is Woodsmoke. Bojangles (Video produced after his death) Woodsmoke band during mid 70s. The band signed a recording contract with London records during 1967.įred Frelantz and the Vikings: Mr. The Vikings Band in 1972.įor the next 7 years, the Vikings became the house band for the historic Coffee Pot Roadhouse restaurant and concert venue. Another prominent person that was added to the Vikings was Joy Ellis in 1969. One of the guys joining this new version of the band was the legendary WROV 1240 AM DJ Fred Frelantz. Upon graduation from college in 1966, Holcomb and Nelms returned to Roanoke and resurrected their Vikings band. Vikings cover of Linda Ronstadt & Stone Poneys song, “Some of Shelly’s Blues.” The Vikings occasionally played gigs together, when Nelms and Holcomb were in college at UVA between 19. Sometime in early 60s.Īfter Nelms and Holcomb graduated from high school, the young adults left Roanoke to attend the University of Virginia (UVA). Tommy started a band named the Vikings, along with his fellow classmates Allen Nelms and Lane Craig.
Holcomb’s musical roots started the summer before his senior year at Patrick Henry High School in 1961. Vikings cover of Simon & Garfunkel song, “Keep the Customer Satisfied.” We first met at WROV 1240 AM Roanoke, when Holcomb was delivering a commercial that he produced to the radio station where I was employed. I had an opportunity to conduct a phone interview with Holcomb earlier this month, as we discussed a musical career spanning over 60 years. From left: Tommy Holcomb, Rita Matthews, Glen Campbell, Nancy Holcomb Fisher and Jack Fisher. Tommy Holcomb performing in Atlanta, Georgia 1975 When Glen Campbell came to Roanoke. Holcomb’s journey creating music is renowned among those associated with history of the rich Roanoke music scene. He is also a founding member of two successful Roanoke pop/rock/folk bands during the 60s, 70s and 80s: The Vikings and Woodsmoke. Holcomb musical talent is much more than just creating ads for clients.
#And i love her by mighty vikings 45rpm plus#
If you have lived in central or southwestern Virginia over the past 50 plus years, chances are you have heard music written by Tommy Holcomb. The Roanoke, Virginia native has created hundreds of musical TV/radio commercials, which have been aired throughout Roanoke/Lynchburg media markets, as owner of Tommy Holcomb Productions. A few of the keyboardists featured in this episode play a heavily keyboard-oriented style in which the keyboard, especially the Hammond organ, is the featured instrument, sometimes without any guitars at all.All photos on this message are courtesy of Tommy Holcomb. Reggae keyboard is also used to accent the rocksteady beat with fill and tiny riffs that are often repeated. This has been called the bubbling style of keyboard playing as well, wherein the reggae keyboard plays on all four beats of a musical bar and also between each beat. A related technique is to quickly play chords on the keyboard in between those laid down by the rhythm guitar. It could be played rhythmically with the rhythm guitar, playing and releasing each chord quickly in a manner that is synchronized with the guitar. These formative years established the role of the keyboard in a bass-guitar-drums dominated style of play. We begin with some early recordings from the foundational years of reggae on which the Hammond organ, combo organs, electric Clavinet, and Fender Rhodes pianos were often used.
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