Biography
Malcolm Holcombe-Bio-july-2009
"I chainsmoke and complain, goin' broke inside," Malcolm Holcombe growls with his signature gritty vocals while sharply picking his guitar; If chain-smoking and complaining are some of the characteristics that embody the kind of talent Malcolm reveals in his raw, heartfelt story telling, well then everyone should applaud chain-smoking complainers.
On the exterior Malcolm is a chain-smoking, coffee-loving, flannel shirt-wearing man with a five-o’clock shadow and a cutting stare, but the minute he walks on a stage, out comes the performer with his jabbered witticisms and off-beat style. He has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand.
Malcolm, born in Appalachia North Carolina, found musical inspiration from a pocket transitor radio, his mom's french harp encompassing all the music shows on the fada tv which sometimes even could pick up 2 channels, 13 and 7. Malcolm was "glued to the tube" watching shows from "Sing Along with Mitch" , "The Flatt and Scruggs Show" to "Where the Action Is" and "The Ed Sullivan show".He learned to play a few chords on a flat-top guitar his mother bought from Sears in the mid-sixties, and the handy Mel-Bay Chord Book. "I couldn't make it past the first page 'er two. Mother said I sang through my nose. I just tried to carry a tune some way or another, just to pass the time."
After the passing of both parents, just a few years apart, Malcolm hit the road with a band called Redwing in search of a different scene. After a stint in Florida he eventually moved on to Nashville, TN, finding a job flipping burgers at Douglas Corner Cafe. Occasionally Malcolm would take a break from the kitchen and get on stage, turning heads and opening the ears of audiences that were so used to Nashville’s formulaic country crooning. Malcolm’s was a rustic, rugged, grass-roots sound distilled from the foothills of Appalachia with a soulful blues feel.
In 1996 Malcolm signed a deal with Geffen Records and was recording his debut. He now had the attention and recognition of Nashville’s closely knit music community. Unfortunately, at the height of his career, Malcolm succumbed to the temptations of drugs and alcohol. He developed a somewhat notorious reputation around Nashville, performing disappearing acts only to return and wreak havoc. This was the start of a dark period for this talented, upcoming artist.
This decline continued as Geffen, unexpectedly, decided to pull his album release. It was a huge blow, but Malcolm carried on, returning to a life of short-lived, low paying jobs. With the failed release, and struggles with substance abuse, Malcolm sank into a deep depression.
After several other unsuccessful industry attempts, Malcolm left Nashville and eventually moved back to North Carolina, sobered up and released two independent albums.
Today Malcolm is still sober and continually touring with his particular flavor of gritty folk music. His last album, released by Echo Mountain Records, expresses a variety of topics from politics in the title song "Gamblin’ House" to the love and inspiration he gets from his wife in the song "Cynthia Margaret." He’s still wildly unpredictable with what he says and he still resembles a crazed person while performing; however, there are subtle differences like the cup of coffee that has replaced the booze.
The critical acclaim Malcolm always deserved, has finally come to him through publications like Rolling Stone, The Wallstreet Journal, and Billboard Magazine. He’s been featured in BBC and NPR interviews, countless local radio shows, newspapers, blogs and foreign press. His last 2008 release, Gamblin' House, was in the top 20 of the Americana Music Association chart for 9 straight weeks. His eighth release, For The Mission Baby, will be released Fall of 2009 by Echo Mountain Records. Once again, Malcolm went with Grammy Award winning producer, Ray Kennedy. The album consists of upbeat vocals, twangy country western melodies, the harmonies of Mary Gauthier, Siobhan Maher and Tim O’Brien and no lack of cryptic dark undertones. Malcolm considers it his best work yet.
"For The Mission Baby" is a brilliant adventure into stimulating stories of "unvarnished life expression full of heart, soul and mystery from a master."† – Ray Kennedy
www.malcolmholcombe.com
Instrumentation
Malcolm Holcombe/acoustic guitar/vocal
Discography
1-a far cry
2-a hundred lies
3-another wisdom
4-i never heard you knockin'
5-not forgotten
6-wager
7-gamblin' house
8-for the mission baby
Links
| http://www.malcolmholcombe.com |