Sister Rock

I t ’ s N o t O v e r
The Mary Holt Story


Written By :Tommy Roeck
Sharon Brown - Photos

If you’re out on the town hanging out with the crew &
checking out the local music scene you have probably met
Mary Holt. She was probably the woman on the dance floor
showing everyone how to shake their tail feathers or the
short, well endowed blonde chic sitting in with the band
rocking the house. Music is her “Heart & Soul”. she lives,
eats, & breathes music. Holt moved to Little Rock about 12
years ago after she lost her husband, Phillip Lawson to a
car accident in Batesville. She was pregnant with their first
child at the time of his demise. Colton Arlene Lawson was
born 2 weeks after on January 14, 1999.
For the first time in her life, she was alone and a single
mother of three. She was left alone, with only one means of
making a living, and that was wrestling. Being she was one of
the original Central Arkansas Female Wrestlers. She & Phillip
had been involved with the “Walnut Ridge Arkansas Wrestling
Team” for almost six years. She was teamed up with Her
late husband’s brother, “Mr. Bad Dog”, and were the tag team
champions in the late 90’s, as “The K-9’s”.
She lost her children a year and a half later due to a chemical
imbalance that triggered a nervous break down that
stemmed from the loss of her husband. Holt stated; “I was
living in refrigerator boxes and eating out at Burger Kings,
Shipley Donuts & Captain D’s. I was working at Captian D’s
as a cashier making less than $300 every 2 weeks. It was just
enough to rent a one room kitchenette which kept me off the
streets for at least one night a week.” After almost 6 months
of being homeless and living like this In Conway, she knew
she deserved better, so she threw what clothes she had into
a trash bag and headed out of town on foot. Holt promised
herself that no matter what, she would get it all back together,
get to her kids, and reach for the stars.
She landed a job at a local North Little Rock hot spot
called “L.A. City Limit’s as a waitress with the help of her
aunt Peggy. She started meeting and hanging out with local
bands such as “Third Degree”, “The Getty’s”, “Mudd”, “Mr.
Happy”, “Judge Parker” & The Original “L.A Guns” with
Paul Black & Tracy Guns. Then she realized that through music
she could reach out to her children and make them proud.
Holt started sitting in with local bands & singing karaoke at a
local joint on the Arkansas River called Gators.
Holt was on stage every chance she got with local live
bands and when she wasn’t, she was singing karaoke. She
felt that being in the spotlight, maybe one night, just maybe,
one of her children might be in the crowd and they would
see her. One night she met a man known as “Alan The Limo
Guy”. He heard her singing a Stevie Nicks song called “
Stop Dragging My Heart Around” with her duet partner ”DJ
Mike” a.k.a. Mike Roy Liegel, radio celebrity & drummer for
“Austin 305” and they were just rockin’ the house!
Alan then became her personal manager, and landed her a
gig as the female singer for one of Arkansas’ top blues band’s
“N.T.O.” (Never Too Old Too Rock Your Soul). Mary & Joe
Marks were known as Samson & Delia, and could really work
the stage. One night while singing Karaoke at Boogie’s in the
North Little Rock Holiday Inn managed by Wayne Willems,
who later founded Arkansas Internet Radio and became her
lead guitarist in her current group “Midnight Blue”. While
sitting and having a beer, laughing & having a good time
with her new Family, the gang in “The Local Little Rock
Music Scene”. she met a local radio executive who was there
looking for female vocalists to go on stage at the River Front
Amphitheater and sing with none other than Brett Michaels
and “Poison”. He was also was looking for a nice, reasonable
limousine to take “Poison” and their entourage to the radio
interview and where ever else they needed to go. Willems had
told the exec about Mary’s manger and his limo service. A
meeting was then set up at the local 50’s bar “Bobby Socks.”
The contract was signed & the deal was made, and Holt
was bubbling with excitement as she would be singing in
front of over 8,000+ people with Poison. On the Bill that night
with Poison was Little Rock’s own “Third Degree”, and
“Vince Neil”. Standing on the side of that stage waiting for
Poison to play, she was not thinking of them all as famous
rock stars, she just wanted the chance to “Rock the House.”
She then realized that music was where she felt most secure,
and from then on she was all about the music. It was her
life. It was one of the most exciting and fulfilling times of the
unstoppable Mary Holt’s career, and she is thankful to all who
were involved and will never forget hanging out backstage
with the “Poison” Crew, all the bands, and that magical day
with the Arkansas river flowing behind them.
But soon after that incredible night, her dreams were threatened
once again. Mary found out she had been diagnosed
with stage 4 cancer in her lungs, spreading to her lymph
nodes. Holt did not have a normal job w/ medical benefits
or the means, and without treatment, she had less than a 40%
chance of survival.Being hard headed and strong willed, she pushed herself and kept on going even when she had to have a cancerous
cyst removed from her throat! she did her best to show up to most of the local shows, and support for her local musician family. She said; “they were helping me have the will to keep on fighting, I went on knowing that somehow something would happen to show me the way to get the treatment I needed, even though my doctor told me I would be lucky to make it six more months, I told myself I was not going to give up without a fight.” One night at Counter Point, she sat in
with “Third Degree“ Holt said; ”I knew my throat was sore
as hell & the doctor told me not to sing until I was fully recovered,
or I would stand a chance of messing up my vocals
for good. I decided not even cancer was going to stop me
from having that magical, content feeling again. And I sang
my Heart out, and performed one of my favorite songs By
Melissa Etheridge , I’m the Only One.” The next Morning she woke up to a man at her mother’s door. She didn’t know this man personally, but he told her that he had heard about her situation and he was there to help. This caring man who Mary had never met before told
her he was taking her to Tulsa, Oklahoma - Cancer Treatment
Centers of America, and paying for it in full for whatever
treatment she needed with no strings attached! He sat and
waited on her for many countless hours, like her own personal
guardian angel. Once she completed the treatment and they
were headed home, she asked him why he did this for her?
The man turned and looked at her with a tear in his eye
and said; “I didn’t just do it for you, I also did it for my Jennifer.
My daughter use to go to “Gators Bar & Grill” all the time
and other Karaoke hot spots in Little Rock, just so she could
hang out and listen to you sing all her favorite songs”. (later
Mary found out Jennifer was one of her biggest fans) She met
her about a year before when Holt was singing with “NTO”
on the back deck of Gators. The songstress had noticed from
across the room that the girl was crying and went to check on
her. The girl then told her that she had inoperable cancer and
not much more time left on this earth. Mary told Jennifer a little bit about her own past, and why no matter what, at the end of her day, before she goes to sleep, she says to herself, “It’s not over!” and she tries to live every moment she has left to the fullest, and would help her do the same. Holt also explained why she had such a desire to sing, and be around anything to do with music. After that night he
said Jennifer, no matter how bad she felt, would go out every
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that she possibly could, so
she could hang out and hear Mary sing. Holt worked with her
and taught her how to sing a couple of songs that had a lot of
meaning to her. Gators closed, and Jennifer’s father had been
trying to catch up with Mary for around 2 months. The reason
he paid for the treatment is because it was the last promise he
made to Jennifer before she passed away two months before,
and he would do whatever he had to, to ensure her favorite
singers survival. She also said; “tell Mary, it’s not over”!
Mary Holt is still here, through the grace of God, sheer
determination, and a special, giving man, she strives to perform,
promote, support, and live the magical, musical dream.
Selflessly giving of herself, for her friends, fans, and people
in need. With the unconditional love of her husband Russell
Holt, who supports her 200%.She has been to countless shows and has booked many local bands. She founded “The Wild Hearts” (Female - Biker Women Social Club). They rode their motorcycles for battered women & children. She also owns her own Karaoke Company
called “Soft tail Karaoke”. She works for Little Rock Entertainment
Agency & Arkansas Internet Radio as the assistant booking agent. And recently she formed a new Variety Dance / Classic Rock Band called “Midnight Blue” with herself on vocals, Wayne Willems on lead guitar, Alfred Dugas on rythmn guitar, Carl Abble on bass, John Roach on Drums, and Robert Stindler on Keyboards. Mary Holt says; ”It rocks! , we are playing all styles of music, Including top 40 dance. I’m still going strong and doing what I love to do. So when you see me out at an event or in a nightclub, stop and say hello, I have never met a stranger, and when things get bad & life gets you down, go out and
catch a local show & Rock Out!! And remember, don’t ever give up on your dreams because, “It’s not over”! After wiping away the tears, this reporter has found a new respect for this incredible woman of music. She is my friend whom I love and respect dearly, and I fondly call her sister. She is truly an angel, and wields the magic with style, grace,
heart and soul. She respects everyone no matter who they are
and will try to help anyone in need. Knowing her and jamming
with her is an honor and a privilege. You may contact
her at http://www.facebook.com/MaryHolt.
- Nightflying Magazine March 2011