Malcolm Holcombe

Malcolm Holcombe
Malcolm Holcombe
	Holcombe performing in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Malcolm Brank Holcombe
Born	September 2, 1955; Weaverville, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	March 9, 2024 (aged 68); Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Folk music, Americana music, Alternative country
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1984–2024
Labels	Hip-O, Music Road, Munich, Gypsy Eyes, Southbound, Proper
Website	malcolmholcombe.com

Malcolm Holcombe (September 2, 1955 – March 9, 2024) was an American singer-songwriter.

Early history

Holcombe was born and raised in Weaverville, North Carolina, about ten miles north of Asheville.^[1] In his teen years, he played in local bands The Hilltoppers and Redwing, and since the early 1990's performed solo as a singer-songwriter.^[2]

After high school, Holcombe attended college and tech school, then quit to play music around the Southeast. He partnered with Ray Sisk and Dallas Taylor in a trio, and released the album Trademark with Sam Milner in 1985.^[3]

A Hundred Lies

Holcombe moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1990, working as a dishwasher at Douglas Corner Cafe and playing open mic shows. In 1996, Holcombe signed with Geffen Records.^[4] Promotional copies of his debut album A Hundred Lies drew praise from critics, and it was officially released in 1999 by Hip-O Records.^[2]

Subsequent recordings

Holcombe returned to North Carolina, married, and released several albums independently. His 2008 album Gamblin' House was produced by Ray Kennedy and released on North Carolina-based label Echo Mountain.^[5]

2010's To Drink the Rain was produced by Jared Tyler, who also played resonator guitar. Dave Roe (bass), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Bobby Kallus (drums), and Shelby Eicher (mandolin) provided accompaniment.^[6]

For The RCA Sessions in 2014, Holcombe re-recorded at least one song from each of his previous albums and EP, and one new song "Mouth Harp Man." Guests included Tyler, David Roe Rorick (bass), Tammy Rogers (fiddle, mandolin), Ken Coomer (drums), Jellyroll Johnson (harmonica), and Siobhan Maher Kennedy (vocals). Maura O'Connell duets with Holcombe on "A Far Cry From Here."^[7]

Pretty Little Troubles in 2017 was produced by Darrell Scott and accompanied by Tyler, Dennis Crouch (bass), Verlon Thompson (guitar), and Marco Giovino (percussion).^[8]

Death

On March 9, 2024, Holcombe died of respiratory failure due to cancer. He was 68.^[9]

Discography

Solo albums

1994: A Far Cry From Here (Io Music)
1999: A Hundred Lies (Hip-O)
2003: Another Wisdom (Purple Girl)^[10]
2005: I Never Heard You Knockin' (self-released)^[11]
2006: Not Forgotten (Munich)^[12]
2008: Gamblin' House (Echo Mountain)^[13]
2009: For the Mission Baby (Echo Mountain)^[14]
2011: To Drink the Rain (Music Road)^[15]
2012: Down The River (Gypsy Eyes)^[16]
2014: The RCA Sessions (Proper), re-recorded previously released material plus an EP^[4]
2014: Pitiful Blues (self-released)
2016: Another Black Hole (Proper)^[17]
2017: Pretty Little Troubles (Gypsy Eyes)^[18]
2018: Come Hell or High Water (Singular Recordings)
2018: Animated Sanctuary b/w Justice In The Cradle (single) (Need To Know)
2019: Lumberjack (Hardcore Dollar) b/w The Old North Side (single) (Need To Know)
2020: Tricks of the Trade (Singular Recordings) (issued on vinyl, Spring 2021)
2022: Bits & Pieces (issued on CD and vinyl, April 21 2023)

With Sam Milner

1984: Trademark (Upstream)

As composer

2006: Jonah Smith - Jonah Smith (Relix) - track 11, "Dressed in White"
2015: Jonathan Edwards - Tomorrow's Child (Rising) - track 1, "Down In the Woods"

Also appears on

2000: Jenn Adams - In the Pool (White Boxer)
2003: Various artists - The Slaughter Rule (Bloodshot) - track 19, "Killing the Blues"
2003: Various artists - The Living Room: Live in NYC, Vol. 1 (Stanton St.) - track 5, "To the Homeland"; track 6, "Dressed in White"; track 7, "Yesterdays Clothes"
2004: Various artists - Return to Cold Mountain: Songs Inspired By the Film (Compendia Music Group) - track 3, "Back in '29"
2006: Dayna Kurtz - Another Black Feather (Munich / Kismet)
2011: Various artists - The Six Sessions (Continental Song City) - track 1–17, "Leonard's Pigpen"

References

^ Levenson, Luke (April 6, 2017). "Malcolm Holcombe Keeps Telling Appalachian Tales on Pretty Little Troubles". Nashville Scene. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Bledsoe, Wayne (April 13, 2017). "Malcolm Holcombe: the songwriter's songwriter". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Cuccaro, Richard (September 1, 2016). "Malcolm Holcombe: Delivering the Storm". Acoustic Times. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Flynn, Michael (November 18, 2015). "Up from one very hard life, Malcolm Holcombe riding high". Black Mountain News. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Cooper, Peter (December 31, 2007). "Malcolm Holcombe - An appalachian ghost story". No Depression. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Gallacher, Alex (January 14, 2011). "Malcolm Holcombe - To Drink the Rain". Folk Radio UK. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Calvin Powers (March 31, 2015). "Malcolm Holcombe – The RCA Sessions". Americana Music Show. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Hynes, Jim (April 7, 2017). "Malcolm Holcombe: Pretty Little Troubles". Elmore Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ "Iconic and Elemental Songwriter Malcolm Holcombe Has Died - Saving Country Music". www.savingcountrymusic.com. March 10, 2024.
^ "Malcolm Holcombe – Another Wisdom". Uncut. May 1, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Cornell, Rick (April 30, 2005). "Malcolm Holcombe - I Never Heard You Knockin'". No Depression. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Bob Gottlieb. "Not Forgotten: Malcolm Holcombe". Acoustic Music. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ "Malcolm Holcombe On Mountain Stage". NPR Music. January 21, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Eli Petersen (August 27, 2009). "Malcolm Holcombe- For the Mission Baby". Twangville. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ Gilstrap, Andrew (May 9, 2011). "Malcolm Holcombe: To Drink the Rain". PopMatters. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Al Maginnes. "Malcombe Holcombe". Music City Roots. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^ staff writer (February 1, 2016). "Trail Mix: New Albums from Larry Keel and Malcolm Holcombe". Blue Ridge Outdoors. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Kopp, Bill (March 31, 2017). "Album review: 'Pretty Little Troubles' by Malcolm Holcombe". Mountain Xpress. Retrieved July 31, 2017.