Ken Holt
Who I Am
I had a Marine Corps dad and a Navy mom. Lived in 7 states over 14 years. Finally landed in the west side of Jacksonville, Florida. Joined my first rock and roll band, The Camelots, at Forrest High School (named after a Confederate general). Played for dances in the gym, pep rallies, and got our picture in the annual. Life was good.
PEOPLE: Chip Miller, the 2nd and last drummer of the Camelots, went on to play with Randall Hall (former Lynyrd Skynyrd), Tim Lindsay (current Molly Hatchet), Drew Lumbar (founder Grinderswitch), Don Barnes and Kenny Lyons (38 Special) and many other great Jacksonville players. Chip died 2 years ago of liver disease.
Went barefoot to Florida Junior College and put on shoes for Jacksonville Univeristy. (With Artis Gilmore’s 7’2”, J.U. was #2 in the nation behind UCLA.) Majored in Political Science and the age of aquarius. Played in bands called the Merge, the Ottoharp and others that weren’t around long enough to name. Met Jim Drown wandering the halls of the JU music building. Jim was looking for a bass player. That “chance” meeting rearranged a chunk of my life.
PEOPLE: Played bass for a year with one fantastic drummer named John Meeks. John was a “star” who had played with some of the best of southern rock and roll aristocracy. Tell me who John played with and I’ll send you a free CD.
Moved to Kennebunkport, Maine to play for the summer at the Forefather’s Inn. With Jim, Donnie, Pat, David, and Roger, we became the B. Schwartz Band. Stayed for the summer and then for 10 more years. Along with J.D., Donnie Pomber, Steve Dore, and Skip Smith, formed The Blend. Played every college, club, and concert venue in New England. (Check out Backstage Pass.) Signed a deal with MCA Records, recorded 2 albums, did 2 tours, had a complete blast, went broke, and collapsed.
Rock and Roll Trivia: While opening for that “little ole band from Texas”, we were the first rock and roll band to ever play at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine. Many have done it since, but we were the first.
Packed my guitar and went back to school. Got two Master’s Degrees in Christian Education and Theology. Thus began my solo preaching career. Check out the song “Promised Land” on the Shouting Stones CD for the complete story. Played before packed auditoriums of middle and high schoolers. Rock and roll really came in handy. Served in five churches as Youth Minister and / or Pastor, and always pulled out my guitar when I needed a friend. Plus, for the collective good, God will use everything we bring to the table, and that includes guitar playing preachers.
Once you’ve done the music thing, been on stage, felt the connection with other players and with an audience, you’re hooked for life. Even when you go away, you come back. So, I put together my own recording studio, The Garage in Indialantic, Florida, recorded 2 CD’s and continue to explore new ways to share my music. Often I try to do it all by myself. When I’m the smartest, I ask God to take over. It’s during those vulnerable, listening times that doors usually open and help appears. Maybe it’s no “accident” you’re reading this.
I hope you enjoy what I call SUBURBAN COUNTRY: Look for the light, catch the humor, hold on to the faith.
Peace to you and yours,
Ken Holt