Holly Gentry, an Atlanta based singer/songwriter, is thrilled to release her debut album, So Much More. Drawing on her South Georgia roots, Holly’s music is tinged with country, blues and southern rock. This musical foundation stems from years of listening to an amalgamation of artists that only the Deep South provides.
Her strongest influences are her mentor Rhetta Butler, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Rory Bloch, Deana Carter, Brandi Carlile, The Eagles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the majority of female country singers who rose to fame in the 90’s. The songs recorded on So Much More reflect personal stories and recollections, which surfaced through Holly’s transition from young woman, to professional, wife and mother.
To realize her dream, Holly enlisted the help of producer Brian Molin and Grammy winning producer and engineer Don McCollister. Don McCollister has confirmed his platinum success as a producer with such top selling artists as Sister Hazel, Indigo Girls, Third Day, Shawn Mullins, and Caedman's Call.
The majority of the album was recorded at Nickel and Dime Studios in Avondale and at The Quarry in Kennesaw, GA, where Molin brought together a stellar band of Atlanta and Athens notables.
Molin not only produced the entire album but contributed his unparalleled lead guitar skills. Both A.J Adams and Seth Hendershot of Athens’ favorite The Granfalloons and Blueground Undergrass pitched in. A.J. multi tasked on bass, slide and lap steel, while Seth Hendershot provided percussion. Atlanta keyboardist, Walt Austin and saxophone player Will Scruggs rounded out the album. Holly is thrilled that ace fiddler David Blackmon of Widespread Panic fame contributed to her version of “Child of Mine.”
Holly was born and raised in Thomasville, a small town in Southwest Georgia. She grew up the only child of an educator and banker. Holly was surrounded by a large extended family, including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents just down the street and across town. Her days were filled with the pleasures of small town, big family living. Deep and wide spaces of quiet time to read, imagine, play and daydream - summer mornings bumping down ancient plantation roads in her Papa’s red and white Ford pick up to go check on his corn fields - afternoons rocking on the front porch with her mother - and there was always music.
Holly’s mother played piano for any church, kindergarten, elementary school and Brownie troop that asked. In moments of both frustration and happiness, she would sit down and play the antique piano Holly’s father gave her for their first anniversary. Her grandfather, a quiet and reserved man, would often burst into song, some made up on the spot and others he knew from church and radio. Musicality also trickled down from her father’s family. Holly’s uncle sang in doo wop and gospel groups, and her aunt was an accomplished pianist.
Holly grew up singing in church choirs, school productions and the local Music & Drama Troupe. Through it all, she learned a deep appreciation for the catharsis and joy that music could bring, and her earliest fantasy of grown up life included a long red sequined dress, a band, a microphone, and big blond hair (it was the 80’s).
Holly continued to hone her love of music on local stages as a teenager, and received a vocal scholarship to Wake Forest University where she graduated magna cum laude with an English major and music minor. After college, she attended law school at the University of Georgia, where she first began writing her own music as a means to keep her music alive. Upon graduating from University of Georgia School of Law, Holly accepted a position in Atlanta and began the daily grind of a civil litigation attorney. Music wouldn’t leave her alone, and soon became too loud to ignore. It was during this time she continued developing her songwriting and began to sing with local bands around the Atlanta area.
“When the student is ready, the master will appear.” For Holly, this maxim hit home when she began taking lessons with Rhetta Butler in 2002. Rhetta is Holly’s most profound musical influence, and is a mentor, teacher and friend. Over the years, Rhetta has taught in New York, Nashville and Atlanta. Ms. Butler is also a songwriter and recording artist who has been with Atlantic and Warner Bros. Records. Rhetta remains instrumental in guiding Holly to find her voice in both the literal sense and in songwriting, and continues to guide Holly’s musical path.
Recently, Holly collaborated on recording a duet with producer Bruce Bennett and Scott Patton, the famed musical director and guitarist of Sugarland. She is in the midst of songwriting and plans to reenter the Atlanta music scene now that she has given birth to her second child, Jay, born March 30, 2012. Holly lives in Atlanta with her tone deaf, but much loved husband Haynes, daughter Charlotte, son Jay and Chihuahuas Tallulah and Noelle. Holly’s greatest wishes are that her music is enjoyed and that So Much More be the opening cadence of much more to come in her musical career.
Band Name: Holly Gentry
Album Name: Country Rock 1
Email Address: hollymgentry@gmail.com
Website Address: http://www.hollygentry.com
Music Style: Country Rock Pop
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