Clarence Hollimon

Milton Howard Clarence Hollimon. (b. October 24, 1937. Died in Houston, April 23, 2000). Blues, jazz, and rhythm-and-blues guitarist. And also known for his later musical association with his wife, Carol Fran.

Possessing an exceptionally fluid, dexterous playing style that earned him the nickname "Gristle", he could slip effortlessly across genre boundaries. Though his early contributions as a premier mid-century studio session musician often went uncredited due to the era's documentation practices, his precise, biting guitar licks defined countless classic recordings.

In the latter portion of his career, he achieved widespread mainstream recognition through a celebrated musical and personal partnership with his wife, the renowned soul-blues vocalist and pianist Carol Fran.

Early Life

Hollimon was born and raised in the historic Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas, a vibrant musical community that served as a major incubator for African-American blues and jazz. He discovered his musical passion early in life, teaching himself to play the guitar as a young boy and quickly developing an advanced command of the instrument.

By his early teenage years, he was already performing regularly in local clubs scattered throughout the Fifth Ward music circuit. His undeniable talent caught the attention of veteran musicians, leading him to make the bold choice to drop out of Wheatley High School in 1954 to pursue a full-time professional music career on the road. He was immediately hired into the prestigious B​i​l​l H​a​r​v​e​y Blues Orchestra, where he honed his craft backing legendary touring acts such as Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton.

Career

His association with Harvey opened doors to D​o​n R​o​b​e​y’s influential D​u​k​e and P​e​a​c​o​c​k record labels, where Hollimon served as the premier house guitarist from 1957 to 1962. Under the direction of celebrated producer J​o​e S​c​o​t​t, his highly adaptable rhythm work and stinging leads anchored the definitive "D​u​k​e​-​P​e​a​c​o​c​k Sound"—a blend of brass-heavy arrangements and gospel-soaked vocals. He split studio duties with fellow guitar great Wayne Bennett, trading solos and tracking foundational rhythm parts for Bobby "Blue" Bland's seminal 1961 album Two Steps from the Blues, as well as Bland's chart-topping singles "Farther On Up the Road" and "I Pity the Fool".

Hollimon also supplied the driving fretwork for Junior Parker, Joe Hinton, "Peppermint" Harris, and O.V. Wright, alongside early solo cuts for Miss Lavelle White. His versatility extended to sacred music, tracking landmark gospel sessions for the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Dixie Hummingbirds. Beyond Houston, he cut tracks for K​i​n​g R​e​c​o​r​d​s with pianist Charles Brown and relocated temporarily to New York in 1964 to do session work at S​c​e​p​t​e​r R​e​c​o​r​d​s, backing pop-soul icons Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson.

Following a prolonged professional lull during the industry shifts of the 1970s and 1980s, Hollimon experienced a dramatic career renaissance alongside Carol Fran. Re-emerging on the independent B​l​a​c​k T​o​p R​e​c​o​r​d​s label, the duo released a series of critically acclaimed albums including Soul Sensation! (1992) and See There! (1994), culminating in a high-profile performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Atlanta. Their final studio collaboration, It's About Time, arrived in 2000, just before his death. In the digital streaming era, the historic backing tracks and previously unreleased studio outtakes from his classic mid-century label tenures have surfaced globally, introducing his intricate guitar work to a new generation of listeners.

Personal

Hollimon reconnected with Carol Fran in 1982, marrying in 1983 to form a celebrated personal and artistic partnership. Alongside international touring, they engaged in community education via Texas Folklife Resources. Hollimon received accolades including the Texas Black Caucus Entertainer of the Year (1987) and Jazz Heritage Society Guitarist of the Year (1989).

He passed away at age 62, survived by his family and a rich legacy as an unsung guitar great.