2016 Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: GUEST,Coolproof
Date: 29 Jan 17 - 04:39 AM

Terry informed the world of the great history of British banjos and there makers. I did not know him personally but I learned from his work and it contributed to my carreer as an instrument restorer.
C

Subject: RE: 2016 Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 17 - 11:17 AM

Bob Harry,
I knew terry,and remember the letter from Peter seager. What has happened to his brother Kevin?
Bob

Subject: RE: Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: GUEST,Lucy
Date: 06 Jan 17 - 11:23 AM

Hello everyone,

I stumbled across this thread today and it's so lovely to hear you speaking so highly of Dad and his banjo playing. I know this thread is now 10 years old, but wanted to say how great it is to know that he left such a great impression on those who met him.

Playing in a band with our Dad and step- mother was not always easy, but he definitely passed on his love of bluegrass and acoustic music to us and we will forever be greatful for this - some of my favourite memories are playing with him in jam sessions into the early hours at festivals. Nothing brings people together like music!

Lucy :)

Subject: RE: Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 08:10 PM

I'm afraid I don't know his address, but I do know their home is in mid-Wales, somewhere near Llandovery.
Ray

Subject: RE: Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 09:11 AM

This news came as a shock to me. I met Terry back in 1961 when I was starting the Cardiff Folksong Club. I put out an appeal for any interested people to come to an inaugural meeting at my house. Half a dozen people arrived, including this young lad with a five string banjo, asking if I knew anything about Pete Seeger. This was Terry, who had fallen in love with the banjo and was as keen as mustard to learn all about it. I lent him every record I had with banjo picking on it. Within a very short time he became a nifty player, always looking to improve. There weren't too many 5-string players around then so Terry's music played a large part in the club's subsequent success. I left Cardiff in 64 and never saw him again but heard his name spoken from time to time as being a hot picker. It was no surprise to me to learn he'd gone deeply into old-timey and bluegrass music. I remember his blazing enthusiasm for the 5 string and the speed of his development as a player. It is very sad that he has gone at a comparitively young age. I would like to send condolences to his family. If anyone knows the address please pm me.

Subject: RE: Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: BanjoRay
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 08:02 PM

I'm very grateful to Terry Holland, he changed the whole direction of my life, and I will very much miss him at the Bluegrass festivals I tend to habituate.
After a serious injury in the mountains I was relaxing with my wife in a Lake District campsite in the mid 90s when I heard the sound of a banjo. I'd played one sporadically for many years and this guy sounded like Earl Scruggs so I wandered over. He had a spare banjo, and his wife Janet had a guitar so we played a few tunes and he filled me in on the British Old Time and Bluegrass scene which I didn't even suspect existed. He lit a fuse in my brain and since then I've made many friends in Old Time and Bluegrass music and played with many good people.
He and Janet brought up their twin daughters Beth and Lucy to be superb musicians on bass and mandolin respectively, and had a family Bluegrass band called Missing Strings.
His annual Telfest festival in May was a "must do" for me. It was in a beautiful campsite with a pub at Holt Fleet, on the banks of the Severn. The atmosphere, sessions, workshops, concerts, real ale and food were first class.
So long Terry - it was great to know you.
Ray

Subject: Obit: Terry Holland (banjo)
From: Spot
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:54 PM

Allo everybody...
   
                Sad news this time...I've just learned of Terry Holland's passing on Christmas day last year... He lost his battle with lung cancer. I didn't actually know the man but have enjoyed "Telfest", his bluegrass festival, near Worcester UK, several times over the years, enjoyed his musical family, particularly his mando and bass playing daughters. Leastways I've always presumed they were his daughters!! (One of them makes/sells socks emblazoned with F5's and 5-strings on them....Socks as good as their playing, too! )   My feelings are with them all....

                   Regards    Spot