Dorian Holley

Last updated
Dorian Holley
Birth nameDorian Jose Holley
Born (1956-07-01) July 1, 1956 (age 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • vocal coach
Years active1985–present
Children3

Dorian Jose Holley is an American musician, backing singer and a vocal coach. He began his professional career as an on-stage backing vocalist for American entertainer Michael Jackson during his Bad world tour in 1987. He staged a series of live concerts in front of audiences around the world, including the British royalty. From there, Holley went on to travel with Jackson for all of his subsequent world tours. He also performed with other artists such as Rod Stewart in 1991 and James Taylor in 1994 and since 2019. In 1991, Holley was the singing voice of Choir Boy in the Robert Townsend movie, The Five Heartbeats . His stage presence and vocal ability were praised by music critics during such performances.

Contents

Holley auditioned prominently to become a featured vocalist on the reality television show Dancing with the Stars . He served in this capacity for the first three seasons of the American series. Holley has also worked for several years as an associate music director and vocal coach for the singing competition American Idol . He worked there with the contestants before and after they appear before the show's judges and the worldwide television audience.

In 2008, Holley released his debut album, Independent Film. Next year he worked with Jackson for the last time, in preparation for the entertainer's ill-fated concert series This Is It. Holley was to serve as a backing vocalist, as well as the vocal director for the shows. Jackson's death forced the concerts to be canceled.

In 2010, Holley host a weekend at the LA Music Academy called "The Art of the Audition". [1] As of 2011, he was the vocalist for the house band on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno led by Rickey Minor. He is also the Artist Development Director at Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music and teaches in the school's vocal department. Dorian is married to trial attorney Shawn Holley, who once represented Jackson and has been a chief legal correspondent for the E! network. [2]

Career

Michael Jackson's Bad tour

Holley first performed with pop superstar Michael Jackson during the entertainer's first solo concert series, the Bad world tour. Beginning in Japan in September 1987, the tour lasted for 16 months, during which time he visited 15 countries while serving as a backing singer for Jackson, along with Kevin Dorsey, Darryl Phinnessee and Sheryl Crow. As part of the tour, he performed to over 4 million people, including Charles and Diana. The Bad tour concluded several months later in January 1989. [3] [4] [5] [6]

English musician Rod Stewart enlisted the services of both Holley and Phinnessee in 1991, when he toured the US. The two singers were part of an 11-man backing ensemble, when Stewart performed at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and in California in September 1991. During the show's encore, Stewart performed his signature song "Twistin' the Night Away". The Los Angeles Times described in a review of the concert that the song was "embellished with a delicious a cappella doo-wop break featuring the 46-year-old star and backup singers Darryl Phinnessee and Dorian Holley". [7] The two vocalists were also praised by the Chicago Tribune after a performance at the Poplar Creek Music Theatre, where their "sublime harmonies" "formed a perfect counterpoint to Stewart's impassioned pleas on 'This Old Heart of Mine'". [8] The San Jose Mercury News concluded that Holley and Phinnessee were "great". [9]

Dangerous World Tour, HIStory World Tour and touring with James Taylor

Holley returned to work with Jackson for the Dangerous World Tour (June 1992–November 1993), a 69 date concert series which was attended by almost 3.5 million fans. The tour was cut short after child sexual abuse allegations were leveled against Jackson. He canceled the remainder of the tour due to the stress caused by the accusations. [4] [10] [11]

Dorian is mature and intelligent, and that comes through in an ineffable way when he sings. That said, he can also put it on hold and be one-dimensional and shallow if he has to. Dorian is a real utility player.

James Taylor [12]

In 1994, he joined with Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter, and David Lasley to form what The Pantagraph and The Boston Globe respectively described as a "wonderful" and "angelic" backing group to James Taylor. [13] [14] [15] While on tour with Taylor, he was praised for his vocal ability by several news sources. The Roanoke Times stated that the highlight of the show at the Roanoke Civic Center was the performance of "Shower the People", which "showcased the singing" of Holley. [16] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed during a performance of the same song at Riverport Amphitheater that the backing vocalist "sang a spirited solo that drew an ovation equal to anything Taylor had drawn thus far". [17] He returned in 2019 when Arnold McCuller was busy touring with Phil Collins. Since Arnold McCuller’s retirement, Holley has done the Coda for “Shower the People”.

Holley worked with Michael Jackson again for the entertainer's last concert series, the HIStory World Tour, which began in Prague, Czech in September 1996. The tour attracted more than 4.5 million fans from 58 cities in 35 countries around the world and concluded in Durban, South Africa in October 1997. [4] [18] [19]

Reality television work

Holley auditioned to become a featured vocalist on the American reality television show Dancing with the Stars. The audition was performed in seven different sounds, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Sly Stone. He was a successful and became a featured singer during the first three seasons of the series. [12] Holley later noted that the concept of diversity in vocal performance was not a new experience for him. "I've been at sessions where a producer has said he wants me to sound like Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen at the same time. I've had people say can you make it a little more green. Huh? It's tricky." He added, "Sometimes they think they want Sheryl Crow, because she has a hit single. But what they really want is magic, and that is whatever you, as an individual, can bring. It's a tough call between being a blank slate and being yourself." [12]

He has also served for several years as an associate music director and vocal coach for the reality singing competition American Idol. As part of his job, he helps contestants rehearse and arrange the songs they are to perform. He states that his primary task, however, is to encourage and support the participants as they face scrutiny and criticism. Holley added that it is common for some of the contestants to "crumble" upon leaving the stage if they have received critical comments from judge Simon Cowell. [12] His job on American Idol has had him work with winners such as Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen. [20] [21]

Debut album

Independent Film, a self-released solo album by Holley, was released in 2008. Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe described the album as being a "soul-satisfying project that won't pay the bills". [12] It was reported in October 2008 that Holley had been conducting workshops on the art of audition. He drew inspiration from his time on American Idol, as well as his experience with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West and Queen Latifah. While at Berklee College of Music, he offered advice to young singers who wanted to become famous. "Everyone starts out dreaming, and then you get married, have a baby, buy a house and a car, and what I want to let people know is that there are so many jobs out there. My thinking is, if you're a musician and you can make music instead of digging a ditch, make it." [12]

Holley's last experiences with Jackson were in 2009, when he prepared for a scheduled 50-date concert series called This Is It. Holley rehearsed with Jackson as a backing singer at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and was also hired as the vocal director for the ill-fated shows. He was present on the singer's last night of rehearsals in June 2009. Hours later, Jackson died after he entered into cardiac arrest at his nearby home. [22] [23] [24] Holley sang during the group rendition of "We Are the World" at the entertainer's memorial service the subsequent month. He was joined by fellow This Is It backing vocalists Darryl Phinnessee, Judith Hill and Orianthi. [25]

In 2017, he attended Kingvention, a Michael Jackson convention in London where he spoke about Michael Jackson in a live interview with Pez Jax and also performed on stage in front of over 300 Michael Jackson Fans.

Personal life

Holley is married to an American defense attorney Shawn Holley, who practices both civil and criminal law. They have three daughters: Nayanna, Sasha Imogen, and Olivia Rose. [26] Nayanna Holley is a singer, actress, and songwriter. She started traveling with her father since she was 3. [27] The Los Angeles Times reported in 2005 that the family lived in a 2,800-square-foot (260 m2) home, which was built in 1920 and bought by Holley and his wife in 2003. [28] The Standard noted in 2007 that the couple had purchased a 3,500-square-foot (330 m2) Italian Renaissance Revival home in Lafayette Square, Los Angeles. Writers for the publication further commented that the Holley planned to keep a home in nearby Wellington Square. [29]

Discography

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour HimselfJackson's backing singer
2012 Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 HimselfJackson's backing singer
2009 Michael Jackson's This Is It HimselfJackson's backing singer and vocal director

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Jackson</span> American country singer and songwriter

Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studio albums, including two Christmas albums, and two gospel albums, as well as three greatest-hits albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Revolver</span> American hard rock supergroup

Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland was fired from the band, and rejoined Stone Temple Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold McCuller</span> American singer (born 1950)

Arnold McCuller is an American vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He was active as a solo artist and session musician, but is perhaps best known for his work as a touring back-up singer with artists such as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Beck, Bonnie Raitt, and Todd Rundgren. He toured for forty-five years with Taylor and is an audience favorite for his featured vocal parts on the songs "Shower the People", "I Will Follow", and "Is That the Way You Look". He has also toured extensively with Collins and is one of the main lead vocalists on the live version of "Easy Lover". In 2010 McCuller joined the Troubadour Reunion Tour supporting James Taylor and Carole King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael McDonald (musician)</span> American musician, singer, and keyboardist (born 1952)

Michael H. McDonald is an American singer, keyboardist and songwriter known for his distinctive, soulful voice and as a member of Steely Dan (1973–1974), and the Doobie Brothers. McDonald wrote and sang several hit singles with the Doobie Brothers, including "What a Fool Believes", "Minute by Minute", and "Takin' It to the Streets." McDonald has also performed as a prominent backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists including Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad (tour)</span> 1987–89 concert tour by Michael Jackson

Bad was the first solo concert tour by American singer Michael Jackson, launched in support of his seventh studio album Bad (1987). The 123-show world tour began on September 12, 1987 in Japan, and concluded on January 27, 1989 in the United States, and sponsored by soft drink manufacturer Pepsi. It grossed a total of $125 million, making it the second highest-grossing tour of the 1980s after Pink Floyd's Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, and earning two new entries in the Guinness World Records for the largest grossing tour in history and the tour with the largest attended audience. It was nominated for "Tour of the Year 1988" at the inaugural International Rock Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliott Yamin</span> American singer (born 1978)

Ephraim Elliott Yamin is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and for placing third on the fifth season of American Idol.

<i>Love Versus Money</i> (Noiseworks album) 1991 studio album by Noiseworks

Love versus Money is the third studio album by Australian rock band Noiseworks. It contained the Top 10 hit "Hot Chilli Woman". It peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ari Koivunen</span> Finnish singer

Ari Koivunen is a Finnish heavy metal singer who rose to fame as the winner of the Finnish singing competition Idols in 2007. He was the vocalist of the Finnish heavy metal band Amoral from 2008 to 2017. Beside he has worked with many musical projects already before and also after Amoral disbanded.

<i>Angels & Devils</i> (Fuel album) 2007 studio album by Fuel

Angels & Devils is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fuel. Released on August 7, 2007, it was their first studio effort since 2003's Natural Selection and was the last Fuel album to feature original bassist Jeff Abercrombie. It was also Fuel's only studio album to feature new vocalist Toryn Green, and their final album for Epic Records. With a new singer, the album also introduced a new Fuel logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Idol</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1955)

William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English and American singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison Iraheta</span> American singer

Allison Iraheta is an American singer who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record deal with 19 Entertainment and Jive Records. Her debut album Just like You was released on December 1, 2009. She was also the lead singer of the band Halo Circus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orianthi</span> Australian musician, singer and songwriter (born 1985)

Orianthi Penny Panagaris, known mononymously as Orianthi, is an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter who rehearsed in 2009 with Michael Jackson in preparation for his This Is It concert series, and performed with Alice Cooper's touring band. Her 2009 debut single "According to You" peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, Believe, received a worldwide release in late 2009. The same year, she was named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" by Elle magazine. She also won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Hill</span> American singer-songwriter

Judith Glory Hill is an American singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She has provided backing vocals for such artists as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Josh Groban. In 2009, Hill was chosen as Jackson's duet partner for the song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" during his This Is It rehearsals. After Jackson's death in 2009, she, along with the rest of the This Is It cast members, performed at Jackson's memorial service and attracted global attention when she sang the lead on the song "Heal the World". Hill's rise to fame is recounted in 20 Feet from Stardom, a documentary film that tells the untold story of the backup singers behind some of the "greatest musical legends of the 21st century". She is also a featured artist on the film's soundtrack. She won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film for her performance in this film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loren Gold</span> Musical artist

Loren Gold is an American keyboardist, vocalist, music director, and songwriter. Gold is a keyboardist and vocalist for the Who and Chicago. In addition, Gold has been the touring keyboardist and backup vocalist for Roger Daltrey since 2009. Gold also performs with Rita Wilson and has toured regularly with Don Felder since 2009. Other artists he has toured with include Kenny Loggins, Natalie Maines, and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. Gold has been musical director for pop stars Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Hilary Duff, and he continues to build and develop bands for other artists. Gold has published two instructional books through his collaboration with Alfred Music, and his original compositions have been featured on HBO and Showtime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Lington</span> Musical artist

Michael Lington is a Danish-American contemporary saxophonist, songwriter, producer, recording artist and a purveyor of soul and contemporary jazz.

<i>Truly Blessed</i> 1991 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

Truly Blessed is the eleventh studio album by R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in March 1991 on the Elektra label. The single was written by Gabriel S. Hardeman Jr, Annette Guest Hardeman, and G Syier Hawkins Brown. Co Produced by Teddy Pendergrass and G Syier Hawkins Brown. Three tracks were produced by Pendergrass, with four of the tracks produced by him and Terry Price, and the remaining three produced by Derek Nakamoto and Craig Burbidge.

<i>World Gone Crazy</i> (The Doobie Brothers album) 2010 studio album by The Doobie Brothers

World Gone Crazy is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released on September 28, 2010. It debuted at number 39 on the Billboard top 200 albums chart, their highest charting position since 1989. The first single is a remake of their 1971 debut single "Nobody". Tom Johnston states about the album "This album has been in the mix for five years, but we didn’t seriously start putting the nuts and bolts together until three years ago."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Davison</span> American musician (born 1971)

Jon Davison is an American singer, musician and songwriter who has been the lead vocalist of progressive rock band Yes since 2012.

Paulette McWilliams is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career singing with the bands The American Breed and Rufus, and has appeared as a backing vocalist on recordings and on tour for numerous artists. She worked with Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, The Jacksons, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and as a member of Bette Midler's backing group the Harlettes, among many others.

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ "Dorian Holley". www.dorianholley.com. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Shawn Holley | KWIKA Law". www.kwikalaw.com. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  3. ↑ Campbell, p. 230
  4. 1 2 3 Brooks, p. 81
  5. ↑ Grant, pp. 104–105
  6. ↑ Grant, p. 123
  7. ↑ Boehm, Mike (September 16, 1991). "Vintage Rod 'n' Roll for Stewart Fans at the Pacific Amphitheatre". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original (Payment required to access full article) on January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  8. ↑ Kot, Greg (September 20, 1991). "Stewart tosses a few trifles amid treasures". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original (Payment required to access full article) on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Hey, Rod, stay away from our window" (Payment required to access full article). San Jose Mercury News . September 13, 1991. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Per Jackson una forte prevendita" (Payment required to access full article). la Repubblica (in Italian). June 7, 1992. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ Taraborrelli, p. 504
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Anderman, Joan (October 17, 2008). "Voice of reason". The Boston Globe . Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  13. ↑ Pensiero, Nicole (August 14, 1994). "James Taylor and band to perform at Mann Center" (Payment required to access full article). The Press of Atlantic City . Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Taylor: 'How sweet it was'" (Payment required to access full article). The Pantagraph . October 30, 1994. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  15. ↑ Morse, Steve (August 26, 1994). "Taylor has fun from 'Memphis' to 'Mexico'" (Payment required to access full article). The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  16. ↑ "James Taylor not quite perfect but, shucks, good" (Payment required to access full article). The Roanoke Times . September 21, 1994. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  17. ↑ Stover, Debbie (July 31, 1994). "James Taylor saved best part for the end" (Payment required to access full article). St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  18. ↑ Grant, p. 188
  19. ↑ Grant, p. 202
  20. ↑ Keveney, Bill (July 5, 2007). "'American Idol': A week of running before the show". USA Today . Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  21. ↑ Cava, Marco R. della (May 13, 2009). "Peek behind the 'Idol' curtain". USA Today. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  22. ↑ Malveaux, Suzanne (July 2, 2009). "The situation room". CNN . Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  23. ↑ Snyder, S. James (June 29, 2009). "What Michael Jackson Did on His Last Day". Time . Archived from the original on July 2, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50-Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour". Today.com. June 25, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  25. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (July 8, 2009). "Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?". MTV. Archived from the original on July 11, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Shawn Chapman Holley biography". Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Bio". NAYANNA HOLLEY. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  28. ↑ Mitchell, Sean (April 28, 2005). "The interior landscape; space". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  29. ↑ Ryon, Ruth (April 20, 2007). "Online bookstore king expands domain". The Standard . Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.