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Milan
man to receive high music honor
Beth Rumsey
Staff Writer
A long-time Ripley County native will receive recognition for
a lifetime of dedication and hard work in the music field this
month.
Local bluegrass singer/songwriter Aubrey Holt, Milan, will be
inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music
of Americas (SPBGMA) Hall of Greats at their awards ceremony
on February 6 in Nashville, TN. It was a unanimous vote that placed
Holt among the other bluegrass greats, such as Bill Monroe and
Flatt and Scruggs.
Its a privilege to be recognized and appreciated by
others, said Holt.
Holt began his career in performing as a teen in the 1950s
with his uncle Harley Gabbard until 1958 when he joined the Navy.
He and wife, Velma, married shortly after his discharge and she
moved from Georgia back to Holts hometown of Milan where
they raised six children.
Holt returned to his love of performing in 1974 when he and his
brothers, Jerry and Tom, formed the Boys From Indiana. The group
traveled all over the country and Canada for the next 22 years
often playing as guests at the Grand Ole Opry.
The grueling schedule would not have been possible if not for
the support of their families, according to Holt. Traveling
was hard on the family, said Holt, adding, but, they
supported us. The group ended in the 1990s.
The groups play list was made up of songs written by Holt,
who also sang lead and played guitar. He has written songs for
other artists over the years such as Alison Krauss and another
local group, The Grascals.
Steve Romanoski, writer for the SPBGMA magazine and a member of
the nominating committee, called Holt a renaissance man
in bluegrass.
Aubrey came out in a generation when bluegrass was in flux,
he said. He stayed true to the bluegrass base and has added
new material. His songs are still being played today because they
are good.
Today, Holt continues to perform with his son, Tony, as a member
of the group Tony Holt and the Wildwood Valley Boys playing bass
and singing as well as writing new material. It gets into
your blood, said Holt.
Tony Holt and the Wildwood Valley Boys are scheduled to perform
at the awards ceremony with Jamie Johnson (also from Milan) who
is now with The Grascals, to present the award to Holt.
Holt will be presented the SPBGMA Hall of Greats award at the
37th Annual Convention at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville
on Feb. 6.
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