Charles Holland

Charles Holland (December 27, 1909 – November 7, 1987) was an American tenor singer and actor.

Early life and work Charles Holland was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on December 27, 1909. The elder brother of jazz trumpeter Peanuts Holland, he started taking singing lessons at the age of 14. In the 1930s he sang in the jazz orchestras of Benny Carter and Fletcher Henderson. With the latter, he recorded the 1934 album Harlem Madness (Victor 21699). He also performed in musical theaters, toured with the Hall Johnson Choir, and had his own radio show on NBC for 13 weeks.

Holland moved to Los Angeles, where he studied with May Hamaker Henley and Georges Le Pyre, and with Clyde Burrows in New York. In the following years he had roles in Marc Connelly's drama The Green Pastures (1936, uncredited, possibly as soloist in the Hall Johnson Choir) and in the film Hullabaloo (1940). Eventually Holland shifted musically to classical music, appearing in Virgil Thomson's Four Saints in Three Acts (1928); Hall Johnson's Run, Little Chillun (1933); and Marc Blitzstein's The Airborne Symphony (1946). He also sang on French radio and television, appeared in the title role of Verdi's Otello in London, His roles included Alvaro in Verdi's La forza del destino, the title role in Gounod's Faust and Radamès in Verdi's Aida. In 1983 he recorded an album of spirituals, My Lord What a Mornin''', with Davies on the piano. In the following year he toured again in New York, receiving a positive review from the New York Times critic Will Crutchfield, who said: "he sang from a full heart and with a conviction that need not give place to anyone," adding that "his voice failed him at times; his spirit never."

Personal life and family Charles Holland was married to Catherine and they had two sons, Charles and Mark. Holland died on November 7, 1987, in Amsterdam.

Discography Albums 1952: Charles Holland, W. A. Mozart, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (Pathé DT 1008) 1971: Various artists; Waarheen, waarvoor (Imperial 5C 052-24364) 1980: Various artists; Waarheen, waarvoor (Music for Pleasure 1A022-58016) 1982: Charles Holland, Dennis Russell Davies; My Lord, What a Mornin' (1750 Arch Records) 1988: Charles Holland, Dennis Russell Davies; L'Invitation au Voyage (Aperto) 1988: Marco Bakker, Charles Holland, Patricia Madden, Robert Holl; Hoogtepunten uit: Les pêcheurs de perles / De parelvissers (EMI, 5C 053-24595)

Singles & EPs 1934: Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra; Charles Holland (vocal); Harlem Madness / Phantom Fantasie (His Master's Voice B.6515) 1941: Charles Holland, Ralph Linsley; Honor! Honor! / Talk About a Child That Do Love Jesus (RCA Victor Red Seal) 1954: Charles Holland, Jacqueline Bonneau; Cinq negro spirituals exaltant l'arrivée de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ sur la Terre (Pathé 45 ED 28) 1954: Charles Holland, Jacqueline Bonneau; Negro-Spirituals (Pathé 45 ED 29) 1970: Marco Bakker, Charles Holland; I Believe'' (EMI)