Biography

Although he was formally trained, Eddie Holman, the soul and gospel artist best known for the classic 1969 single "Hey There Lonely Girl," has the kind of earnestness and anguished delivery that comes from the heart rather than academia. After enjoying stardom as a child -- he appeared in off-Broadway productions and on NBC's The Children's Hour as "Little" Eddie Holman -- the Norfolk, Virginia native attended the Victoria School of Music and Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. Holman recorded for Leopard and Ascot before moving to Philadelphia. His 1956 debut for Parkway, "This Can't Be True," was a Top 20 R&B single, as was his next release, "Am I a Loser." Holman moved to Bell in 1968, then to ABC in 1969. His version of "Hey There Lonely Girl," originally recorded by Ruby & the Romantics as "Hey There Lonely Boy," is a classic, arguably the finest rendition of that tune ever released. It peaked at number four R&B and number two pop in 1970. Holman then enjoyed mild R&B hits for ABC with "Don't Stop Now" and "Cathy Called" in 1970. "My Mind Keeps Telling Me" for GSF in 1972 and "This Will Be a Night to Remember" in 1977 for Salsoul were Holman's final charting R&B hits. He became a born-again Christian in the '80s, studied formally for a theology degree, and became a Baptist minister. As Rev. Eddie Holman, he cut the gospel albums United and Love Story for his Agape label. He also continued to perform and record secular material, and released Lovin' You, a mix of new and old gospel and secular material, in 2018. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi