3 Questions with Danny Holmes

By Rob Skane.

I have had the extremely good fortune to have seen Danny Holmes perform hundreds of times. He’s an incredible songwriter, singer, and guitar player. Danny’s music is available on all streaming platforms. Do yourself a favor and give his work a listen. His songs have depth, substance, and beautiful musicality. You can find Danny at rosenthornemusic.com. 

RRX: What was the moment that made you pick up a guitar and never put it down?

Danny Holmes: My older brother had a garage band in 1963, and he used to hide his guitar under his bed. I snuck in his room, got his guitar out of its case, and somehow figured out the theme song to that old TV western, “Bonanza”! I was 10! 

Three years later, I watched “The Monkees” TV show, thinking they were pretty cool, but then CBS had a special on about the Beatles at Shea Stadium, and I realized they were the REAL THING!

I actually played drums first and then bass and sang in all my bands, til I did an acoustic duo with Rich and we were Holmes & Mancini for six years.

Interestingly enough, it was 50 years ago we started, and we just sold out two shows at Unity Hall in Barneveld this June 13th, for a reunion!

RRX: If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing about playing guitar, what would you say?

DH: I would tell my younger self to put down the bass and play some electric instead of just acoustic. Don’t call it practicing, just play and learn and EXPRESS yourself!

RRX: When you’re not onstage or recording, what kind of stuff do you play when no one’s listening?

DH: I try to discover relationships on the neck. Chord positionings, and I open up to let a muse find something I like or feel, and then take it somewhere and begin to hear a song forming. 

Sometimes, most times, I write something in my head and then go find it. This way, I don’t bring what I already know to begin something.

I am a “good” guitarist but not “great.” I am an accompanist for my songs. A writer first. I have good coverage, with good neck knowledge.

I’ll end with what I believe to be true.

“It’s not what you can play, but what you come up with!”