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It's in the mix for blues group

 
Published Oct. 14, 1992|Updated Oct. 12, 2005

The Holmes Brothers are three men in their 50s who know how to fuse blues, soul, gospel, funk and country music together into a logical whole.

Guitarist Wendell Holmes, bass-player Sherman Holmes and drummer Willie "Popsy" Dixon have been together since 1980, but their musical roots go deeper.

The two Holmes brothers left their home of Christchurch, Va., about 30 years ago and headed for the bright lights of New York. They have played in a number of bands through the years, but they didn't start playing blues until they both joined up with Dixon in 1980.

Well-known internationally on the blues-and-jazz circuit, the band has a sound that clearly displays its gospel roots. Everyone in the group knows how to sing.

The group's regular band also includes pedal steel guitarist Gib Wharton and saxophonist Anders Gaardmand. They tour constantly, spending 20 days out of each month on the road.

_ LAURA T. COFFEY

FRIDAY

The Holmes

Brothers

at 7:15 p.m.