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Jools HollandEnglish musician, pianist, composer, television presenter
Date of Birth: 24.01.1958
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Jools Holland
- Formation of Squeeze and Solo Projects
- Later Career and Television Success
- Multi-Faceted Talents and Personal Life
Biography of Jools Holland
Early Life and Musical TalentJools Holland, born Julian Miles 'Jools' Holland, is an English musician, pianist, composer, singer, and television presenter. He was born in 1958 in Blackheath, London, England. From a young age, Holland showed remarkable musicality, and by the age of eight, it was evident to those around him that he possessed a rare musical talent. However, he did not have strong vocal abilities. Despite this, he pursued a music education and, as a teenager, became a skilled and artistic piano player, specializing in rock 'n' roll.
Formation of Squeeze and Solo Projects
In 1974, at the age of 15, Holland co-founded the band 'Squeeze' with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. He played the keyboards while Difford and Tilbrook took on guitars and vocals. 'Squeeze' debuted in 1977 and released their first official album, simply titled 'Squeeze,' in 1978. The band quickly gained success, with their compositions climbing the charts. Alongside 'Squeeze,' Holland embarked on his independent projects. In the same year, he released the EP 'Boogie Woogie '78,' which was even more successful than the band's collective work. Holland remained with 'Squeeze' until 1981 when he left to pursue his own musical future.
In 1981, Holland recorded 'Jools Holland and His Millionaires,' featuring a unique lineup of musicians. Despite the brilliance of Holland's ideas and music, the album did not perform well. The group disbanded, but Holland continued to collaborate with its former members on various sessions. He spent several years as a session musician, becoming highly sought after among well-established bands and solo artists. Holland also released multiple solo albums during this time.
Later Career and Television Success
In the mid-1980s, Holland started working with drummer Gilson Lavis, with whom he had previously played in 'Squeeze.' They toured together and reunited with 'Squeeze' for the album 'Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti.' Despite the reunion, Holland preferred to remain a free musician and began working in television. In 1992, he started hosting the evening show 'Later With Jools Holland' on British television. The show featured numerous famous musicians as guests, including David Bowie, B.B. King, and the band 'The Verve.' Alongside his television career, Holland continued to release new albums, with a discography of around thirty releases by the early 2000s.
Multi-Faceted Talents and Personal Life
In addition to his music career, Holland ventured into acting, appearing in eleven films. He also wrote several screenplays and composed numerous film soundtracks. In 1993, he started another TV show called 'Hootenanny.' Holland currently resides in Westcombe Park, London. In 2003, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to the music industry. He has received numerous other awards throughout his career.
On August 29, 2005, Holland married his longtime girlfriend Christabel McEwen. Their wedding was attended by notable guests such as Ringo Starr, Robbie Coltrane, and Lenny Henry. Holland has authored several books, including his 2007 biography titled 'Barefaced Lies and Boogie Woogie Boasts,' which became the BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week.' He has since published four more books.
