Song:Misty
Album:Misty
Jazz organist Richard "Groove" Holmes scored a hit single with this 1966 midtempo version of the Erroll Garner standard Misty. Holmes was a Jimmy Smith influenced organist who made his name in Philadelphia. He recorded for Pacific Jazz in the early 60s. He moved to Prestige Records in 1965. His first album for Prestige was Soul Message. There is nothing unusual about the album except that Prestige released an edited version of Misty as a single and the record reached #44 on the Billboard Hot 100. For Holmes' next album, Prestige decided to call it Misty and add the single version to the album. The musicians on Soul Message were Holmes' longtime guitarist Gene Edwards and drummer Jimmie Smith who ironically went on to work with Erroll Garner for several years. The musicians on Misty are Edwards and drummer George Randall. Both albums are available on CD but Misty is available as a budget CD. But if you want the original six minute version of Misty, you should get Soul Message. Holmes left Prestige in 1968 and he recorded for World Pacific, Groove Merchant, Flying Dutchman and Muse. Today Holmes is revered and frequently sampled by hip hop guys. He is also considered to be a big influence on acid jazz. Richard "Groove" Holmes died of prostate cancer on June 29, 1991 at age 60. In 1992, The Beastie Boys recorded a tribute instrumental Groove Holmes on their album Check Your Head. Here's a video for Misty by Richard "Groove" Holmes.
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