BIOGRAPHY

In the mid-60’s there was a blending of old Chicago Blues with the new British invasion music but there was a whole new sound being created all over the Windy City.

One of the best and most prolific writer/producer/artists of the day in Chicago was James Holvay. a.k.a. “Jimmy Soul”

James grew up in the Windy City, Chicago and started playing guitar at the age of 12 when he formed his first band, “The Rockin’ Rebels”.

In June of 1957, while taking guitar lessons “in-the-Loop” (downtown Chicago),he stumbled across Hall Recording Co. on Wabash & Jackson Boulevard and booked his first recording session.

He wrote two guitar instrumentals “Party Crashers” and “Drummers Rock”.

In 1960, James was introduced to Guy & George Miska, a set of twins, who lived a few blocks away and mirrored the Everly Brothers singing style. He formed a band called “Jimmy & The Jesters”.

While attending Lyons Township High School, where he would later be inducted into its Hall of Fame, a classmate Ken Rhodes, who was a prodigy jazz pianist,introduced James to rhythm guitarist Chico Ledesma. Chico was looking for a lead guitarist for his band called The MayBees, based out of Aurora, Ill.

During the years, ’61, ’62, ’63 they had three singles released on Terry Records a local indie label. A guitar driven instrumental cover of “Buttons & Bows” was their most successful single. 

The summer of ’63, James joined a band called The Chicagoans and began traveling the Midwest and East Coast, performing in famous niteries like The Metropole, Wagon Wheel and Trude Heller’s in the Village. They also worked as a back-up band, touring with Chubby Checker, Nino Tempo & April Stevens and Terry Stafford.

While with The Chicagoans, James wrote numerous singles released by artists on local Windy City labels (i.e. Chess, Onederful, USA and Constellation).

In 1965, James penned two sides “I Can’t Run Away” b/w “She’s My Baby” for Dee Clark, a major R&B artist, who had a massive hit with “Raindrops”.

In the spring of ’67, Holvay’s blue-eyed soul band The MOB was performing at the Holiday Ballroom. It was there he met Mousie & The Traps, sisters Genevieve and Susan Hernandez and their classmate Thelma Flores. They had started singing in high school, inspired by the vocal style of Motown girl groups. They asked to perform a number with the band and sang “Dancin’ In The Streets”. James liked their sound and wrote two songs for them “It’s All In The Way” b/w “How About You”. The record was arranged by Gary Beisbier and produced by Franz, Sistak & Holvay released on R&B label Onederful/Toddlin’ Town Records.”

The Chicagoans, recording under the name of The Livers had a hit on powerhouse Chicago station WLS called “Beatle Time” on Constellation Records. 

The song was written by James Holvay and Gary Beisbier. According to James, “Gary arranged the song and had the tenor sax and trombone play the melody. We then double- tracked the horns. At the time this sound was really unique. No other rock band even had horns.”

In the spring of ’65, Holvay was recruited as a guitar player for The Dick Clark Caravan of Stars tour band. 

It was on one of the tours where James befriended Brian Hyland who had hits “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” and “Sealed With A Kiss” and the pair wrote many songs together, one of which was “Stay Away From Her” that was released later on Phillips Records.

Weary of the grueling road trips and having a near fatal tour bus accident, James decided to return to Chicago and focus on songwriting.

In January 1966, James and fellow musician from the Dick Clark Tours, MikeSistak, formed the first rock & soul horn band called The MOB.

Mob members, James Holvay and Gary Beisbier (The MayBees and The Chicagoans), co-wrote many of the group’s songs, charting with “I Dig EverythingAbout You”, and later “Give It To Me” on Colossus Records.

In 1966, Holvay was approached by manager/promoter, Carl Bonafede. Carl had secured a record contract for a Chicago band called The Buckinghams. 

Knowing James had a reputation of being a successful songwriter he asked if he had any songs for his group.

In ’67 and ‘68, James penned 4 Top Ten hits for The Buckinghams. “Kind Of A Drag” was # 1 and has sold over a million copies.

Over the years James has received numerous BMI Songwriter Achievement Awards, along with being inducted into two Hall of Fames. (South Dakota Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame)

With the resurgence of 1960’s vintage soul music, James is inspired to continue to pursue his passion for songwriting.