Johnny Holloway
section: Interviews
Johnny Holloway, born in Durham, NC, relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina after finishing both his time in the US Army and graduate school. He was instrumental in bringing both Jazz appreciation and marching band orchestration to West Charlotte High School. A thorough participant in the 1950’s Charlotte jazz scene, he brought that same appreciation to the High Schools in which he taught. Many of the Jazz instrumentalists that dealt with him on a professional basis agreed to perform in Charlotte area high Schools. This brought about an educated core of band members that marked superior performance in Charlotte area bands throughout Mr. Holloway’s tenure.
Tape Log
Tape Log: Oral History Interview with Johnny Holloway
Interviewed August, 2007
Interviewed by Robert Bemis
Interviewed for the oral History class and The Brooklyn to Biddleville project
| Time | Description of Interview Contents |
|---|---|
| 0 | Introduction. Background-Birth in Durham, move to Charlotte in 1950. West Charlotte Highschool. Development of Band and school funding. Oliver Cooke as head of music department. Private purchase of instruments. Principal C.L Blake and Faculty at West Charlotte. Tenure at West Charlotte. |
| 5.0 | Integration at West Charlotte. Changes that resulted from Integration. Discipline and respect. Quality of changes after Integration. Cometition amongst music departments. Carousal parade. Development of West Charlotte Orcestra. April 12,1997 Creative Loafing clipping featuring Mr. Holloway and UNCC Profesor John Harding. Grant to introduce Jazz into Public Schools. |
| 10 | Jazz Musicians playing in Public Schools with My. Holloway and his. TheJazz Society. Local Musicians that played with the Jazz Society. Mr. Holloways’ band. Regional venues that Mr. Halloway played with. “Chop Clubs”. Pecan Grove. Nixon Brothers Steakhouse. Dances. |
| 15 | Excelsior Club jam sessions. Jazz community. School growth during Integration. |
| 20 | Second Ward High School. Plato Price without support. Plato Price as music supportive school. West Charlotte band Department. Mid-West Influence on West Charlotte. |
| 25 | West Charlotte Marching Band. High school years as defining moment. West Charlotte as an innovative school. Mr. Holloway as Music Teacher. |