Jim Holvay

Songwriter and musician[14]

What is Jim Holvay known for?

Lyons Township High School has a notable alumnus in the form of Jim Holvay, an influential American singer, songwriter, and musician. Born as James Steven Holvay on May 16, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, he is also known in the music circles as "Soul".

Holvay has a vast and versatile musical portfolio that covers genres such as Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Pop, and Rock. He has been active in the music industry since 1961 and has worked with several prestigious music labels like Cameo Parkway, USA, Mercury, Twinight, Daylight, Colossus, Private Stock, and Odyssey. For more information about him, you can visit his personal website.

Holvay's claim to fame rests partly on his well-known song "Kind of a Drag", which was a number one hit for The Buckinghams. He is also one of the founding members of The MOB, the first rock band to perform at a Presidential Inaugural Concert & Ball.

Besides this, Holvay also co-wrote other songs for The Buckinghams, such as "Don't You Care", "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)", and "Susan". His songwriting skills have also been harnessed by other artists including The MOB, for whom he penned "I Dig Everything About You" and "Give It To Me".

His fascination with music was evident from an early age. During his pre-teen years, while attending St. Barbara School in Brookfield, his interest in music was sparked and deepened when his brother Dennis brought home the 78 rpm record of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. His passion led him to buy his first guitar along with a Mel Bay chord book at the tender age of 12.