Brian Holland

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Brian Holland is an American songwriter and producer, born in 1941 in Detroit. His older brother Eddie Holland became his regular partner. Brian himself also appeared on stage: in 1958 he released a first single, and around 1960 he sang with the Satintones and in the Rayber Voices, a vocal group that backed early Motown records. Together with Robert Bateman he wrote Please Mr. Postman for the Marvelettes under the name Brianbert. That 1961 record became Motown's first number 1 hit and was later covered by The Beatles.

Music and breakthrough

He then formed the trio Holland-Dozier-Holland with Lamont Dozier and his brother Eddie. In it Brian was mainly the arranger and producer. The team wrote hits such as Stop! In the Name of Love and Back in My Arms Again for The Supremes, (Love Is Like a) Heatwave and Jimmy Mack for Martha and the Vandellas, and Reach Out, I'll Be There and Bernadette for the Four Tops. The Isley Brothers and Jr. Walker and the All Stars also recorded their songs.

Influence

The songs of Holland-Dozier-Holland largely determined how the Motown sound sounded: catchy melodies, a solid beat and full accompaniment. In 1967 the trio left Motown after a dispute over their contract. In the 1970s Brian again made records of his own, with smaller hits on the R&B chart. In 2019 he wrote the autobiography Come and Get These Memories with Eddie and Dave Thompson, named after a hit by Martha and the Vandellas.

Listening

In School of Rock

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• Mixtape 6: Fear of a Black Planet^NL Reader