Today we’d like to introduce you to Floramay Holliday.
Hi Floramay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Named after my grandmother, I was born Floramay Holliday Ervin, in Florence, SC. The oldest of five children, I was interested in music and writing at an early age. Being from Texas, my father introduced us to great music, which would later become the soundtrack and inspiration of my life.
At the Madeira school in VA, I learned to play guitar, and my teen poetry turned into songs. I began performing at coffee shops and campfires for friends. My siblings and I formed our family group, and Mama named us “the Roseneath Ramblers”, after our home. I had an alt-rock band called the Shake Peasants at the University of South Carolina, where I majored in Media Arts and minored in English. During the summers, I worked as a medical photographer and darkroom specialist at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, but that’s another story…
After college in 1998, I moved to Austin, Texas to pursue my dream of being a singer-songwriter, and to finally record my collection of original songs. Clifford Antone, who discovered Stevie Ray Vaughn, was a friend of my uncle’s, and soon became a mentor and friend to me, helping organize the all-star cast that recorded my debut album, “Floramay Holliday”. Released in 1999 on my own label, Roseneath Records, it was recommended for nomination in several categories in the 42nd annual Grammy Awards, including Best Gospel for “Jesus is the King”, and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for “Hello”, alongside Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, and Susan Tedeschi. In 2000, Mayor Kirk Watson proclaimed Nov. 2 Floramay Holliday Day, to honor my contributions to the “Live Music Capitol of the World”.
I performed at Willie’s 4th of July picnic with the Lost Trailers and co-founded the all-female rock band Sis Deville, with Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland, and SASS, the South Austin Soul Sisters. The FH Band performed regularly and had a rotating cast, including Stephen Bruton, who helped me out on a tv show, just after I’d fired my first band. I was learning how to be the leader of my own group, and Bruton showed me the ropes and how to hire professionals. The FH band evolved with talented musicians that played at legendary venues such as Antones, Continental Club, Broken Spoke, and the Saxon Pub. My day jobs included being a photographer’s assistant and darkroom tech for Scott Newton at Austin City Limits, the t.v. show, as well as teaching a pre-school music class at Tarrytown Baptist Church with american gospel singer, Cynthia Clawson.
In 2004, my 2nd album, Trouble and a Truer Sound was recorded at Ray Benson’s Bismeaux studio, featuring duets with Guy Clark and Ray, with Bobby Nelson on piano. I did a CD release tour in Texas, SC, Budapest, and Sydney, Australia, garnering radio play and press. I began playing corporate shows as well and became a novelty country band for various big companies around the world.
Two of my songs have been featured in independent films, “Silver Highway” in Brownwood, and “Mystery” in Grand Champion, featuring a young Emma Roberts, her aunt Julia, Bruce Willis, George Strait, and more.
In 2004, I married my Hungarian husband, Gabor Racz (“rocks”), and moved from Austin to Oak Cliff, Dallas, where we are raising two beautiful daughters, Flora and Adelaid, who are also musical and creative. When they were younger, I sang in the choir at Kessler Park Untied Methodist Church, and ran helped with the children’s choir productions. Through those years, I also ran the stage at the school Pumpkin Patch, featuring young local talent and teaching songwriting workshops.
I continued to write and play music with various bands, including the Over the River bluegrass band with the late, great, Eric Swanson. In 2009, I released my 3rd album, Dreams, recorded in Upstate New York during our summer there. It features fan favorites such as “Coffee” and “Things You Do’, with renowned guitarist Loren Barrigar, my brother James Ervin, and Gabor on harmonica, to name a few.
Having young children, Gabor and I would make up songs for them and eventually record an educational album in 2013, called Twirl!, with Floramay Holliday and Family. This delightful record entertains as well as educates, as you learn the Greek Alphabet, the planets, manners, and how to say “I love you” in 30 languages. Flora, Ade, Gabor, and I perform together, and the music is fun. It has been used as a teaching tool in classrooms and music schools.
During lockdowns in the Spring of 2020, Gabor and I began to play concerts on our front porch, feeling the need to bring live music to people during a difficult time. He has been studying harmonica and singing for years, and we made a natural duo, performing livestream shows each week for the popular “Front Porch Thursdays”. My mother says we remind her of Johnny Cash and June Carter- great inspirations!
Another recent project I’ve been doing is the Music Safari concert series. I had the covid-friendly idea that other musicians in our neighborhood could play on their porches simultaneously, while the audience walks, bikes, or drives around to each house to hear live music. With the help of the East Kessler Park Neighborhood Association, we have hosted three free Music Safaris thus far, where an audience of over 300 people visit six different houses on the “trail” to hear a variety of bands. These have been a great success, and we plan to have another in the near future.
I’m excited to announce that I’m currently in the studio recording my 5th album with the New Bohemians as my backing band. A new music video, “Hearts Have Wings”, is coming out soon!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I first moved to Austin, I had great expectations of fame, and a dream to one day perform on the tv show, Austin City Limits, like so many of my Texas heroes. Little did I know how much there was to learn, and through the rich musical family of Austin, I honed my band-leading and performance skills over the years. After working with so many great musicians, I realized that fame doesn’t happen overnight, and sometimes the journey is more important that the destination.
Raising a family has been an important choice for me, and it has been a challenge to continue at the pace in music that I had been in Austin. The rewards of motherhood and the joys of watching them grow into independent young ladies have been priceless. I believe everything happens when it’s meant to, and these blessings in life are a “nod from God” that I am on the right path.
Just before the pandemic, I planned to go to Boston to record with my brother-in-law, Will Holland, at Chillhouse Studios. All was canceled, but we began to work remotely, even writing new songs through texts and voice memos. The result has been a prolific collection of music that will be released as singles and included on the new album. I’m currently recording at the Kessler Sound Studio in Dallas, and am enjoying the process of working with a band. I look forward to putting new music out that will touch hearts and souls, as well as touring with the New Bohemians to promote the new album.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a veteran singer-songwriter of original country-folk-rock-bluegrass-
How do you define success?
Being in the music business for over 25 years, my definition of success has changed quite a bit. In the beginning, just paying the bills and hopefully paying the band, in order to play 3-4 nights a week, was priority. I knew that hard work paid off, and I had grand visions of being on the cover of Rolling Stone or the like, as the benchmark of a successful career. After realizing that these things don’t happen overnight, I began to accept the fact that I need to enjoy where I am in the moment, making music for the love of music. I’ve never stopped writing, and to be able to go back into the studio now, with 16 new songs and counting, is what feels like success to me. If anything, I want to leave a legacy for my family and the next generation, bringing joy to others along the way.
Contact Info:
- Email: floramay@floramay.com
- Website: https://floramay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floramay.holliday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floramayholliday/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rocknchick1
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2EhNlEojsIdGKLcPrIT4UJ
Image Credits:
Scott Newton
Elliott Munoz
Dixie Dixon
Brad Bogle
