A five-piece group from Manchester, England, the Hollies enjoyed many hits in the 1960s both before and after losing singer-guitarist Graham Nash to a more celebrated partnership with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young.
Like most of their contemporaries in the British beat boom, the Hollies found their earliest influences in American rhythm-and-blues artists. Their first hits in the United Kingdom, in 1963-64, were with cover versions of the Coasters' "(Ain't That) Just Like Me" and "Searchin'," Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs' "Stay," and Doris Troy's "Just One Look." Under the influence of Bob Dylan, however, their approach broadened, including diluted elements of folk music, to the particular benefit of Hollies vocalist Allan Clarke. A strong lead singer, he received fine support from the harmony singing of Tony Hicks, Nash, and, after the latter's departure in 1968, Terry Sylvester on "Here I Go Again" (1964), "I'm Alive" (1965), "Bus Stop" (1966, their first entry into the American Top Ten), and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (1969). At their best the Hollies established a clear balance between the various components at play in their music, developing (like Liverpool contemporaries the Searchers) a style that provided a useful template for a new generation of power pop groups, many of them American, such as the Raspberries and the Rubinoos. Unlike most groups of their vintage, the Hollies had the greatest successes in the 1970s, with "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)" (1972) and "The Air That I Breathe" (1974).
Principal Members
Allan Clarke, lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica
b. April 15, 1942, Salford, Lancashire, England
Graham Nash, guitar, vocals
b. February 2, 1942, Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Tony Hicks, guitar, bass, and vocals
b. December 16, 1943, Nelson, Lancashire, England
Eric Haydock, bass
b. February 3, 1943, Burnley, Lancashire, England
Bernie Calvert, bass, keyboards, and organ
b. September 16, 1943, Burnley, Lancashire, England
Terry Sylvester, guitar and vocals
b. January 8, 1945, Liverpool, Merseyside, England