Country Artist courtesy of Coral Casino and sports book
Mark Holt and Kimberlee Holt Tully
Mark Holt and Kimberlee Holt Tully’s music has a 1970’s retro acoustic classic country and bluegrass sound with an edgy kick. When describing their sound, Mark says “I’m sure if we just played straight bluegrass or western or lounge, we would be easier to market... but to me, it makes more sense if you can put your music in four or five different bins...I want people to know that was me when they hear us. I don’t want to sound like anybody else.” With a wide range of influences like John Denver, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Flatt & Scruggs, & Sammy Davis, Jr, that’s easy to understand.
In 2003, this brother and sister team released their debut album, Acoustically Native, which was produced by Bil VornDick, who has also worked with Alison Krauss. While a majority of the songs are covers of country greats, Mark Holt does show off his songwriting skills on four of the tracks...Kimberlee Holt Tully even pitches in on one. Mark says “I pick songs that move me, make me think, or make a musical statement.”
Included on Acoustically Native is a song titled “Cowboy Up / Riding for America”. At the request of the International Horseback Trail Ride, Mark & Kimberlee became the musicians for the South Dakota leg of the Riding for America 9-11 Benefit Ride. For the ride, they wrote “Cowboy Up”, a western flavored remembrance of the September 11 tragedies and set it to music in about a week. The Riding for America group rode from Alberta, Canada, to the Atlantic shore and the Statue of Liberty to raise money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Born in Seattle, Washington, and raised in Yakima, Washington, Mark now makes his home in the mountains of central Idaho. He is a founding board member & past president of the Washington Bluegrass Association
Acoustically Native
El Paso City Mark Holt & Kimberlee Holt Tully
a nice rhythmic version of the Marty Robbins Classic,
Midnight Rider - Banjo intro to die for the title is self explanatory this is a classic bluegrass version of the Allman Brothers classic
One Last Dance - a classic version of a classic
Roll’n With The Flow, about being footloose and fancy free when all your peers are raising kids.
Cattle Call - If you watched the HorseWhisperer you will remember this song the version in the film was sung by Dwight Yoakam, although it was Eddy Arnold who first sang this song Mark gives it a truly western campfire feel.
Me and My Uncle - a real cowboy shoot ‘em fight em song.
You’re In my Arms to Stay - A love song about fighting and making up. good times and bad.
All Over Now - a Mark Holt composition
Why Me Lord - A Kris Kristofferson Classic, Mark makes it sound like it was recorded around the campfire.
Frank Sinatra Medley One More For the Road, at first it seems like a strange choice for a country acoustic album, then you listen to Mark’s vocals bring it all into context.
Cowboy Up Riding for America recorded on the trail of the international horseback trail ride. This song was written as a western reminder of the attacks of 9/11
This album is called acoustically native if you like your country music simple, straight and sung from the heart then you will love this album. Based on roots rock, country, and folk. Songs written by Kris Kristofferson, Tex Owen, Marty Robbins, John Philips, and Jerry Hayes. and Mark Holt
Musicians included
Stuart Duncan.. fiddle & mandolin
Mark Fain.. bass fiddle
Randy Kohrs.. dobro
Scott Vestal.. 5-string banjo
Pete Huttlinger.. acoustic guitars
Tim Tapan.. piano
Kathy Chiavola.. harmony vocals
Bil VornDick.. on the board
Recorded @ Mountainside Audio Labs.. Nashville, Tennessee
If you want heavy backing tracks etc then sorry look elsewhere.