Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher and activist. She was born to parents, one from North Dakota and one New York, who were political activists, ranchers, and supporters of culture in the rural community of Ukiah, California. Holly moves comfortably in this blend of west coast sensibility and east coast sophistication. An immense vocal talent, Near’s career as a singer has been profoundly defined by an unwillingness to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity. Holly Near is an ambassador for peace inviting the audience to its best self. She is a skilled performer who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, spiritual discovery, and theatricality.

Holly has sung in public from the time she was eight, but first became famous as an actress in films and television shows, as well as the musical “Hair” on Broadway. Eventually, however, music became her major focus, especially music that articulated the social conditions of the world community. Near started writing and singing songs. Her strength as a performer led to creative collaborations with such artists as Ronnie Gilbert, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Mercedes Sosa, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Inti-Illimani, Bonnie Raitt, Cris Williamson, and Linda Tillery.

Near has released over 20 recordings and appeared as a guest on many others. In 1996, Ronnie Gilbert and Holly released their third joint recording, “This Train Still Runs!,” celebrating Ronnie’s 70th year. In the fall of 1997, Holly released “With A Song In My Heart,” a collection of love songs of the 30s, 40s and 50s, a stylish and intimate recording. In 2000, Near began to release her out-of-print recordings, starting with “Musical Highlights,” which contains songs she sang in a one-woman play she wrote and performed in regional theaters and off-Broadway. Next, she celebrated the feminist and lesbian movements with “Simply Love: The Women’s Music Collection.: In 2001, Appleseed Recordings re-issued “HARP: A Time to Sing, featuring Holly, Arlo Guthrie, Ronnie Gilbert and Pete Seeger.” The year 2002 saw an explosion of Holly’s previously out of print work: “Early Warnings,” a collection covering the 80s; “And Still We Sing: The Outspoken Collection,” a 2-CD set of Holly’s political songs featuring guest performances by Mercedes Sosa and Inti-Illimani; “Crushed!:The Love Song Collection”; and “Lifeline Extended,” Appleseed Recording’s release of a compilation of live shows with Holly and Ronnie Gilbert.

Holly Near’s recent recording, “Edge,” released on her own label, Calico Tracks Music, makes it clear that Holly is not resting on her laurels, but continues to write and sing political songs with grace, humor and the maturity that comes from doing this work for 30 years.

Amidst all her work for peace and human rights, Holly is a consummate singer and entertainer. When she sings show tunes or songs from the 30s, her audience knows that Ms. Near could have chosen to be a Broadway musical star or a cabaret artist. And yet, these great songs come through Holly’s unique world experience and we hear them as if for the first time. Out of this gentle, vibrant woman comes a huge voice, a unique sense of humor, an unexpected theatricality and a startling power. Audience members say that Holly reminds them about the importance of their lives, and that whenever they are with her, they feel a sense of being welcomed home. Holly sings with a power that may only come from decades of love and fear, inspiration and despair, and from living life on the edge.

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Photo by Mike Rogers