John L Holloway Jr.

John L. Holloway, Jr. 93, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2018.  He was born in Durham, NC on February 5, 1925 to the late Rosa (R.D.) Davis Holloway and John L. Holloway.

He began his music education in the public schools on violin, which he studied for ten years. He later added piano and clarinet and switched in his junior year in high school to the tenor saxophone, which has been his instrument of choice ever since.

He graduated from high school in Durham (having played in both band and orchestra) and chose to continue his education at North Carolina College (now NC Central University) in his hometown. He spent two years there before being drafted in 1943 by the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the 337th Army Band.  Following his service in the army, he returned to Durham, finishing up his undergraduate education from 1946 to 1948. Utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill, Chief then chose to enroll in the graduate music education program at Ohio State University in Columbus, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education in 1950.

He later relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1950 to work with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, teaching band and orchestra at Northwest Middle School and West Charlotte High School. His award winning marching band was featured in many parades and festivals and was the highlight of the football games. The orchestra, under his direction, was highly regarded across the state and region. Students at Northwest Middle School dubbed him “Chief”! He taught and mentored some of the top musicians that came through the Charlotte School system. Several of his students achieved national acclaim. He retired from CMS in 1984 having dedicated 34 years to children of Charlotte.

Highlights of his career include times when his own band, “Johnny Holloway and the Hi-Tones, played jazz, pop, and rhythm& blues and opened for such greats as Lionel Hampton and Ray Charles here in Charlotte venues, such as the (now defunct) Pecan Grove on North Tryon, the Nixon Brothers Steakhouse on Independence Boulevard, and the Historic Excelsior Club.

In 1984, he was one of the musicians playing in the Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple”. In 1999, he joined Charlotte’s “A Sign of the Times” Big Band and performed with them until 2008. He recorded four CDs with them including his own: Johnny Holloway: Just Friends. (available today for sale) In 2006, Mr. Johnny “Chief” Holloway became a charter member of the “A Sign Of The Times of the Carolinas” Board of Directors.

He is survived by loving wife Bettye, daughter Charlotte, sister Doris, granddaughters; Shakena, Tia (John) Alexander; great-grandsons John, IV (Dru) and Justin. Family friend and helper Airbob. His niece Regina Bowden and godson Ivan Holloway along with a host of nieces, nephews and loved ones

A service of remembrance will be held on August 8, 2018 at the Park Ministries 6029 Beatties Ford Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28216.  Family hour 10am , funeral to follow 11am.