After a year in Paris listening to classic jazz and soaking up the Parisian lifestyle, Sony Holland returned to Nashville and put together her own trio. Teaming up with some of Music City’s most acclaimed studio players her group became a fixture at the best jazz joint in town, F. Scott’s, where she also worked the door! Nashville Lifestyles Magazine featured her in their annual Most Beautiful People list. Sony recorded her first CD, I’ll Remember Paris, which earned the ‘DisCovery Award’ from noted critic, Robert Oermann in Music Row Magazine.
Relocating to San Francisco, Sony started out humbly by busking at Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39. Her second CD, On A San Francisco High, got plenty of airplay on local jazz giant KCSM. She was profiled in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Arts and Entertainment Section and began filling famous nightclubs like Yoshi’s, Jazz @ Pearl’s, SF Jazz, the Sound Room and also performed at many Bay Area music festivals.
Sony played for over a year with trios at the New York Bar in Tokyo, the Sirocco Room in Bangkok and the Lobby Lounge in Kowloon. In the States she and her band toured in clubs from the Blue Note NYC to Herb Alpert’s Vibrato in Los Angeles. She was called ‘one of the best jazz singers in town’ by noted critic Scott Yanow in the L.A. Jazz Scene. The mayor of her hometown of Fargo proclaimed it ‘Sony Holland Day’ when she performed in town with a 17 piece big band. Back in San Francisco, Sony also held musical residencies with her guitarist/husband, Jerry Holland, at the JW Marriott Union Square and the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco.
On stages large or small Sony carries a love for music that she’s had since childhood. With an expanding repertoire which includes jazz standards, bossa nova, original songs (penned by Jerry) and folk/rock classics, Sony is always looking to stretch the boundaries of her range and the emotional impact of her voice. In dark times art can be an act of resistance that brings people together and reminds us of our better angels.
Sony recently relocated to Arizona to be near family and to continue performing and recording new music.
With Leslie Ann Jones @ Skywalker Sound
Opening for George Benson @ Rodney Strong Winery
With the legendary Ms. Nancy Wilson.
- Gavin Newsom after performing at a charitable event.
With legendary bassist, arranger, John Clayton.
After a show at the Fairmont with Lillias White, Amanda King, Janice Siegel and Freda Payne
With the incredible bassist, Leland Sklar.
With Dick LaPalm @ Canter's Los Angeles. Dick had so many great stories from his days managing Nat King Cole and operating the famed recording studio Village Recorders in L.A.
Singing the anthem @ Giant's Stadium.
Singing the anthem @ Dodger's Stadium.
On stage at a REAF Benefit Concert.
With the Big Band in Fargo, ND.
With Shana Morrison @ HopMonk.
With the band after a concert at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco.
Singing with the band in San Francisco.
The duo in Palo Alto.