JT Hollis has been making music for years, from high-school bands to entertaining his fellow service-men overseas, to returning home and starting a career in radio and on the stage. He’s pushed about as hard as one can, and it’s paying off.
With all the time and effort he’s expended, though, he’s learned a lesson or two along the way. That lesson? Listen for yourself…
JT is one of the most un-pretentious and honest people I have met on the internet. That comes out in his music, as well. It’s “honest” and “real” and “from the heart”.
Many people have read and shared an article published a few days ago, lambasting the country music industry and suggesting that it would be good to hear some “real, honest, heartfelt” songs coming out of the big labels for a change. Hollis didn’t have to write a rebuttal article… he just writes songs; and they are the answer to that article!
I was really tickled that he took the time to get to know myself and a whole gang of folks a bit better, last week in an on-air interview. Here is a chance for you to meet a musician who exemplifies “middle America.”
JT Hollis, is a U.S. Military combat Veteran, serving with the 3rd Infantry Division, and 1st Armor Division during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was a singer all of his life, to include the lead singer for a unit rock band while stationed over in Germany, but stepped away from it, to concentrate on his family for several years. However, in 2007/2008 the fire to sing and perform came back with a vengence, and JT answered the call.
Since then JT has “upped his game” and gotten serious about his music career. Competing in several local competitions such as the Oceola Idol, and Oceola’s Got Talent competitions, where he placed 2nd in both. JT was also a 3 time regional finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown, a finalist in the International Bowling Karaoke Superstars Competition, with a chance to open for “The Commodores” in Las Vegas, where he again, finished 2nd. More determined then ever, JT dove into songwriting. His first song, “Me & You, and the Red, White & Blue”, reached the top 5 on the IMN Country Music Charts, and also won the 2009 Michigan Vet Fest Theme Song Contest, putting JT on stage in Dearborn Heights, Michigan to open the festival.
