b. 24 February 1947, Northwich, Cheshire, England. This American-based singer-songwriter, and arranger was born in the UK where his father was serving in the USAF. However, Holmes was brought up in New York where he attended the Manhattan School Of Music before starting out as a songwriter. He also performed on sessions for the Cuff Links and arranged songs for Gene Pitney, the Drifters and the Platters. His first success was the song ‘Timothy’, recorded by the Buoys and a US hit in 1971. The song, about hungry, trapped potholers devouring one of their number, also featured Holmes on piano. He wrote next for the Partridge Family and the Drifters before launching his own singing career with an album in 1974. The follow-up album inspired Barbra Streisand to ask him to produce her, and he followed work on her Lazy Afternoon with credits on albums by Sparks, Sailor, and the Strawbs among others. He continued to record as well and was rewarded in 1979/1980 when Partners In Crime yielded two big hits - ‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song)’ and ‘Him’ - on both sides of the Atlantic.
