Holmes returning for storytelling festival
Published 6:25 am Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Brent Holmes will return to his old stomping grounds this weekend to, once again, be a part of the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival.
Holmes is a former resident of Brundidge and a graduate of Charles Henderson High School and Troy University.
After having his head poked full of book knowledge, he hit “the road less graveled” and is now a renowned singer, songwriter, author and humorist.
Holmes shared his Redneck Poetry and a few of his silly songs with audiences at the inaugural storytelling festival in 2007. He will be back this year as the featured teller at area schools and on stage at the annual storytelling festival.
“I’m excited to be coming back home and to be a part of the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival,” said Holmes, who tells his stories in silly songs and poetry born of the red clay fields of the rural South. He penned his first book, “The Road Less Graveled” as Uncle Handsome’s book of redneck poetry and he let “Unk” take all the credit for its amazing success.
He lives near Nashville on a “pleasant piece of land” that he shares with one horse, one cat and two sheep.
He is one of the best selling children’s recording artists in North America. His songs have been recorded by Ray Stevens, Jerry Clower, Minnie Pearl and William and Ree.
His award-winning music was described by Parent’s Choice as “some of the prettiest and some of the silliest children’s songs ever recorded.”
With almost one title for all at “Cow Tunes, Moose Tunes, Bear Tunes, Sea Tunes, Horse Tunes, Bird Tunes and videos made in the wild with all kinds of friendly animals, Holmes continues to generate and create music that kids and kids at heart love to listen to, sing with and sing alone.
Holmes is a man of many talents. Jerry Clower said of him, “When God turned that talent spout on Brent Holmes, He let it run awhile.”
Johnny Steed, a member of the Festival’s sponsoring organization, the Brundidge Historical Society, said the storytelling committee is excited to welcome Holmes back to the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival.
“Brent tells stories through songs and he can catch the interest of children with his songs about cows and fish and birds,” Steed said. “Stories are told in different ways and there’s no better way to get children interested in stories than through music. Brent’s songs are fun and catchy and you’ll find yourself singing about the cow in the kitchen long after Brent’s back in on that pleasant piece of land with his horse and cat and the sheep.”
Holmes will be at Banks Primary School at 9 a.m. and at Banks Middle School at 9:45 a.m. Parents are welcome to join the fun.