Holly Dunn (August 22, 1957 - November 15, 2016)
Singer Holly Dunn
died on Tuesday morning (Nov 15, 2016) following a battle with ovarian cancer.
She was 59.
Nashville's WSMV reported that Dunn was in
hospice care at the Gentiva Hospice at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque,
New Mexico.
Dunn first recorded on MTM RECORDS, where she achieved a top 10 single with “Daddy’s Hands,” which proved to be her signature hit. Four more top 10 singles followed, then a move to WARNER BROS. in 1989 yielded two #1 singles, “Are You Ever Gonna Love Me” and “You Really Had Me Going.”
In 1997, DUNN segued to radio, hosting mornings at Country WWWW/DETROIT for a year.
She returned to NASHVILLE and eventually retired from the
music business, relocated to NEW MEXICO, then devoted her energies to painting.
About Holly Dunn
Born Holly Suzette
Dunn in San Antonio, Texas, on August 22, 1957.
In high school, she performed with a group called the Freedom Folk, which toured the south
and performed at the White House bicentennial celebration. While attending
Abilene Christian University, she sang with the school's Hilltop Singers
touring choir, and also co-wrote a song with her brother called "Out of
Sight, Not Out of Mind." It was recorded by Cristy Lane, which convinced
Dunn to try her luck in Nashville after graduation.
She worked as a demo
singer for a time before joining her brother Chris Waters signed to MTM as
a staff songwriter at CBS.
1984: she moved over to MTM and penned material for several different singers, including Louise Mandrell, who made "I'm
Not Through Loving You Yet" (co-written with Tom Shapiro), a hit
when it rose to No.7 on Hot Country Songs in June 1984.
1985: In the wake of its success, Dunn landed a record
contract in her own right, and released her first single.
1986: Her self-titled
debut album appeared and produced her first Top Ten hit, "Daddy's
Hands" (her fourth chart entry). It became arguably her signature
song, and climbed to No. 7 in November 1986. Dunn wrote "Hands" by
herself as a tribute to her father, a San Antonio minister.
Academy of Country Music Awards 1986
WINNER Top New
Female Vocalist: Holly Dunn
1987: Her album CORNERSTONE
contained two Top Five singles in "Love Someone Like Me" and
"Only When I Love,"
CMA Awards 1987
1987 Horizon Award
Winner beating out nominees T.
Graham Brown, The O'Kanes, Restless Heart, Sweethearts of the Rodeo
“Daddy's Hands” was nominated for Song of the Year
Vocal Duo of the Year nominee Michael Martin Murphey and
Holly Dunn
1988: Dunn produced the follow-up, ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE, herself, resulting in the hits
"Strangers Again" and "(It's Always Gonna Be) Someday." MTM
subsequently went bankrupt
1989: Dunn switched from MTM to Warner Bros for 1989's THE
BLUE ROSE OF TEXAS, which produced her first-ever #1 single, "Are
You Ever Gonna Love Me," as well as the Top Five "There
Goes My Heart Again."
1989: Dunn was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
1990's HEART FULL OF
LOVE spawned another chart-topper, "You Really Had Me Going," and
Warner followed it with the hits compilation Milestones in 1991. One of the new
tracks, her self-penned single "Maybe I Mean Yes," (#48 Hot Country
Songs | Album Milestones: Greatest Hits) sparked controversy over its lyrical
content, which some interpreted as an apology for date rape. Just as the
subject of date rape and the slogan “No means no” were gaining currency. The
refrain of the song was, “When I say no, I mean maybe, or maybe I mean yes.”
Some music critics and many radio programmers maintained that the lyrics were
implicitly offensive. Even so, the song went to No.48 before her record label
stopped promoting the track.
1992: Dunn's
popularity took a hit with the album GETTING
IT DUNN (June 16, 1992), and she subsequently parted ways with Warner.
1995: She resurfaced on the smaller River North label with LIFE
AND LOVE AND ALL THE STAGES
1997: She and was back on a major (A&M/ River North')
for 1997's LEAVE ONE BRIDGE STANDING,
which failed to revive her commercial standing.
Dunn's career even included a short stint in radio. Having
worked in college radio, she joined WWWW-FM
Detroit in 1997 as morning personality Jim Bosh's co-host in 1997, staying
on-air for almost a year. "Working with Holly was one of the highlights of
my career," Bosh told Billboard.
"Holly was talented, gracious and always came to work with a great
attitude and a smile on her face. We had many awesome experiences doing the
show in the studio and on the road. The whole team had a great time off the
air, as well, with many lunches and dinner parties and lots of laughs. Holly
was class and warmth 24/7. I will miss her forever."
Holly toured the world extensively throughout her career, including multiple tours to perform for the US military stationed overseas.
Her talents did not begin and end with music. Because her
mother was a gifted oil painter, Holly grew up with a natural love and talent
for creating beautiful artwork.
2003: She kept a long-standing promise to herself and walked away from the music business to
pursue her passion for art.
Joking in interviews throughout the years that she
"only made music to pay for her art supplies," Holly worked in
pastels and mixed media with her favorite subjects being the icons and
architecture of the great American Southwest.
2016: The Country star revealed she was battling cancer. The 59-year-old told
Christian website Hallels about her battle with the illness, which she said has
worsened.
Holly explained that her faith has been helping her to get
through this extremely difficult time.
'I had surgery and now I am having chemo treatments,' she
said. 'I have since grown more tumors and it is going to be more of a battle
than I anticipated, but I have a huge faith in the healing power of God and the
healing power within me that originates from my God. Read more: Daily Mail
Holly recorded ten
albums and achieved Top 10 status
for 14 singles, reaching the coveted #1 on the country music charts four
times.
The singer-songwriter rolled up 21 appearances on
Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart from 1985 to 1995.
Dunn’s heyday at radio ran from 1985, when she first
charted with “Playing For Keeps,” (#62 Hot Country Songs; 1985) until 1995,
when she scored her final single, “I Am Who I Am” (#56 Hot Country Songs)
Holly Dunn's 10 Biggest
Billboard Hits
Rank, Title, Hot Country Songs Peak Position, Peak Date,
Writers
1, "Are You
Ever Gonna Love Me," No. 1 (one week; Chart), 1989
(writers Holly Dunn, Chris Waters, Tom Shapiro)
2, "Love
Someone Like Me," No. 2, 1987 (writers Holly Dunn, Radney Foster)
3, "There Goes
My Heart Again," No. 4, 1989 (writers Lonnie Wilson, Wayne Perry, Joe
Diffee)
4, "Only When I
Love," No. 4, 1987 (writers Holly Dunn, Chris Waters, Tom Shapiro)
5, "That's What
Your Love Does to Me," No. 5, 1988 (writers Chick Rains, Bill Caswell)
6, "You Really
Had Me Going," No. 1 (one week, Nov 17, 1990), 1990
(writers Holly Dunn, Chris Waters, Tom Shapiro)
7, "A Face in
the Crowd" (with Michael Martin Murphy), No. 4, 1987 (writers Karen
Staley, Gary Harrison)
8, "Strangers
Again," No. 7, 1988 (writers Holly Dunn, Chris Waters)
9, "Daddy's
Hands," No. 7, 1986 (writer Holly Dunn)
10, "(It's
Always Gonna Be) Someday," No. 11, 1988 (writers Holly Dunn, Chris
Waters, Tom Shapiro)
Additionally "Heart Full of Love" (written by
Kostas) was released in January 1991 as the second single and title track from
the album Heart Full of Love. The song reached #19 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles.
"Maybe" (written by Bill Rice
and Sharon Vaughn) a duet with Kenny
Rogers was released in February 17, 1990 as the fourth single from the
album SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG (Rogers 21st studio album). The song reached
#25 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles.
Holly Dunn logged six Top
Country Albums entries, with 1987's Cornerstone her highest-charting
(No.22).
Title, Year, Label, Billboard Top Country Albums Peak Position
HOLLY DUNN, 1986, MTM;
#29
CORNERSTONE, 1987, MTM;
#22
ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE; 1988; MTM;
#26
THE BLUE ROSE OF TEXAS; July 10,
1989; Warner Bros.; #30
HEART FULL OF LOVE; May 10,
1990; Warner Bros.; #47
GETTING IT DUNN
her
sixth album released June 16, 1992 but did not chart. It included the singles
"No Love Have I", "As Long as You Belong to Me" and
"Golden Years". The Verlon Thompson/ Beth Nielsen Chapman-written
"You Say You Will" was covered by Trisha Yearwood on her
album Hearts in Armor (#12 Hot Country Songs; May 1993)
Holly signed with River North Records in 1995, releasing
two albums for the label: LIFE AND LOVE
AND ALL THE STAGES (1995) and LEAVE
ONE BRIDGE STANDING (1997). Before retiring from music to pursue painting,
she released one last LP in 2003, Full Circle, on the independent South Heart
label, none of these troubled the Billboard charts.
Her 11 tracks Greatest Hits package, MILESTONES (released July 23, 1991; Warner Bros. Nashville) peaked
at #25 on the Top Country Albums chart and #162 on the Billboard 200 and was
certified gold by RIAA shortly after being released in 1991.
Holly's life will be honored with a "Celebration
of Life" to be held Friday (Nov 18, 2016) 5 to 7 PM at the Dossman
Funeral Home in Belton, TX. The gathering with be followed by services on
Saturday (19) to be held at the United Methodist Church in Salado, TX at 1:00
PM. She will be laid to rest with family in Salado.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to please send
donations in Holly's name to the GSC Foundation.
The link provides
direct access to make donations to Mass General Hospital for the worthy cause of
finding a cure for ovarian carcinosarcoma.
OBITURIES:
Billboard Holly Dunn,
'Daddy's Hands' Singer, Dies at 59
Rollingstone 'Daddy's
Hands' Singer Holly Dunn Dead at 59
Sounds Like Nashville ‘Daddy’s
Hands’ Singer Holly Dunn Passes Away
Saving Country Music Holly Dunn
Wasn’t Happy About Her ‘Total Expunging’ from the Grand Ole Opry (RIP)....But
that love was not reciprocated. No longer living in Nashville, but still
willing to keep up with her Opry commitments, Holly Dunn received word that she
had been removed as a member.
“I have some amazing memories. I wish there was a way,
though — just to make a suggestion to them — to keep a list of folks that were
members in the past,” she said. “This whole total expunging you from the list
is sort of a little harsh, I think. There are people on that list that I know
for a fact might make it once a year if they’re lucky. It’s a little
subjective. That’s my only gripe.”…
TRIBUTES
Grand Ole Opry
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Holly Dunn today. Thankful for the beautiful music she made over the years. pic.twitter.com/9o7lNjxk3K— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) 15 November 2016
Holly Dunn “Remembered”
Blake Shelton: Incredibly
sad to hear about the passing of Holly Dunn.. I had no clue she had been
battling cancer. Prayers for the family..
Chely Wright Holly Dunn
has passed. She was my friend. Thank you, Holly, for all you did and all you
were. So much grace. Xo c
Crystal Gayle tweeted I'm sorry
to hear of Holly Dunn's passing. I've know Holly for many years. A great Artist
& person. My prayers are with her family & friends
Darryl Worley tweeted Holly
had such a sweet sweet spirit. It's hard to imagine her being gone. She will be
missed. Angels are introducing her to the choir.
Keith Burns Rest in
peace Holly Dunn.
Mary Gauthier This week,
so far: the death of Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell, Mose Allison, Holly Dunn, and
civility.
Susie McEntire tweeted RIP Holly
Dunn. You were the real deal. May this song contribute to your legacy. We did our best. #hollydunn... http://fb.me/8grt3pStE
Terri Clark tweeted So sad to
hear of yet another one of our artists gone too soon. Cancer sucks. #HollyDunn
Travis Tritt tweeted I'm very
saddened to hear of the passing of my formal WB label mate Holly Dunn. Gone way
too soon. RIP
The Oak Ridge Boys PIP Holly Dunn ... #daddyshands http://theboot.com/holly-dunn-dead-dies/
The Oak Ridge Boys PIP Holly Dunn ... #daddyshands http://theboot.com/holly-dunn-dead-dies/
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