Holly NearHolly NearSingerSinger

SongwriterSongwriter

Social Justice ActivistSocial Justice Activist

Song: I Am Willing

Holly Near’s ChildhoodHolly Near’s Childhood

Born in Ukiah, California in 1949Born in Ukiah, California in 1949

Parents were community organizersParents were community organizers

Always loved to sing and performAlways loved to sing and perform

Had a finely tuned sense of justice from a Had a finely tuned sense of justice from a very young agevery young age

Started UCLA Theater School in 1967Started UCLA Theater School in 1967

Performer’s Prayer, by Holly NearPerformer’s Prayer, by Holly Near

Why am I up here in front of all of these people?Why am I up here in front of all of these people?

It is a wild notion to perform in front of people!It is a wild notion to perform in front of people!

Ah yes, I remember I am not here for me,Ah yes, I remember I am not here for me,

I am not here to promote my ego,I am not here to promote my ego,

I am here to serve the great spirit,I am here to serve the great spirit,

To be a voice for those afraid to speak,To be a voice for those afraid to speak,

To be movement for those who are stuck.To be movement for those who are stuck.

I am here to reveal a mystery,I am here to reveal a mystery,

To learn something new about myself.To learn something new about myself.

I give my talent to the wind.I give my talent to the wind.

I give my weakness to the rocks.I give my weakness to the rocks.

Poem, continued……Poem, continued……

I give my fear to the stars.I give my fear to the stars.

I give my confidence to the moon.I give my confidence to the moon.

I give it all away, so if I am great,I give it all away, so if I am great,

It is not my greatness – it is the wind that will It is not my greatness – it is the wind that will celebrate.celebrate.

And if I am not great, it is not my failure –And if I am not great, it is not my failure –

It is up to the rock to carry the pain and It is up to the rock to carry the pain and disappointment.disappointment.

I am a channel here to do the work,I am a channel here to do the work,

To make the discoveries, to shout the joy,To make the discoveries, to shout the joy,

To call my mistakes “Teacher”.To call my mistakes “Teacher”.

I am here to give it away to the peopleI am here to give it away to the people

Who come to watch and listen and feel.Who come to watch and listen and feel.

Poem, continued……Poem, continued……

So that we will remember more than the time of day.So that we will remember more than the time of day.

Why am I up here in front of all these people?Why am I up here in front of all these people?

So that the great spirit may paint a picture on my face.So that the great spirit may paint a picture on my face.

Holly’s Career:Holly’s Career:Art and ActivismArt and ActivismSong: No More Song: No More

GenocideGenocide

In 1971, Holly joined the In 1971, Holly joined the “Free The Army” show, “Free The Army” show,

which was produced by Jane which was produced by Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and Francine Parker. This and Francine Parker. This was Holly’s first step into was Holly’s first step into

blending her music and her blending her music and her political activism.political activism.

Holly founded her own record Holly founded her own record companycompany

Though LA music industry reps were impressed by Holly’s talent Though LA music industry reps were impressed by Holly’s talent and ability to sell out LA folk clubs, they would not give her a and ability to sell out LA folk clubs, they would not give her a record deal unless she changed her material from political to record deal unless she changed her material from political to pop. She wouldn’t so she started her own record company.pop. She wouldn’t so she started her own record company.

Holly’s first album, self producedHolly’s first album, self produced“Hang In There”“Hang In There”

When Holly returned from her tour with FTA, she When Holly returned from her tour with FTA, she began to write songs “as though I was on fire.”began to write songs “as though I was on fire.”

Song: It Could Song: It Could Have Been MeHave Been Me

Holly was asked by the Holly was asked by the organizers of a Kent organizers of a Kent

State Memorial State Memorial Ceremony to write a song Ceremony to write a song commemorating the four commemorating the four students killed in 1970 students killed in 1970

when the Ohio governor when the Ohio governor ordered the National ordered the National

Guard to open fire on an Guard to open fire on an anti-war demonstration.anti-war demonstration.

Song: Singing For Our LivesSong: Singing For Our Lives

In 1978, Harvey Milk, an openly homosexual In 1978, Harvey Milk, an openly homosexual city supervisor in San Francisco, was killed, city supervisor in San Francisco, was killed, along with the San Francisco mayor, by along with the San Francisco mayor, by another city supervisor, Dan White.another city supervisor, Dan White.

On the way to the candle-lit vigil the night of On the way to the candle-lit vigil the night of the deaths, Holly penned this song, which has the deaths, Holly penned this song, which has become a standard for many social justice become a standard for many social justice causes. causes.

Women’s MusicWomen’s Music

Holly began singing about feminism and Holly began singing about feminism and women’s issues following her own awakening women’s issues following her own awakening after her experiences on the FTA tour.after her experiences on the FTA tour.

She was known as an anti-war activist first, She was known as an anti-war activist first, and when she came out as a lesbian, the and when she came out as a lesbian, the lesbian community embraced her as a lesbian community embraced her as a spokes-person.spokes-person.

She continues to this day to sing about all She continues to this day to sing about all issues of injustice, not confining herself to be issues of injustice, not confining herself to be a speaker for one particular cause.a speaker for one particular cause.

““And Still We Sing”And Still We Sing”

Song: Fired Up!Song: Fired Up!

Holly Near has recorded 29 albums to date in her forty-year career as a performing artist.

She has consistently written songs that express her political belief in equality and justice for all.

She has unapologetically but gently invited her audiences to join her in forever seeing more ways to make this world a better place.

She has freely used music as a means of educating about little-known issues, as a means for soothing painful experiences, as a means of letting listeners know that they are not alone, as well as a way of poking fun and having fun.