Flashback to the 70s: Eddie Holman
By Sean Hillegass, 12.2.04

“Hey There Lonely Girl,” the song made famous by Eddie Holman, first hit the Billboard Pop and R&B singles chart in January 1970, and by March it became a top five hit on both charts, making Holman anything but a lonely guy.
Holman was born on June 3, 1946, in Norfolk, VA, and by the age of 7 he was a seasoned performer.

“I started performing at my church, and at various talent shows, while living in Norfolk,” he said.

At age eight, Holman and his mother moved to New York City where he began to showcase his talent. He became a regular on the NBC television show “The Children’s Hour.”
“I spent my Saturday’s learning anywhere between four to six songs, dance routines, and anything I needed to do for the Sunday show,” Holman said.

He also performed in several off-Broadway shows and even entered and won a couple of talent shows at the legendary Apollo Theater.

“My mother recognized that I had potential, and she thought that it should be developed, so I took singing, acting and dance classes to develop my talent,” Holman said.

Holman also attended the Victoria School of Music in New York City, the school that became the basis for the TV show and movie, “Fame."

While still in his teens, he and his family moved to Philadelphia, Penn. Holman now turned his attention to the music recording side of the business, and he signed his first recording contract with Leopard records and released the song “What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You.”

In 1965, Holman had his first charting single, “This Can’t Be True,” while still attending Cheney State College. It reached number 17 on Billboards R&B singles chart and a year later Holman repeated his chart success with “Am I a Loser.” This song reached number 17, also.

In 1969, Holman signed with ABC records and hired a new producer, Peter DeAngelis. Holman and DeAngelis’s first single release “I Love You” gave Holman his first charting single in three years. It reached number 30 on the R&B singles chart.

Later that year, Holman released “Hey There Lonely Girl.” It was originally a hit for Ruby and The Romantics in 1963, and was titled “Hey There Lonely Boy.” When the reworded song was presented to Holman, he initially refused, but changed his mind at his wife’s request.

“I had no intention of recording “Hey There Lonely Girl” but when my wife asked me to, that seemed like a good enough reason for me, so I did,” Holman said. His wife’s suggestion proved to be quite valuable. “Hey There Lonely Girl” became his biggest charting single.

During March of 1970 “Hey There Lonely Girl” charted at number two on Billboards Pop chart and number four on the R&B chart. Holman charted two more times in 1970, with “Since I Don’t Have You” and “Don’t Stop Now.”

In 1974, “Hey There Lonely Girl” once again found chart success, this time internationally when it became a top five hit in England.

Holman was recently asked if he thought his signature song was going to be as big a hit as it was, during a concert in Charlotte, NC.

“I had been in the music business long enough to know a hit song when I hear one, so yes I knew it was going to be a hit,” Holman said. “What I didn’t know was that it would still be as big a hit now as it was at the height of its chart success in March 1970.”