Richard Hollis

Biography With his soulful, resounding tone, Richard Hollis is and will be a forerunner and torch-bearer of the reemerging sound of Gospel-Soul as we know it. A singer-songwriter with legendary influences in the likes of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke, he to pursued a path away from his roots in the church and sought a record deal as a R&B artist. In August of 1999, while on a business trip to Manhattan with his group this pursuit would take a divine turn that...

Biography With his soulful, resounding tone, Richard Hollis is and will be a forerunner and torch-bearer of the reemerging sound of Gospel-Soul as we know it. A singer-songwriter with legendary influences in the likes of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke, he to pursued a path away from his roots in the church and sought a record deal as a R&B artist. In August of 1999, while on a business trip to Manhattan with his group this pursuit would take a divine turn that was all orchestrated by God. Richard, knowing that his calling was much more than the dream he was chasing, was lead to walk away from the secular genre all together and rededicate his life, soul and gift to his now Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After taking a break from music and soaking in the word of God he was lead to start his own independent record label True Light Recordings in 2007. Hollis released his debut recording project in 2008 titled Brand New Start, which was well received locally and in the mid-west and southern regions. The project also received some national and international attention by recording physical sales, downloads and distribution in the UK, Canada, Africa & Japan. The title track, Brand New Start remained on SoundClick.com's Urban Music Charts in the Top Ten for 17 weeks consecutively. The 2nd single, Jesus Saves has received national radio spins and over 300,000 listens on Myspace.com. Hollis also received the Best New Artist Award in 2008 from The Texas Gospel Announcers Guild. Since the release of his debut project, Richard has been ministering and taking the gospel message abroad to churches, shelters, prisons and juvenile detention centers across the vast state of Texas and the mid-west. Hollis explains, “I believe that my calling is to those that are lost outside the church. Those individuals who have been broken and disappointed. The ones that the contemporary church have forgotten about. I’ve been there, the alcoholic; I can relate to. There was a point in my life when I tried to find peace in the bottle. The addict I can sit and cry with because I myself have been in the bondage of addiction before and its by the grace of God that I overcame it, but its a day to day process. The enemy never sleeps. So it’s my job now to remind those that God leads me to encounter, that God loves them and that their is hope. The only way to overcome and live in that hope is to believe on and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That’s it, no gimmicks, no tricks, no smoke and mirrors. Faith and hope based on the teachings of the bible that are found and manifested only through the love of Christ.” Through the calling of ministry Richard has been blessed to share the platform with R&B legend Howard Hewitt, Stellar Award nominees Kim Burrell and traditional gospel’s recording group Endurance. He has opened for contemporary gospel’s recording artist Gary Mayes & Nu Era, James Fortune & FIYA and GMA’s Dove Award nominee Bryan Courtney Wilson. Also he has been honored to grace the same bill with up and coming new artist such as Soulfruit, Jamel Strong, Yunek, Raishein, R.A.G.E., J. Xavier, Jimmy Mitchell, Vincent Powell, Dat Boy Jesse, F.O.M, Tre 9, Von Won and Gifted. With a clear understanding that he has been chosen to proclaim the word of God, his heart is set on ministry and not "the industry." He feels blessed to have been chosen and embraces the next chapter of his life with the upcoming release of his sophomore CD Day By Day due out in the spring of 2011. Day By Day will consist of songs that lyrically will touch on an array of topics and issues that are relevant to everyday life. Hollis has taken his trails, test, victories and triumphs and placed them in a recorded autobiography put to music. He states, “I wanted to be fluidly transparent on this one. As believers we give the facade that we are happy and full of joy 24/7, but that’s not the case. We, as Christians go through a litany of emotions everyday, we live life and troubles come just as they do with everyone. It’s a part of life. I just want to show that we hurt too, we cry too, but after the first wave we have to refocus and remember who our faith is in. I want the unbeliever to see and understand, as much as we try to make this walk look and sound perfect, it’s hard work. You have to have a made up mind to not look back to the failures and sins of your past, but to look forward in the hope and promise in Christ Jesus. It’s step by step, minute by minute, day by day, hence the CD title.” The first single from the Day By Day CD is titled “Can’t Wait Until Sunday” and is due out in mid February. By the grace of God, it is sure to be a hit on all gospel radio and television airwaves. Hollis thanks all of his friends and supporters around the world for their prayers and backing. He has also began the groundwork for his non-profit organization called True Light Cares. A foundation in which he hopes to partner with Texas Children's Hospital to raise funds and award grants to needy families to cover medical expenses for the child(ren) that the family can not afford to pay. “Let’s make this blessing a major one. Help us to make this ministry a worldwide movement that will empower every individual that it encounters to become an ambassador for the Kingdom of God through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ.”