Johnny Hollis

I'm a 36 yr. young singer/songwriter from Oklahoma City,Ok. I started out my musical career as a drummer, but had a passion for writing lyrics. I got a guitar for my 21st birthday and began to teach myself how to play. After two years of torturing my girlfriend and roomate with my practicing, things started to come together. Instead of learning cover songs I began to write my own songs. It just came naturally to me. I played them acoustically to anyone who would listen. After awhile people...

I'm a 36 yr. young singer/songwriter from Oklahoma City,Ok. I started out my musical career as a drummer, but had a passion for writing lyrics. I got a guitar for my 21st birthday and began to teach myself how to play. After two years of torturing my girlfriend and roomate with my practicing, things started to come together. Instead of learning cover songs I began to write my own songs. It just came naturally to me. I played them acoustically to anyone who would listen. After awhile people started to notice that they were great songs. Blue collar come from the heart kind of music. I went to the studio with a long time friend Ryan Collvins (R.L.) and recorded a 5 song demo. Ryan was a very good lead and slide player and I knew if he liked my songs that they were pretty damn good. Two years went by and I was still just spinning my wheels around a small town picking and grinning when I got a call from RL asking me if I wanted to start a band. I jumped at the oppurtunity with both feet in. It wasn't easy finding the right guys to play with, but after several auditions we formed a well oiled machine that we called The Velvet Hounds. Me singing and playing rythm guitar. R.L. playing lead, D.Massey on bass and Ben Mathews on drums. The band played anywhere and everywhere we could. Opening up for anybody. Playin g alot of free shows just to get our name out there and our music heard. The Velvet Hounds were together for 5 years before we parted our ways. Those years were some of the best years of my life and we made some great music. Today I record local bands and still write music, getting together with RL on occasion for a jam or two. I play locally with a band once a week and perform acoustically around town. Music is a major part of my life. I guess it always will be...