This past Wednesday, Holton performed a benefit concert for VH1 Save the Music Foundation. The concert took place at Southern Bank Auditorium on the Mount Olive campus at 8 p.m. He performed from his upcoming album entitled “Playing for Change.”
The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is committed to restoring instrumental music education in public schools and raising awareness about the importance of music as a part of each child’s education.
Holton first became aware of the Save the Music foundation through a friend who explained how the concert would raise money for an important cause and provide the Mount Olive community with entertainment.
“We contacted VH1,” explained Holton, who also preformed in the Second Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Concert in the fall. “Once they (VH1) heard what we were doing, they agreed to sponsor my upcoming show, which I am very thankful for.”
A senior from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Holton joined the Mount Olive baseball program in 2008 and helped the team win the NCAA Division II National Championship that year.
During the National Finals, Holton moved from designated hitter to second base due to a season-ending injury to All-Conference second baseman Anthony Williams. In the national championship game, Holton’s three-run double contributed to Mount Olive’s five run first inning and the Trojans went on to defeat Ouachita Baptist 6-2.
Holton has a career .333 batting average with 22 stolen bases in 25 attempts, including a perfect 13-for-13 last season. He has four career home runs, perhaps the most memorable being a tie-breaking grand slam home run in the top of the ninth inning in Mount Olive’s 6-2 win at Armstrong Atlantic State in the Trojans’ 2009 season opener.
But along with baseball, music has always been a big part of Holton’s life. “My mom played piano, my dad sang and played guitar, one of my sisters studied opera, and my other sister was big into dancing, which all left me doing a little bit of everything.”
When Holton was young, he was active in sports, but stayed involved in music by taking singing, drum and piano lessons. Holton did not pick up a guitar until his late high school/early college years.
“Guitar was something I always have been around because of my father,” said Holton, “but when I moved across the country for school, a piano or a drum set was not something I could throw on my back and a guitar was, so why not.”
Holton’s father has been the biggest influence on him. “Even today, I get excited to go home and listen to him play his own original music because I don’t get to very often. I hope someday we can play together on stage somewhere – that would be unreal!”
James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles, Neil Young, Jack Johnson, James Blunt, John Mayer and Jason Mraz also have influenced Holton musically.
“I play all kinds of different music,” explained Holton. “When I started getting serious about music, I recorded back in Canada doing hip-hop and R&B style music. It was a lot of fun and I still may do more of it. But over the past year, I really started getting involved in acoustic music – just me and my guitar.”
He also writes and produces all of his own lyrics and music from what he has learned so far in life. “Everyone learns from experience and when it is hard to explain how you feel or you are not sure what you feel, music helps you find just that.”
Music has become a part of Holton. “Music to me is like a vanity, something I never steer clear of. I live it on the edge. I live it with a lot of flair. I grip it and I rip it. Music is definitely something I would like to do as a career.”
Holton continued, “My purpose for playing is to help others in similar situations, or just take them away from whatever is on their mind. I think music is a break for a lot of people – takes them out of the moment and somewhere else, so when I could see that in myself and others, it made me just want to continue to play and perform.”
Holton hopes the VH1 Save the Music Concert and his forthcoming debut album – with some “catchy songs” – are just the beginning of his music career.
“I am always up for doing concerts no matter what the cause,” said Holton. “It gives people entertainment. It can be for a great cause and at the same time, I get to show others what I love to do. If there is anyone out there who needs an acoustic singer and songwriter, I’m your guy!”
