Wendy Holcombe

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Wendy Holcombe

Wendy Lou Holcombe (born April 19, 1963 in Alabaster; died February 14, 1987) was a banjo player and singer who performed on the Grand Ole Opry, "Hee Haw", "The New Mickey Mouse Club", and "Nashville on the Road".

Holcombe attended Thompson Middle School. She learned to play banjo from her father, Billy Jack Holcombe. For her 12th birthday, he took her to Nashville. While there, Roni Stoneman's bassist overheard her playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on a store display banjo and brought her to Roy Acuff, who booked her immediately on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. She made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in December 1975, and was only the eighth performer on that program to be brought back for an encore. From there she toured regional festivals as "Little Miss Wendy Alabama", and also performed with her family's bluegrass ensemble.

Holcombe's career took off as she entered her late teens. She married Tom Blosser, a Japanese-born bass player in her band, and began touring with Bill Monroe, Mac Wiseman and Perry Como around the world. She also earned acting roles in Hollywood. In 1981 Holcombe starred in the television movie "Wendy Hooper, U.S. Army". From 1981 to 1982, she also had a recurring role as "Wendy" on the NBC sitcom "Lewis & Clark".

In the mid-1980s Wendy and Tom settled down in Hickory, North Carolina near his family. They later moved to Florida.

Holcombe died of cardiomyopathy at the age of 23. She is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery near Maylene.

References

External links