Holly Near
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Holly Near (born June 6, 1949 in Ukiah, CA) is an American singer/songwriter, teacher and activist.
Near's career started with appearances in films and television shows such as Slaughterhouse-Five, Minnie and Moskowitz, All In The Family, The Mod Squad, and The Partridge Family. She also appeared in Hair on Broadway. Later she gravitated to music and activism. She has worked with Ronnie Gilbert, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Mercedes Sosa, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Inti-Illimani, Bonnie Raitt, Cris Williamson, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Harry Belafonte, Linda Tillery, and many others.
In 1970, she, along with Barry Bostwick, was a member of the musical comedy troupe First National Nothing, and appeared on the troupe's only album If You Sit Real Still and Hold My Hand, You Will Hear Absolutely Nothing (Columbia Records - LP C 30006).
In 1972, Near founded an independent record label: Redwood Records. Also, in the early 1970's, Near toured on the FTA tour, an Anti-Vietnam War tour of music, comedy, and plays. Also on the tour were Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda.
Near continues an active tour schedule and as of 2006 had a discography of 26 albums.
She has been recognized many times for her work for social change, including honors from the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild, the National Organization for Women, NARAS, Ms. Magazine (Woman of the Year), and the Legends of Women's Music Award.
In 1976, Near came out as a lesbian and began a three year relationship with musician Meg Christian. However, after breaking up with Christian, Near had relationships with men as well as women; a move that alienated some of her separatist fans. By the time she published her 1991 autobiography, Fire in the Rain...Singer in the Storm, she identified as bisexual. Near has been in a monogamous relationship with a man since the mid 1990's.
Near was nominated by the 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005 project [1].
Her composition "Singing For Our Lives" appears in Singing the Living Tradition, the official hymnal of the Unitarian Universalist Association, under the title "We Are A Gentle, Angry People" (Hymn #170) [2]. The hymn was also performed by Quaker Friends in an episode of the TV series "'Six Feet Under'".
