Holly Dunn

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Holly Dunn
Warner Bros.
  • River North
  • Oms
  • Holly Suzette Dunn (August 22, 1957 – November 14, 2016) was an American

    Warner Bros. Records between 1988 and 1993, and River North Records between 1995 and 1997. She released 10 albums and charted 19 singles, plus two duets on the Hot Country Songs charts. Two of her single releases, "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going", went to No. 1 on that chart. Other songs for which she is known include "Daddy's Hands" and "Maybe I Mean Yes". Dunn's brother, Chris Waters, is a songwriter and record producer, having worked with both his sister and other artists in these capacities. Dunn retired from music in 2003, and died of ovarian cancer
    in 2016.

    Biography

    Early years and MTM Records

    Holly Suzette Dunn was born August 22, 1957. Her parents were a Church of Christ preacher and a landscape painter.[1]

    While attending high school, Dunn performed in a band called Freedom Folk Singers, which toured the

    CBS Records, and then MTM Records. Louise Mandrell had a top-10 hit in 1984 with "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet", which the two co-wrote.[2]
    By 1985, Dunn was signed to a record contract with MTM.

    Dunn's first two releases — "Playing for Keeps" and "My Heart Holds On" — both failed to make the Top 40 on the Hot Country Songs charts, while "Two Too Many" peaked at No. 39. Her first Top 10 hit came in 1986, when "Daddy's Hands", a tribute to her father,[3] peaked at No. 7 on that chart.[4] Dunn, who wrote "Daddy's Hands" single-handedly, noted that the song's success led to many fans sharing positive experiences about their own fathers with her.[5] The song was included on her self-titled debut, from which it served as the final single. Following this song, she sang guest vocals on Michael Martin Murphey's Top 5 hit "A Face in the Crowd", from his album Americana.[4] She was named the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female Vocalist in 1986, and then the winner of Country Music Association's Horizon Award in 1987.

    Her second MTM album, Cornerstone, produced three straight top-10 hits in "Love Someone Like Me", "Only When I Love", and "Strangers Again".[4] Across the Rio Grande in 1988 included the singles "That's What Your Love Does to Me" and "(It's Always Gonna Be) Someday",[4] before MTM Records filed for bankruptcy and closed.[2]

    Warner Bros. Records, Grand Ole Opry, River North Records

    In 1989, Dunn moved to

    Something Inside So Strong.[4]

    Dunn's second Warner Bros. album, Heart Full of Love, was released in 1990. Although its lead single "My Anniversary for Being a Fool" failed to make the top 40, the followup "You Really Had Me Going" became her second and final number-one hit, while the title track was a top-20 hit.[4]

    In 1991, Dunn released her first

    greatest hits package, Milestones: Greatest Hits. It included the new release "Maybe I Mean Yes", which became controversial due to some listeners interpreting the song as condoning date rape. As a result, Dunn asked for the single to be withdrawn from rotation.[7] Her final Warner Bros. release, Getting It Dunn, failed to produce a top-40 hit, and she exited the label in 1993.[4]

    Dunn signed to

    Detroit, Michigan, as morning show co-host. It was not her first time behind the radio mike, as she had served as a DJ during her college years. However, the decision forced her to give up touring for a time. Later, she co-hosted Opry Backstage on the Nashville Network in 1999–2002.[8]

    Retirement and death

    In 2003, Dunn announced her retirement from her musical career and released her final album, Full Circle, which was her only gospel album, to devote full-time to her other passion, art. Her paintings deal primarily with subjects from the Southwestern United States.[8]

    On November 14, 2016, Dunn died of ovarian cancer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at age 59.[9] She was survived by her wife, Melissa Taylor, and her brothers, Chris, Jerry and Rodney.

    Discography

    Studio albums

    Awards and nominations

    Grammy Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    1987
    "Daddy's Hands" Best Female Country Vocal Performance Nominated
    Best Country Song Nominated
    1988
    "A Face in the Crowd" Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Nominated

    TNN/Music City News Country Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    1988 Holly Dunn Female Artist of the Year Nominated
    Star of Tomorrow Nominated
    1989 Nominated

    Academy of Country Music Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    1987 Holly Dunn Top New Female Vocalist Won

    Country Music Association Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    1987 "Daddy's Hands" Song of the Year Nominated
    Holly Dunn Horizon Award Won
    Holly Dunn and
    Michael Martin Murphy
    Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated

    References

    External links