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Malcolm Holcombe

September 2, 1955 – March 9, 2024

Malcolm Holcombe was born and raised in

Weaverville, North Carolina, about ten miles
north of Asheville. In his teenage years, he
played in local bands The Hilltoppers and
Redwing, and in the early 1990's he

started to perform solo as a singer-
songwriter.

Between 1994 and 2022, Malcolm made
eighteen albums, plus a smattering of
additional CDs as composer or with other

musicians.

Often described as a musician's musician,
Holcombe was lauded by fellow songsmiths in

and around Nashville for his lyrical skill and his
powerful delivery. Reportedly, contemporaries
like Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Steve

& Justin Townes Earle, and Iris DeMent are
/were fans of his.

No doubt at all that his musical soul-mate

(and producer) was Jared Tyler, who was
as RB Morris has called him, “the musical
shadow of Malcolm” and as with many

musicians, attuned to the soul of their
partner, able to anticipate his next moves,
predict what’s needed when, and provide
just the right embellishment

and backbone on
harmonies, guitars, man-
dola, dobro, banjo, etc.

Malcolm eventually succumbed to the ravages of cancer but his lyrics will continue
to fight the fight. “I will not hide from the words of justice / I will not join the cries

of liars / I will not keep my heart from climbing from the dust I swallowed behind.
…Great spirit lift me from despair / to your bosom sweet and fair” (’Conscience of
Man’).

Ian K McKenzie