Jean Holden

Smooth strong, sultry, crystal clear, and definitive phrasing, strong, sultry, crystal clear, and definitive phrasing detail the vocal talents of Jean Holden. Toledo songstress, Jean Holden is an esteemed voice teacher, winner of three Lake Erie West People's Choice Awards for Best Female Vocalist, and inducted into the Lifetime Achievement Category. Jean has been inducted into the Sylvania Distinguished Artist Hall of Fame. She received the YWCA Milestones Recipient Award for her contributions to the Arts, Education, and the mentoring of young artists.

Jean began her singing career in her youth in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was formally trained as an Operatic Mezzo-Soprano. Realizing there wasn't much of a market for opera singers, particularly African American opera singers in 1964, Jean changed her style and range to accommodate nightclub singing. Her remarkable talent was sufficient to earn her first nightclub performance at the Park Lane Hotel, where she was hired for a 2 week trial run, and performed there for 2 consecutive years. The rest...is history. Her career has spanned 50 years and seems to just get better with time!