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Three Local Legends Organize A Tribute to Toledo’s First Lady of Song

By Fletcher Word
Sojourner’s Truth Editor

Four or five years ago, Ramona Collins, a legendary local songstress who was the YWCA’s first Milestones Award winner in the Arts Category, took it upon herself to try to correct an oversight in the selection of honorees.

Collins nominated Jean Holden for the Arts award, an honor long overdue, she had determined. “She really is the First Lady of Song,” says Collins of her fellow artist – a singer and vocal coach who is eight years her senior.
 

Jean Holden - seated - with Rhonda Sewell, Ramona Collins, Laneta Goings

Legendary Jean Holden, is an American contemporary Jazz singer, coach and trailblazer. In the 60s jazz was at its zenith and she traveled across the country singing at exclusive supper clubs (hospitality clubs) in Orlando, Pittsburgh and Hartford where big names the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horn and Billie Holiday often performed.

 

When she was eight it was the beginning of her formal training to be an opera singer. She loved all music genre’s including country and gospel; won numerous contests and was offered a scholarship at both The Julliard and Oberlin College. She reached another milestone singing for several years with The Toledo Opera Association and several theater productions at the University of Toledo. In the 1960s Ms. Holden was the first African American to perform in its first theater program - ‘Three Penny Opera.’

 

Later in the 1970s impressive jazz gigs include the Hospitality Motor Inn, The Park Lane Hotel, and Rusty’s.  Ms. Holden said: ‘It was an exciting place to be, as it was frequented by celebrity guests like Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald.’

n  This year’s nomination application for Jean Holden

“Back in 2002, I was the first winner in the Arts Category and it really bothered me that they couldn’t see that she was so deserving,” Collins adds.

That nomination several years ago was in vain. Holden was not honored then and Collins’ frustration was compounded.

“It really bothered me, she has a done so much that people don’t recognize,” she says.

So in the fall of 2018, Collins took a different tack. She approached two fellow Milestones Award winners, Laneta Goings (honoree for Volunteerism in 2015) and Rhonda Sewell (honoree for Volunteerism in 2017) and sought their assistance in compiling a joint nomination application.

Because she had submitted a nomination previously with no luck, Collins “wanted more assurance that Jean would be named” so she and her two fellow contributors reached out, gathered information and sought to ensure that Holden would earn the prize this time around.

Ms. Holden has left an indelible mark on hundreds, perhaps thousands, of kids and adults across the country.  Her influence and unique approach are remarkable through her voice and actions by building kids’ confidence showing them how to believe in and like themselves.  They try as hard as they can and always want Ms. Jean to be proud.

 

According to Ms. Holden, she always wanted to be a teacher – that’s her passion.  At Studio of Vocal Expression, her opera training allows her to teach students how to sing with control, helping local musicians, actresses and others seeking vocal coaching/expression reach the pinnacle of success.

 

Today, she teaches the children and grandchildren of many former students now parents and grandparents.  Many professionals include music teachers, singers, successful and now world-renown entertainers who have competed in pageants, auditions, monologues, and elocution.  The effectiveness of an educator is manifested in teaching students of all ages and abilities. 

The three nominators gathered all their knowledge and insights about the contributions Holden has made to the community as an artist and as a teacher. They also sought input from numerous others – former students, parent of students, community activists and local leaders – whose lives have been impacted by Holden’s contributions over the years.

And it worked

Holden says: ‘I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with so many people throughout the years.  It’s sharing the gift that I have with people and watching them grow from it.’ Her selflessness and unwavering joy in infectious and come from remarkable people, from all walks of life, she’s interacted with over the years.

Countless agree that in larger cities, Holden’s unique and specialized training would not be affordable.  However, she firmly believes that: as songstress Whitney Houston sang: ‘Children are our future, teach them well and let the lead the way; show them all the beauty they possess inside and give then a sense of pride to make it easier.’  For more than 60 years, this has been her approach – and, it works.  

The honorees were announced at a press conference on January 8 at the YWCA. In addition to Holden for the Arts, this year’s other award winners are: Suzette Cowell for Business; Justice Judith Lanzinger for Government; Robin Reese for Social Srvices; Mary Fedderke for Science; Lexi Hayman-Staple for Volunteerism and Lynn Fisher for Education.

Celebrating with Holden were her three nominators, her daughter and everyone in attendance who have enjoyed Toledo’s First Lady of Song’s many contributions over the years.

“I’ve never seen her happier,” says Collins of Holden’s reaction to the honor.

 

 

   
   


Copyright © 2019 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 01/17/19 08:57:23 -0500.


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