Lonnie Holley Reflects on The Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children

Sound & Vision

Lonnie Holley started releasing music about a decade ago when he was in his 60s. He’s now out with his seventh album titled Oh Me Oh My.

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photo by David Raccuglia

Lonnie Holley has lived a storied life. He was taken from his family by a burlesque dancer who performed in carnivals when he was a baby, suffered head injuries from getting hit by a car as a kid, then put in the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children, also known as Mount Meigs. He went on to become a visual artist whose works have been on display at The White House and The Smithsonian.

Holley started releasing music about a decade ago when he was in his 60s. He’s now out with his seventh album. It’s called Oh Me Oh My and features collaborations with Bon Iver, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Sharon Van Etten, and more. Lonnie Holley shares his life story and how his experiences have informed his new record.

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