Biography

David Earl Holt was born in 1928 in Magna, Utah.  After studying piano and trombone as a child, he began a career as a touring musician in the Sonny Dunham Orchestra.  When he was not touring, he lived in New York at the musician-friendly Schuyler Hotel and later at the President Hotel.

Composer and performer David Earl Holt toured with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Tex Beneke, Glen Gray, Sonny Dunham, Dean Hudson, Tony Pastor, and Victor Lombardo in the 1940s before eventually becoming the director of the Austin Public Libraries.

After playing with Dorsey's orchestra, Holt returned once again to Utah in order to complete his bachelor's and master's degrees in music at Brigham Young University.

Holt decided to go to the University of Utah for his doctorate, but before he began, writer Evelyn Wood hired him to travel as a speed- reading instructor.  His interest in books led him to pursue a master’s degree in library science at Emory University.  When he retired in 1991, he was director of the Austin Public Library system.  During his time in Austin, he spearheaded the expansion of the library system, which included doubling the number of branch libraries in the city.  

His retirement allowed him the time to become involved with music once again, both as a composer and as a trombonist.  His wind band compositions combine marches with other styles, such as salsa and rock-and-roll (including a twist).  He also writes arrangements of big band tunes that recall his days as a touring musician.

Holt moved to Green Valley, Arizona, in the summer of 2004, in order to be closer to his children.  In the fall of 2004, a concert of his music was performed in his hometown, and he continues to enjoy hearing his music played today.