Milt Holland
Milton Holland (born Milton Olshansky; February 7, 1917 – November 4, 2005) was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnomusicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene. He pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percussion styles in jazz, pop and film music, traveling extensively in those regions to collect instruments and learn styles of playing them. Early life. Holland was born Milton Olshansky in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Theodore Roosevelt High School. His first instrument was the violin. He pursued a passion for percussion, playing in clubs and shows and on CBS Radio in Chicago. By  the age of twelve, he was playing at speakeasies for the likes of Al Capone. Career. In the early 1940s, Holland toured and recorded with The Raymond Scott Orchestra. He studied tabla at UCLA and with Ramnad Easwaran. In India, Holland studied with tabla master Chatur Lal beginning in 1963. He traveled through India extensively in the early 1960s and 1970s, then spent many years in Africa studying tribal rhythms. He was among the first to introduce the instruments to western recording. After moving to Los Angeles in 1946, he played on countless jazz and pop albums, film and TV  scores. A sampling of the artists he worked with includes Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Chaka Khan, John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Elmer Bernstein, Quincy Jones, Nat King Cole, Henry Mancini, Loggins and Messina, James Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Laurindo Almeida, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Seals and Crofts, Ray Manzarek, Michael Dinner, Gordon Lightfoot, Ringo Starr, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina, Poco, Captain Beefheart, David Blue, Rita Coolidge, Carly Simon, Cal Tjader, the Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, Maria Muldaur, Randy Newman, and Joni Mitchell. He played pandeiro, congas and triangle on Mitchell's hit "Big Yellow Taxi" and congas  and percussion on "Light My Fire" with José Feliciano. As part of the so-called "Wrecking Crew," Holland won several gold and platinum records for his contributions. He was perhaps most proud of having helped desegregate the Los Angeles Musicians Union. Eventually, Holland became the first choice for exotic percussion among Los Angeles freelance session musicians. In films, Holland played bongos on the soundtrack of "West Side Story" and timpani the soundtrack of "Silent Running", to name only a tiny fraction of his output. He was one of seven illustrious percussionists, including Shelly Manne, Jack Sperling, and Larry Bunker, who  contributed to the soundtrack of the John Wayne film "Hatari!", playing African instruments on the soundtrack album, "The Sounds of Hatari", and its title track. He played for the soundtrack of the TV miniseries "Roots". He also played the musical accompaniment for Tinker Bell in the 1953 Disney cartoon film "Peter Pan" and for the nose tinkle in the TV series "Bewitched". Death and personal life. Holland died in Los Angeles at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife Mildred Holland, his sons, Richard Holland and Robert Holland, his grandchildren, Damien and Chloe, and Richard's wife  Seiko. His widow Mildred died on October 21, 2015. Instruments. Holland played tabla, pandeiro, marimba, congas, cabasa, quica, timbales, maracas, tambourine, claves, shaker, triangle, bongos, timpani, vibraphone, marimba, drums, bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, log drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambura, cimbalom, cowbell, glockenspiel, Latin percussion, agogo bells and other instruments. Discography. As sideman. With Gregg Allman Band With Laurindo Almeida With Hoyt Axton With Jennifer Warnes With Joan Baez With Burt Bacharach With Louis Bellson With Elmer Bernstein With Elvin Bishop With Al Kooper With Bonaroo With Charlie Byrd With Captain Beefheart With Buddy Childers With Stanley Clarke With Rosemary  Clooney With Joe Cocker With Ray Conniff With Ry Cooder With Rita Coolidge With Bing Crosby With Jackie Davis With Buddy DeFranco With Doug Dillard With Helen Reddy With Doobie Brothers With Percy Faith With Victor Feldman With José Feliciano With Ron Davies With Glen Campbell With The 5th Dimension With Jerry Fielding With Ella Fitzgerald With Gordon Lightfoot With The Free Movement With Four Freshmen With Johnny Rivers With Jackie Gleason With Graham Central Station With Arlo Guthrie With Dirk Hamilton With Richard Harris With Joni James With Pete Jolly With Quincy Jones With Stan Kenton With Delaney Bramlett  With Claudia Lennear With Ringo Starr With Jim Messina With Little Feat With Kenny Loggins With Johnny Nash With Loggins & Messina With Henry Mancini With Lani Hall With Carly Simon With Johnny Mandel With Herbie Mann With Melanie With Joni Mitchell With The Monkees With Randy Newman With Harry Nilsson With Martha Reeves With Anita O'Day With Gabby Pahinui With Van Dyke Parks With Oscar Peterson With Poco With Dean Martin With Neil Sedaka With Ray Peterson With Bill Plummer With Bonnie Raitt With Wendy Waldman With Shorty Rogers With Rufus with Chaka Khan With Pete Rugolo With Sanford & Townsend  With Lalo Schifrin With Seals & Crofts With John Sebastian With Bud Shank With Ravi Shankar With Frank Sinatra With Nancy Sinatra With Phil Spector With Art Garfunkel With Barbra Streisand With James Taylor With Bill Thomson With Cal Tjader With Various Artists With Nancy Wilson With Paul Winter