Stephen Holden
Encyclopedia
Stephen Holden is an American
writer
, music critic, film critic, and poet
.
Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English from Yale University
in 1963. He worked as a photo editor, staff writer, and eventually became an A&R
executive for RCA Records
before turning to writing pop music reviews and related articles for Rolling Stone
, Blender
, The Village Voice
, The Atlantic, and Vanity Fair
, among other publications. He first achieved prominence with his 1970s Rolling Stone work, where he tended to cover singer songwriter and traditional pop artists. He joined the staff of the New York Times in 1981, and subsequently became one of the newspaper's leading theatre and film critics.
Holden's experiences as a journalist and executive with RCA led him to write the satirical novel Triple Platinum, which was published by Dell Books in 1980. He is the recipient of the 1986 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
for The Voice: The Columbia Years
, a Frank Sinatra
anthology
. His poetry
has been featured in The New Yorker
and is included in the anthology The New Yorker Book of Poems.
Holden has appeared on 60 Minutes
, 20/20, and Entertainment Tonight
, and has provided commentaries on National Public Radio.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, music critic, film critic, and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1963. He worked as a photo editor, staff writer, and eventually became an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
before turning to writing pop music reviews and related articles for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, The Atlantic, and Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, among other publications. He first achieved prominence with his 1970s Rolling Stone work, where he tended to cover singer songwriter and traditional pop artists. He joined the staff of the New York Times in 1981, and subsequently became one of the newspaper's leading theatre and film critics.
Holden's experiences as a journalist and executive with RCA led him to write the satirical novel Triple Platinum, which was published by Dell Books in 1980. He is the recipient of the 1986 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes...
for The Voice: The Columbia Years
The Voice: Frank Sinatra, the Columbia Years (1943-1952)
The Voice: Frank Sinatra, the Columbia Years is a 1986 four-disc compilation album of the U.S. singer Frank Sinatra.-Track listing:disc 1:# The Nearness of You# If I Had You# Nevertheless# You Go to My Head# My Melancholy Baby...
, a Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
. His poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
has been featured in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
and is included in the anthology The New Yorker Book of Poems.
Holden has appeared on 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, 20/20, and Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, and has provided commentaries on National Public Radio.