Culley Holt
Musician · McAlester, Oklahoma
Best known for
Bass
Culley Holt was an Oklahoma-born bass singer and one of the original Jordanaires — the gospel quartet whose 1949 Grand Ole Opry debut he sang on, before leaving in 1954 (just before the group's famous Elvis Presley backing-vocal era). Composer of the gospel song "I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs" recorded by Elvis in 1960.
- Born July 2, 1925 in McAlester, Oklahoma; died June 28, 1980.
- Bass singer and one of the original members of the Jordanaires gospel/vocal quartet (formed Springfield, Missouri, late 1940s).
- Sang on the Jordanaires' Grand Ole Opry debut in 1949 alongside Bob Hubbard, Bill Matthews, and Monty Matthews.
- Left the Jordanaires in 1954 due to illness, before the group's famous run backing Elvis Presley; replaced by Hugh Jarrett in 1955.
- Wrote the gospel song "I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs," recorded by Elvis Presley on October 31, 1960 for the album "His Hand in Mine."
- Continued as a session/backing vocalist after leaving the Jordanaires, recording with Johnnie & Jack (from 1954), Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys (1958), Flatt & Scruggs (1959–1960), Moon Mullican (1959), and Jim Reeves (1960).