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Its Not Over The Mary Holt Story

By Tommy Roeck & Jamie Burrell Pics by Sharon Brown

If youre out on the town hanging out with the crew & checking out thelocal music scene you have probably met Mary Holt. She was probably thewoman on the dance floor showing everyone how to shake their tailfeathers, or the short, well endowed blonde chic sitting in with the bandrocking the house. Music is her "Heart & Soul". she lives, eats, & breathes

music. Holt moved to Little Rock about 12 years ago after she lost herhusband, Phillip Lawson to a car accident in Batesville. She was pregnantwith their first child at the time of his demise. Colton Arlene Lawson was

born 2 weeks after on January 14, 1999.

For the first time in her life, she was alone and a single mother of three.She was left alone, with only one means of making a living, and that waswrestling. Being she was one of the original Central Arkansas FemaleWrestlers. She & Phillip had been involved with the Walnut RidgeArkansas Wrestling Team for almost six years. She was teamed up withHer late husbands brother, Mr. Bad Dog, and were the tag team

champions in the late 90s, as The K-9s.

She lost her children a year and a half later due to a chemicalimbalance that triggered a nervous break down that stemmed from the lossof her husband. Holt stated; I was living in refrigerator boxes and eatingout at Burger Kings, Shipley Donuts & Captain Ds. I was working atCaptian D's as a cashier making less than $300 every 2 weeks. It was justenough to rent a one room kitchenette which kept me off the streets for atleast one night a week. After almost 6 months of being homeless andliving like this In Conway, she knew she deserved better, so she threw whatclothes she had into a trash bag and headed out of town on foot. Holt

promised herself that no matter what, she would get it all back together, getto her kids, and reach for the stars.

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She landed a job at a local North Little Rock hot spot called L.A. CityLimits as a waitress with the help of her aunt Peggy. She started meetingand hanging out with local bands such as Third Degree, The Gettys,Mudd, Mr. Happy, Judge Parker & The Original L.A Guns with PaulBlack & Tracy Guns. Then she realized that through music she could reachout to her children and make them proud. Holt started sitting in with localbands & singing karaoke at a local joint on the Arkansas River calledGators.

Holt was on stage every chance she got with local live bands and whenshe wasnt, she was singing karaoke. She felt that being in the spotlight,maybe one night, just maybe, one of her children might be in the crowdand they would see her. One night she met a man known as Alan TheLimo Guy. He heard her singing a Stevie Nicks song called StopDragging My Heart Around" with her duet partner DJ Mike a.k.a. Mike RoyLiegel, radio celebrity & drummer for Austin 305 and they were justrockin the house!

Alan then became her personal manager, and landed her a gig as thefemale singer for one of Arkansas' top blues band's N.T.O. (Never Too

Old Too Rock Your Soul). Mary & Joe Marks were known as Samson &Delia, and could really work the stage. One night while singing Karaoke atBoogies in the North Little Rock Holiday Inn managed by Wayne Willems,who later founded Arkansas Internet Radio and became her lead guitarist inher current group Midnight Blue. While sitting and having a beer,laughing & having a good time with her new Family, the gang in The LocalLittle Rock Music Scene. she met a local radio executive who was therelooking for female vocalists to go on stage at the River Front Amphitheaterand sing with none other than Brett Michaels and Poison. He was alsolooking for a nice, reasonable limousine to take Poison and theirentourage to the radio interview and where ever else they needed to go.

Willems had told the exec about Marys manger and his limo service. Ameeting was then set up at the local 50s bar Bobby Socks.

The contract was signed & the deal was made, and Holt was bubblingwith excitement as she would be singing in front of over 8,000+ people withPoison. On the Bill that night with Poison was Little Rocks own ThirdDegree, and Vince Neil. Standing on the side of that stage waiting forPoison to play, she was not thinking of them all as famous rock stars, she

just wanted the chance to Rock the House. She then realized that musicwas where she felt most secure, and from then on she was all about themusic. It was her life. It was one of the most exciting and fulfilling times of

the unstoppable Mary Holts career, and she is thankful to all who wereinvolved and will never forget hanging out backstage with the PoisonCrew, all the bands, and that magical day with the Arkansas river flowingbehind them.

But soon after that incredible night, her dreams were threatened onceagain. Mary found out she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in herlungs, spreading to her lymph nodes. Holt did not have a normal job w/medical benefits or the means, and without treatment, she had less than a40% chance of survival.

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Being hard headed and strong willed, she pushed herself and kept ongoing even when she had to have a cancerous cyst removed from herthroat! she did her best to show up to most of the local shows, andsupport for her local musician family. She said; they were helping mehave the will to keep on fighting, I went on knowing that somehowsomething would happen to show me the way to get the treatment Ineeded, even though my doctor told me I would be lucky to make it sixmore months, I told myself I was not going to give up without a fight. Onenight at Counter Point, she sat in with Third Degree Holt said; I knew my

throat was sore as hell & the doctor told me not to sing until I was fullyrecovered, or I would stand a chance of messing up my vocals for good. Idecided not even cancer was going to stop me from having that magical,content feeling again. And I sang my Heart out, and performed one of myfavorite songs By Melissa Etheridge , Im the Only One.

The next Morning she woke up to a man at her mothers door. She didntknow this man personally, but he told her that he had heard about hersituation and he was there to help. This caring man who Mary had nevermet before told her he was taking her to Tulsa, Oklahoma - CancerTreatment Centers of America, and paying for it in full for whatever

treatment she needed with no strings attached! He sat and waited on herfor many countless hours, like her own personal guardian angel. Once shecompleted the treatment and they were headed home, she asked him whyhe did this for her?

The man turned and looked at her with a tear in his eye and said; Ididnt just do it for you, I also did it for my Jennifer. My daughter use to goto Gators Bar & Grill all the time and other Karaoke hot spots in LittleRock, just so she could hang out and listen to you sing all her favoritesongs. (later Mary found out Jennifer was one of her biggest fans) Shemet her about a year before when Holt was singing with NTO on the

back deck of Gators. The songstress had noticed from across the roomthat the girl was crying and went to check on her. The girl then told her thatshe had inoperable cancer and not much more time left on this earth.

Mary told Jennifer a little bit about her own past, and why no matterwhat, at the end of her day, before she goes to sleep, she says to herself,Its not over! and she tries to live every moment she has left to the fullest,and would help her do the same. Holt also explained why she had such adesire to sing, and be around anything to do with music. After that nighthe said Jennifer, no matter how bad she felt, would go out everyThursday, Friday, and Saturday that she possibly could, so she could hang

out and hear Mary sing. Holt worked with her and taught her how to sing acouple of songs that had a lot of meaning to her. Gators closed, andJennifers father had been trying to catch up with Mary for around 2months. The reason he paid for the treatment is because it was thelast promise he made to Jennifer before she passed away two monthsbefore, and he would do whatever he had to, to ensure her favorite singerssurvival. She also said; tell Mary, its not over!

Mary Holt is still here, through the grace of God, sheer determination,and a special, giving man, she strives to perform, promote, support, andlive the magical, musical dream. Selflessly giving of herself, for her friends,

fans, and people in need. With the unconditional love of her husbandRussell Holt, who supports her 200%.

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She has been to countless shows and has booked many local bands.She founded The Wild Hearts (Female - Biker Women Social Club). Theyrode their motorcycles for battered women & children. She also owns herown Karaoke Company called Soft tail Karaoke. She works for Little RockEntertainment Agency & Arkansas Internet Radio as the assistant bookingagent. And recently she formed a new Variety Dance / Classic Rock Bandcalled Midnight Blue with herself on vocals, Wayne Willems on leadguitar, Alfred Dugas on rythmn guitar, Carl Abble on bass, John Roach onDrums, and Robert Stindler on Keyboards.

Mary Holt says; It rocks! , we are playing all styles of music, Includingtop 40 dance.Im still going strong and doing what I love to do.So whenyou see me out at an event or in a nightclub, stop and say hello, I havenever met a stranger, and when things get bad & life gets you down, go outand catch a local show & Rock Out!! And remember, dont ever give up onyour dreams because, Its not over!

After wiping away the tears, this reporter has found a new respect for thisincredible woman of music. She is my friend whom I love and respect dearly,and I fondly call her sister. She is truly an angel, and wields the magic with

style, grace, heart and soul. She respects everyone no matter who they are andwill try to help anyone in need. Knowing her and jamming with her is an honorand a privilege. You may contact her at www.Littlerockentertainment.com or onFaceBook.

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