1949
1949Holly born into a family that encourages creativity.
1955
1955Having made friends with Native American children at grammar school, begins to witness racism for the first time.
1958
1958Sings in a talent contest in Ukiah, at a Veterans of Foreign Wars talent competition.
1959
1959Sings at Talmage Mental Hospital - an experience that shapes young Holly's consciousness of mental illness, as well as how many of the programs in mental hospitals and prisons are under-funded
1961
1961While at the Perry-Mansfield music camp in Colorado works with nationally acknowledged dance, theater and music teachers
1964
1964Starts high school in Ukiah, California. Joins a student committee dedicated to changing the dress code.
1965
1965Near family gets a TV. News footage of the civil rights movement very influential on young Holly.
1965-2
1965Sings with a high school folk group called The Freedom Singers, unaware of the original Freedom Singers in the Civil Rights Movement.
1966
1966Protests the military recruiters on campus at Ukiah High School
1967
1967Wins Bank of America Achievement Award in the field of Fine Arts
1967-2
1967Starts school at UCLA. Auditions for theater arts program singing Pirate Jenny from Three Penny Opera
1968
1968Plays lead in Guys and Dolls at UCLA, gets laryngitis, discovers she has nodules on vocal chords
1968-2
1968Goes into several weeks of silence to heal vocal chords, works with a voice teacher in Philadelphia who suggests Holly study to be an opera singer. Holly declines.
1968-3
1968Back in LA, Holly works with Another Mother For Peace in Beverly Hills, along side her sister, Timothy Near.
1968-4
1968Holly and Timothy sing in a few prisons. Very challenging.
1968-5
1968Gets job in her first film, Angel, Angel Down We Go
1969
1969Lives in Venice, California. Continues working in film and TV - Partridge Family, Mod Squad. Tries to balance Hollywood life and racial strife in Venice.
1970
Lands spot in Broadway cast of Hair. Cast does silent vigil in response to Kent State massacre.
1970-2
1970Returns to California to do a film, The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart. Holly tells a friend, "Women's lib is OK for women who need it." Lives long enough to laugh at that remark.
1971
1971Attends a meeting with her sister Timothy, put on by Hollywood people who want to oppose the war – EIPJ – Entertainment Industry for Peace and Justice.
1971-2
1971Auditions for Free the Army; cast includes Michael Alaimo
1971-3
1971Touring in Pacific with FTA inspires her to write over a dozen songs, many of which will be on her first solo recording, Hang In There
1972
1972Works as receptionist for Pentagon Papers trial.
1972-2
1972Is approached by Tom Hayden to participate in the Indochina Peace Campaign and becomes a founding member
1972-3
1972Writes her first feminist song, It's More Important To Me
1972-4
1972Lands role in the film, Slaughterhouse Five
1973
1973Starts Redwood Records to support the release of first album, Hang In There
1974
1974Tours US with Jeff Langley, singing at union halls, churches, prisons, and universities.
1974-2
1974Releases A Live Album, dedicated to Ronnie Gilbert. Goes to Vietnam with Jeff as guest of Vietnamese Musicians Union.
1975
1975Sings in Building Women show in L.A. with Lily Tomlin, Meg Christian, Cris Williamson, Margie Adam, and the Alice Stone's Ladies Society Orchestra.
1975-2
1975Does support work with United Farm Workers
1976
1976Records the album, You Can Know All I Am
1976-2
1976Participates in the "Women on Wheels" tour of California. Sister, Timothy, signs songs at concerts, introducing American Sign Language for the first time to many hearing audiences and instrumental in developing access for hearing-impaired
1976-3
1976Comes out publicly as a lesbian at 1st Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.
1976-4
1976Begins working with American Sign Language interpreter, Susan Freundlich
1976-5
1976Writes Fight Back for feminist anti-violence demonstration in L.A.
1977
1977Takes a women's peace delegation to Hiroshima that includes Bernice Reagon and Amy Horowitz
1978
1978Writes Singing for Our Lives for Harvey Milk memorial.
1979
1979Plans 26-city tour for a Nuclear Free Future - then hears news of Three Mile Island disaster
1979-2
1979Sings at National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights
1979-3
1979Redwood releases Sweet Honey in the Rock's B'lieve I'll Run On... a first coalition effort
1979-4
1979Receives Bay Area Music Award (Bammie) 1979 Best Independent Label Album, Imagine My Surprise. An unusual achievement, this being an out lesbian recording.
1980
1980Sings with Ronnie Gilbert (of The Weavers) for the first time, as seen in the film Wasn't That A Time!
1981
1981Speaks on art and politics at National Mobilization for Survival Conference
1981-2
1981Goes on tour to save Womens' Studies programs
1981-3
1981People magazine runs a story on Holly and she becomes, perhaps, the first out lesbian to be interviewed in a popular "supermarket" magazine
1981-4
1981Releases Fire in the Rain
1982
1982Sings at huge June 12th anti-nuke rally, 1 million people gather in Central Park
1982-2
1982Creates and performs a show with her sisters called "The Near Sisters" bringing theatre and dance back into Holly's work
1982-3
1982Does 50-city tour: "Be Disarming-Challenge the Nuclear Mentality." Sings to 200,000 at Artists for Disarmament rally in W. Germany.
1982-4
1982Sixth album released, Speed of Light
1983
1983Sings in Brussels for International Women's Day
1983-2
1983National tour and live album Lifeline with Ronnie Gilbert
1983-3
1983Forms Redwood Records Cultural and Educational Fund
1983-4
1983Receives Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution honoring Holly Near. Receives City and County of San Francisco Certificates of Honor
1983-5
1983"Journeys Down Under" tour in late '83, organized by Margret RoadKnight's Honky Tonk Angels for concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide in Australia
1983-6
1983During that tour Holly also arranged and recorded back up vocals for Judy Small on her recording of the song, Bridget Evans
1984
1984Does National "Defeat Reagan Tour" with Ronnie Gilbert
1984-2
1984Releases ninth album Watch Out with John McCutcheon and Trapezoid.
1984-3
1984Goes on national tour and records live album Sing to Me The Dream with Inti Illimani
1984-4
1984Tours with Arlo, Ronnie and Pete; releases live album HARP
1984-5
1984Receives NAIRD (National Association of Independent Recording Distributors) Indie Award for Lifeline, the album with Ronnie Gilbert
1984-6
1984Receives LACAAW (Los Angeles Commission on Assults Against Women) Humanitarian Award
1984-7
1984Presented with the Key to the City of Fresno
1984-8
1984Receives the 1984 Cable Car Award: Outstanding achievement by a recording artist, Holly Near's Journeys
1984-9
1984Peace Music Festival in Ecuador with Pete Seeger, Leon Gieco, Holly Near, Inti Illimani, Silvio Rodriguez, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Grupo Raiz, and many others
1985
1985Nominated Ms. Magazine 1985 Woman of the Year "For fulfilling and expanding our ideals of excellence"
1985-2
1985MCs and sings at first annual Redwood Records Festival.
1986
1986Performs for Margaret Randall Defense Fund
1986-2
1986Sings at a benefit for the Sanctuary Movement with Jackson Browne and Mandy Patinkin in Washington, DC
1986-3
1986Named The Women's Foundation "Woman of Note" for her outstanding Achievements in Music
1986-4
1986Receives City and County of San Francisco Certificates of Honor
1986-5
1986Releases Singing With You album with Ronnie Gilbert
1987
1987Receives Sixth Annual Woman's Building Vesta Award
1987-2
1987Presented with the Lesbian Rights Award by the Southern California Women For Understanding.
1987-3
1987Presented with the California Senate Lesbian Rights Award
1987-4
1987Receives National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights Award of Distinction
1988
1988Wins 1988 Cable Car Award, Outstanding Recording Artist for Don’t Hold Back
1989
1989Receives Indie Award in the category of Women’s Music for “SkyDances”
1989-2
1989July 7, 1989 declared Holly Near day by Art Agnos, Mayor of San Francisco
1989-3
1989Receives World College West honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
1990
1990Releases Singer In The Storm
1991
1991Receives “Hot Wire” Readers’ Choice Award for outstanding contributions to Women’s Music and Culture
1993
1993Presented with the Unity Award by the The National Conference Fairfield Region
1993-2
1993Performs her one woman show, Fire in The Rain at the San Jose Rep, Mark Taper Forum in LA, and then off-Broadway in New York, at the Union Square Theatre
1993-3
1993NAIRD (National Association of Independent Recording Distributors) Award 1993 Honorable Mention to Redwood Records for Musical Highlights from the play Fire in the Rain by Holly Near in the category of Soundtrack/Cast Recording
1993-4
1993Receives Bay Area Theater Critics Circle, Outstanding Achievement Award 1993, for Fire in the Rain, Singer in the Storm
1994
1994American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California ACLU celebrates Freedom of Information and honors Holly Near for the tremendous commitment shown toward fighting for equality and justice for others
1994-2
1994Receives Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW) 1994 Humanitarian Award
1996
1996Awarded Gala Choruses 1996 Legacy Award, in recognition of unique contributions to the Lesbian and Gay Choral Movement
1996-2
1996Releases This Train Still Runs with Ronnie Gilbert
1997
1997NARAS Governor’s Award to Redwood Records 1997 for outstanding contributions to the cultural fabric of the community. "Their vision and struggle to create a better world has enriched all our lives."
1997-2
1997Releases With A Song In My Heart
1999
1999Awarded Ukiah High School Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Class of 1967.
2000
2000Receives The Legends of Women's Music Award (Lesbians of Achievement, Vision, and Action)
2000-2
2000Releases Simply Love: The Women's Music Collection
2000-3
2000Releases Edge
2001
2001Awarded the Women in the Arts, Inc Jeanine C Rae Culture Award For the Advancement of Women's Culture
2001-2
2001Releases Early Warnings and HARP: A Time to Sing
2002
2002Participates in Women of Voice and Vision, Scripps College, celebrating their 75th Anniversary
2002-2
2002Releases And Still We Sing: The Outspoken Collection
2002-3
2002Releases Crushed: The Love Song Collection
2002-4
2002Releases Lifeline Extended
2003
2003Releases Cris & Holly with Cris Williamson
2003-2
2003Participates in Vagina Monologues gala event in Florida
2003-3
2003Presents at the National Women’s History Project’s conference at Smith College
2003-4
2003Participates in "The Ohio Conversation," a discussion of political song and responsible citizenship with Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Harry Belafonte, and Pete Seeger
2004
2004Releases Show Up
2004-2
2004In 2004, Holly joined Eve Ensler in the Mexican city of Juarez to march against the uninvestigated killing of hundreds of young women. In Toledo (Ohio), she sat as a witness to the testimony of women reporting rape and other violence against women. Holly helped raise funds for 10,000 Kites, a collaborative anti-war project between young people from Israel and Palestine who, in the spring of 2005, flew kites over the wall that separated them.
2004-3
2004Sits witness to the testimony of women reporting rape and other violence against women in Toledo, OH
2005
2005Nominated as one of the "1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005" - congratulated by City Council of Oakland
2005-2
2005Speaks to employees at Intel’s Albuquerque, NM facility about tolerance and diversity
2005-3
2005Delivers the prestigious Ware Lecture for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly
2006
2006Participates in Legends of Women's Music-part of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, with Teresa Trull, Barbara Higbie, Nedra Johnson, and MC Vickie Shaw.
2006-4
2006In 2006, and once again in 2007, Holly was among thousands of protesters in Columbus (Georgia) to demand the closure of the infamous School of the Americas, where military police from around the Americas are trained in the methods -- include repression and torture -- used to undermine democracy around the region.
2007
2007Presented with the Key to the City of Chico, California
2007-4
2007Holly Near will also participate in the 100th-year commemoration of the massacre of Santa Maria de Iquique, where some 3,000 striking miners and their families were killed by government troops in the Chilean port city of Iquique. In 1907, workers from northern desert nitrate mines went on strike against deplorable working conditions. Local government authorities sent troops to confront strikers occupying the Santa Maria School, opening fire against the unarmed crowd. This horrific event, which took place on December 21, is now viewed as the catalyst that eventually forced the Chilean government to improve labor laws and social programs. In memory of this event, renowned Chilean composer Luis Advis wrote the Cantata Santa Maria de Iquique, first performed in 1970 by Quilapayún. On December 21, 2007, Quilapayún will perform at the final concert of the 100th year anniversary and has invited Holly to join them on stage. She has signed on in support of the 100th anniversary events along with hundreds of other social change artists and international activists.
2007-2
2007On December 9, Holly joined human rights activists and relatives of the detenidos-desaparecidos at the Parque por la Paz - better known as Villa Grimaldi -- for the closing ceremony of a year-long initiative to honor and remember the women "disappeared" by the Pinochet dictatorship. Some 4,500 people were imprisoned in the Villa Grimaldi detention center between 1973 and 1978; most were tortured and 226 are among the desaparecidos who have never been seen again.
2007-3
2007Holly Near reunited with Inti Illimani in Chile on December 7 for a concert at the Lo Blanco stadium in the El Bosque sector of southern Santiago. The concert was organized by the EPES (Educación Popular en Salud) Foundation, a not-for-profit group working for community health and social justice. The concert, which marks the celebration of EPES 25th anniversary, was also a tribute to Holly's three decades of international solidarity. Sponsored by the Casa de Cultura (Cultural Center) and Mayor's office of El Bosque, the concert gathered 1,500 people to join with Holly and Inti Illimani in this celebration of song and solidarity. The concert featured the re-launching of the CD Holly recorded with Inti Illimani in 1984.
2008
2008Re-releases Sing To Me The Dream
2008-2
2008Meets with Mohawk and European-American women to invite spiritual healing
2008-3
2008January 12, 2008: School of the Americas protest at Los Angeles State Historic Park with Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Martin Sheen, and many other activists
2008-4
2008March 11: Spoke at Sonoma State at the class room of Don Romesburg on subject of gender
2009
2009Releases We Came To Sing with Emma's Revolution
2010
2010Sings at 35th Anniversary of The Michigan Womyns Music Festival
2010-2
2010In Chile for 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb 27