Roosevelt Holts: Sun Gonna Shine

A Rediscovered Soul of Delta and Louisiana Blues

Roosevelt Holts was a Mississippi-born bluesman whose powerful voice and guitar bridged the Delta’s acoustic traditions and Louisiana’s evolving electric sound. A cousin-in-law and protégé of the legendary Tommy Johnson, Holts brings authenticity and depth to every track.

Sun Gonna Shine gathers recordings made between 1966 and 1973 by folklorist David Evans. The result is intimate and electrifying: Holts performs solo and with collaborators, drawing from traditional blues, gospel, and the personal well of experience that shaped his music.

About the Collection

• Field recordings from across Louisiana, New Orleans and Bogalusa, from 1966 to 1973.
• Documented by David Evans, with assistance from Marc Ryan, Marina Bokelman, and Cheryl Thurber.
• Includes acoustic, electric, and spiritual performances.
• Liner notes include reflections on Holts’s life, musical legacy, and cultural context, plus rare photos from the sessions.

What’s Included in This Digital Release

• 18 audio tracks
• spanning personal repertoire, community blues, and enduring spirituals.
• View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]
• Digital booklet (PDF) featuring:
• liner notes, historical essays, and photographs from field sessions.
• Artists included on this collection:
• Roosevelt Holts with collaborators Herlin Holts (harmonica), Boogie Bill Webb (guitar), Esau Youngblood (vocals).
• Downloads are delivered as MP3 by default. Lossless formats (WAV, AIFF, FLAC) are available upon request—please email us after purchase for access.

Why It Matters

Roosevelt Holts remained one of the most authentic, overlooked voices of the blues. Sun Gonna Shine brings his music to the digital age—preserving the raw emotional power of a hidden legend whose story and music deserve recognition.

Roosevelt Holts: Sun Gonna Shine, brings forward an overlooked bluesman whose artistry was largely hidden until folklorist David Evans recorded him in the 1960s–70s. As SundayBlues.org notes, Holts was “a country bluesman of considerable skill, caught up in the blues boom of the 1960s.” Smithsonian Folkways describes his recordings as “a neglected but vital blues voice from Louisiana.” Long overlooked, Holts’ music is now available digitally for the first time.