Jeff Holdsworth
Encyclopedia
Jeff Holdsworth was a founding member of the rock band Phish
. He was their first leader, singing lead vocals and playing guitar
. He co-founded the band in the fall of 1983 with Trey Anastasio
while living in the Redstone campus dormitories of the University of Vermont. His songs "Possum" and "Camel Walk" continued on with the band to become Phish live show favorites.
Holdsworth graduated with a BSEE from the University of Vermont
in May 1986, and left the band to pursue a career in electrical engineering. After a transformative journey to Alaska in the summer of 1986, Holdsworth settled in the Philadelphia, PA area and decided to pursue purely acoustic music within a spiritual context. He became a born-again Christian
and completely disappeared from the music world, unlike the band he co-founded (which became overwhelmingly successful and well-known).
On December 1, 2003, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany
, New York
, one night before the band's 20th Anniversary concert, Holdsworth appeared onstage with Phish for the first time in 17 years, performing several of his originals and a few covers.
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
. He was their first leader, singing lead vocals and playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. He co-founded the band in the fall of 1983 with Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
while living in the Redstone campus dormitories of the University of Vermont. His songs "Possum" and "Camel Walk" continued on with the band to become Phish live show favorites.
Holdsworth graduated with a BSEE from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
in May 1986, and left the band to pursue a career in electrical engineering. After a transformative journey to Alaska in the summer of 1986, Holdsworth settled in the Philadelphia, PA area and decided to pursue purely acoustic music within a spiritual context. He became a born-again Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and completely disappeared from the music world, unlike the band he co-founded (which became overwhelmingly successful and well-known).
On December 1, 2003, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, one night before the band's 20th Anniversary concert, Holdsworth appeared onstage with Phish for the first time in 17 years, performing several of his originals and a few covers.