New song written in honor of Bishop Hill
When singer-songwriter Dan Holmes heard the historic state-owned properties in his hometown of Bishop Hill had fallen into disrepair, he knew he needed to do something.
“So, like I usually do when moved, I wrote,” Holmes said in a Friday news release. The finished product ended up being a song titled “Hometown,” which is partly a history lesson of the colony and partly an autobiographical account of a childhood spent in Bishop Hill and insight gained through a life of travel.
Holmes makes a nod to the long neglected historical landmarks owned by the state, in hopes that “it might help the cause,” he said. The Bishop Hill Colony Church was recently added to Landmarks Illinois’ Most Endangered Historic Places List.
Holmes began playing guitar at age 10, learning by listening to James Taylor, Paul Simon, Jim Croce and John Denver records.
His music career later began to grow while attending Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. For a time, Holmes moved to the East Coast and experienced some success there, once opening for Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger.
When his father was diagnosed with cancer, he moved home and put music on hold for a time, while he began a career in education. Years later, Holmes began performing again, including four tours of Europe, performing at the Illinois State Fair and the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk To Cure Breast Cancer, and writing music for the Appalachia Service Project.
He calls himself an “old school singer/songwriter” who loves creating music about the presence of God in our world. He lives in Belvidere, Illinois with his wife.
A recording of “Hometown” can be heard HERE.
Those interested in helping the cause are encouraged to voice their concerns to Governor Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and their state legislators.
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