Malcolm Holcombe

Born and raised in Weaverville, North Carolina, Malcolm Holcombe established himself as a respected singer and songwriter in the insurgent country-folk tradition. His debut record, the 1996 album A Hundred Lies, highlighted his atmospheric verse, country blues guitar lines, and rumbling baritone, drawing favorable coverage from USA Today, Rolling Stone’s David Fricke, and others while inviting comparisons to John Prine and Tom Waits. Originally recorded for Geffen, the project later appeared on Hip-O. Additional print acclaim came from Nashville figures such as Lucinda Williams. Holcombe also performed in a duo alongside Durham, North Carolina native Valorie Miller; together they toured nationally with Shelby Lynne and served as openers for Merle Haggard and Wilco. Following a cancer diagnosis, he died of respiratory failure on March 9, 2024, at the age of 68.