Young-Holt Unlimited was a jazz and soul instrumental group formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1966. Founded by former Ramsey Lewis Trio members Isaac ‘Redd’ Holt (born May 16, 1932, in Rosedale, Mississippi) on drums and Eldee Young (born January 7, 1936, in Chicago) on bass, they brought in pianist Don Walker and called themselves the Young-Holt Trio. After one album, Wack Wack, and a hit single of the same name, Young and Holt replaced Walker with pianist Ken Chaney (and later, Bobby Lyle) and renamed themselves Young-Holt Unlimited. After releasing several unsuccessful singles and albums, the group finally scored a hit in 1968 with “Soulful Strut.” The song, which was the instrumental backing track to Barbara Acklin’s “Am I the Same Girl,” sold a million copies and reached Number 3 on Billboards Hot 100 Singles chart. Young-Holt Unlimited continued to release singles and albums – including Just a Melody (1969), Mellow Dreamin’ (1970), Born Again (1971), Plays Super Fly (1973), and Oh Girl (1973) – but were never able to recapture the success of “Soulful Strut” and the group split in 1974. Eldee Young died on February 12, 2007, at the age of 71.
