Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher, and activist. An immense vocal talent, Near's career as a singer has been defined by an unwillingness to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity. She is a skilled performer and an outspoken ambassador for peace who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, spiritual discovery, and theatricality.

Although she sang in public from the age of eight, Ms. Near's professional career began with numerous performances in film and television, and a run in the Broadway production of Hair. Torn between a career as an actor or a singer, Ms. Near chose to pursue her love of music, especially that music which articulated the social conditions of the world community.

Some of her work includes:

One of the "1000 Women for Peace" nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005

Presented at the National Women's History Project's 2003 conference at Smith College

Spoke to workers at Intel's Albuquerque, NM facility about tolerance and diversity

Delivered the prestigious Ware Lecture for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in 2005

In 1972, Holly Near was one of the first women to create an independent record company. Although unusual then, many artists now follow that path of independence. Near's vision was to promote and produce music by politically conscious artists from around the world-a mission that Redwood Records fulfilled for nearly 20 years.

A prolific writer and recording artist, Near has released 26 recordings of her own, including the seminal Imagine My Surprise, and performs as a guest on many others. In the past few years, Near has been busy re-releasing much of her early material. She continues to write and sing political songs with grace and humor, and her integrity earns her the reputation as one of the most articulate social change artists working today, with a power and maturity that may only come from decades of love and fear, despair, and inspiration.