Jools Holland (1958- ) is the pianist/singer-songwriter best known for hosting the famed music showcase Later… with Jools Holland since 1992.

Holland, originally a session musician, first gained prominence as the original keyboard player for Squeeze from 1974 until his departure in 1981 to pursue his solo career.

By 1982, Holland, along with rock journalist Paula Yates was hosting Channel 4’s alternative music programme, The Tube. They presented the show for nearly five years, introducing Britain to a host of contemporary pop, rock and reggae acts until Jools, in an unfortunate slip of the tongue, used the phrase “be there or be ungroovy fuckers” during a live promo for an upcoming episode. The ensuing public uproar for this, the last of many such incidents, caused Holland’s suspension and the resignation of the show’s producer, effectively ending the program in 1987. In response, Holland created a sitcom, The Groovy Fellers, which ran for one series in 1989.

In 1985, Holland rejoined Squeeze and remained with them for another five years. In 1987, he formed a big band who, by 1994, had turned into the still-active Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. In 1988, Holland returned to television (this time in America) to host Lorne Michaels' short-lived Sunday Night (later renamed Michelob Presents: Night Music).

In 1992, Holland became the host (and namesake) of BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland. Later became a cultural institution in Britain, famous for its eclectic mix of upcoming artists, established legends and long-time mainstay songwriters of mixed genres. Since 1993, he’s also hosted Jools' Annual Hootenanny each New Year’s Eve.

Holland continues to perform with his big band and releases solo records on a regular basis (most recently, Jools & Ruby, a duet album with Ruby Turner. He’s also hosted a weekly radio programme on BBC Radio 2 since 2007.

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