Holger W. Wollert, aka “Mr. H” and “Baron of the Blues”
1945 – 2023
Musician
Holger W. Wollert, born in Plau-Mecklenburg, East Germany, was the son of Waldemar and Irene Wollert and the brother to Petra Gierut (nee Wollert). He later migrated to the United States where he established roots in Chicago and served over 30 years with the Chicago Transit Authority before retiring to Mountain Home, Arkansas. Known to many as “Mr. H” on the Chicago blues scene, Holger was a gifted musician, singer and harmonica player also known as the “Baron of the Blues” on Maxwell Street, where he played since the 1960s and often brought other musicians there. He became a regular on the makeshift blues stage in front of the Johnny Dollar storefront at 733-37 W. Maxwell in the 1990s, and when the market was closed at its historic site in 1994, he participated heavily through his music at most all of the blues jams performed on the street through the razing of the area. He coordinated a “Maxwell Street Blues Fest” as part of his passion to preserve blues music on Maxwell Street, and in 2003, was featured in Martin Scorsese’s documentary series, “The Blues”.