Legend has it Holden wrote the tune after watching a stray tomcat navigate the alley between a brothel and a church. The cat would strut—shoulders (do cats have shoulders?) back, tail high—ignoring the rain, the rumble of the train, and the preacher’s warning. That’s the energy here: survival as an art form.
Holden’s "strut" involved a driving, percussive left-hand bass note on beats one and three, paired with a rich chord on beats two and four. His right hand would then "strut" across the upper registers, improvising syncopated, cat-like blues licks that mimicked the slinky, unpredictable movements of an alley cat. It was music designed for dancing—specifically the fast-paced, improvisational dances favored by the patrons of Seattle's underground nightlife. 2. The Cultural Landscape: The Jackson Street Speakeasies
So, what exactly is a "strutsong, and specifically, what makes the unique? alley cat strut oscar holden
: Henry and Keiko first hear Holden perform the song at a jazz club. Keiko later buys a 78 rpm record of it titled Oscar Holden & the Midnight Blue: The Alley Cat Strut .
The Hidden Groove of Seattle: Oscar Holden and the "Alley Cat Strut" If you’ve ever walked past the Panama Hotel Legend has it Holden wrote the tune after
Through stories from his granddaughter, Linda Holden Givens , and artistic reinterpretations of his life, the legacy of Oscar Holden remains a vibrant part of Seattle’s cultural heritage, reminding us of the profound impact of local artists in defining the soundtrack of a city's history. If you are interested in Seattle's jazz history, I can: Find more information about the Jackson Street clubs.
Holden was a titan of the Seattle jazz scene in the mid-20th century. While the song itself was written by Danish composer Bent Fabric, it was artists like Holden who took the melody and gave it the grit and stride it needed to truly swing. you've got to strut. So
For the longest time, was lost to the public. But thanks to the internet archive and boutique jazz reissue labels like Frog Records and Jazz Oracle , you can now find the track on streaming services.
Listen specifically for the 1932 "home recording" acetate. The fidelity is rough—you will hear plates rattling in the background and a waiter coughing—but that is the magic. You are not just hearing a song; you are being transported to a smoky Seattle alleyway in the middle of the Great Depression. You are hearing a man prove that even in hard times, you've got to strut.
So, the next time you are walking down a dark street at midnight, put on Keep your shoulders back. Pick up your feet. And walk with the confidence of a tomcat who owns every brick on the block. That is the Oscar Holden way.
. While it does not exist as a historical record from the 1940s, it has been brought to life through modern musical projects. The Fictional Legend