[1][2] A native of Oklahoma, Holley dropped out of college in Florida at the age of 19, and a year later took his new wife to New York City (NYC) in the worst days of the Depression.
[8][9][10][11] Through the mid 1940s the studio, employing several artists, and operating with the logo IM-HO, produced art for more than 200 sheet music covers; many of the tunes were popular patriotic WWII songs.
In 1954, Holley joined the New York branch of the McCarty Co. and was a Vice President there until 1959[14] at which time he established the Holley-Thomas Advertising Co.[4][13] The latter operated in NYC until 1971 when it moved to Williston Park, NY.
[13] Following his infatuation with automobiles, second only to that for jazz, Holley's notable accounts included British Motor Corporation (MG, Austin-Healey, and Morris Minor) and Lucas Automotive.
[8] To save up for his NYC venture, during summer months and while he was courting his sweetheart, he moved from one tiny south Georgia town to another creating one-of-a kind movie advertising posters for local theaters.