Larry McCray

Larry McCray (born April 5, 1960), is an American blues guitarist and singer from Magnolia, Arkansas.[1]

Larry McCray
McCray at the 2011 Monterey Blues Festival
McCray at the 2011 Monterey Blues Festival
Background information
Birth nameLarry McCray
Born (1960-04-05) April 5, 1960
Magnolia, Arkansas, United States
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1980s–present
LabelsPoint Blank, Virgin, Atomic Theory, House of Blues, Magnolia, DixieFrog,[1] Charisma, Bear Family,[2] Keeping the Blues Alive
Websitewww.larrymccray.club
Larry McCray (2012) in Aarhus, Denmark

Early life

McCray, the second youngest of nine siblings, grew up living on a farm.[3] McCray learned guitar from his sister, Clara.[1] "She used to play real low-down and dirty", McCray recalled years later.[4] His family moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1972.[4] McCray took his influence from his sibling and the three Kings (B.B., Freddie and Albert), to playing the local club circuit, with his brothers Carl on bass guitar and Steve on drums.[1]

Music career

After high school, McCray worked at General Motors on the assembly line, before recording his debut album, Ambition (1991), via Point Blank Records. It was recorded in a friend's basement recording studio in Detroit. He was soon touring with a fellow record label artist, Albert Collins.[1] His 1993 follow-up, Delta Hurricane, was produced by the veteran British blues devotee, Mike Vernon.[1]

In 1999, McCray recorded a cover version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" for the tribute album, Tangled Up in Blues. In 2000, McCray founded his own independent record label, Magnolia Records, and Believe It was its first release.[3] The same year, McCray played alongside Jimmy Thackery, as guest guitarists on Sista Monica Parker's album, People Love the Blues.[5] Magnolia released McCray's first live album, Live on Interstate 75, in mid-2006. This was followed with Larry McCray, in 2007.

His 2015 tour commenced at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas on October 11, where McCray was honored with the "Sunshine" Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence.[6]

Personal life

McCray has one son, Bleau McCray-Morel, with Kelly Morel.

Discography
  • Ambition (1990)
  • Delta Hurricane (1993)
  • Meet Me at the Lake with the Bluegills (1996)
  • Born to Play the Blues (1998)
  • Believe It (2000)
  • Blues is My Business (2001)
  • Live on Interstate 75 (2006)
  • Larry McCray (2007)
  • The Gibson Sessions (2015)[7][8]
  • Blues Without You (2022)[9]

References
  1. Bill Dahl (1960-04-05). "Larry McCray | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. "Larry McCray - Live On Interstate 75". Bearfamily.com. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. Archived March 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 141–142. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  5. Richard Skelly. "Sista Monica Parker | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  6. "The Official Website for Larry McCray". Larrymccray.club. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  7. "Larry McCray | Discography". AllMusic. 1960-04-05. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  8. "Bluesman Larry McCray gives his rock favorites a ride on new album". Themorningsun.com. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  9. "LARRY MCCRAY – BLUES WITHOUT YOU (KTBA RECORDS)". Velvet Thunder. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
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