Larry McDonald (percussionist)

Larry McDonald is a Jamaican percussionist.[2][3] He was born in Port Maria, Jamaica in 1937. McDonald played congas with Carlos Malcolm's band, Toots and the Maytals and the Count Ossie Band. He plays a wide variety of traditional percussion instruments.[4]

Larry McDonald
Background information
Birth nameLawrence McDonald
Born (1937-06-11) 11 June 1937[1]
OriginPort Maria, Jamaica
GenresReggae, ska, rocksteady
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Percussion
Years active1964–present

Career

McDonald has over a half century history of recording and performing with a wide variety of artists,[5] such as Gil Scott-Heron,[6][7] Taj Mahal (musician),[8][9] Lee "Scratch" Perry[10] and The Skatalites.[11]

In 2009, McDonald released his first solo album[12] "Drumquestra," which features many of his former collaborators, including Sly Dunbar,[5] Uziah Thompson of Bob Marley and the Wailers and the former Count Ossie drummers known as the "Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari."[13] in an orchestra of drummers.

Drumquestra also featured former frontmen from bands Larry performed and recorded with,[5] including Toots Hibbert, Bob Andy, Mutabaruka, Stranger Cole and Dollarman. The album was recorded at a live session at Harry J Studios in Kingston Jamaica by Steel Pulse producer Sidney Mills for Malik Al Nasir's MCPR label in the UAE, who released the album in 2009. MCRP also released two singles off the album the same year, "Head Over Heels" Featuring Dollarman and Sly Dunbar and "Set The Children Free" Featuring Toots Hibbert, the latter of which was subsequently re-mixed for dance-floors by Lenny B.[14]

Shortly after the album was released, Larry was honoured[15] in July 2011, at the 14th annual 'Tributes to the Greats'[16] award ceremony in Jamaica, with a lifetime achievement award for his 50-year contribution to Jamaican music.

From 2011 through 2020, Larry McDonald has been one of the core members of Subatomic Sound System touring and recording both independently and as the band for Lee "Scratch" Perry throughout the US as well as at select performances in Europe at France's 2016 Télérama Dub Festival #14 and Hungary's 2017 Ozora Festival, the UK's 2018 Positive Vibration Festival and Dubai's 2019 Sole Dxb festival.

On Friday 22 March 2013 Larry performed at the United Nations General Assembly with Steel Pulse as part of the UNESCO's International Slavery Remembrance Day event.

Selected discography

[17]

Solo singles
Year Promo CD single Label Artist
2009 Head Over Heels (Cat No. CPLM301) MCPR Music Larry McDonald Ft. Dollarman

Collaboration singles
Year 7" single Label Artist
1972 African Home (Cat No. DHM 7240-1) Afro Larry McDonald & Bongo Herman

Remixes
  • "Set the Children Free" (various versions, 2009)

Solo albums
Year Album Label Artist
2009 Drumquestra (Cat No. CPLM301) MCPR Music Larry McDonald

Album credits

References
  1. 100dBs (10 June 2017). "Larry McDonald, the Living Legend". 100dbs.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. The Beat. Bongo Productions. 2006.
  3. Metting, Fred (January 2001). The Unbroken Circle: Tradition and Innovation in the Music of Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-3818-5.
  4. "Steel Pulse Reverberates Positivity on the Shores of the Hudson". The Gleaner. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. Coleman, Nick (31 May 2009). "Album Review: Larry McDonald, Drumquestra". The Independent. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. Baram, Marcus (11 November 2014). Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man. St. Martin's Press. p. 201–. ISBN 978-1-250-01279-1.
  7. Vibe Media Group (February 2002). "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. Vibe Media Group: 56. ISSN 1070-4701.
  8. Walker, Klive (2005). Dubwise. Insomniac Press. p. 147–. ISBN 978-1-897414-60-6.
  9. Fuse. Arton's Cultural Affairs Society and Pub. 1983.
  10. Patricia Meschino (21 September 2017). "Lee 'Scratch' Perry Reimagines His Classic Track 'Chase the Devil': Exclusive". Billboard Magazine.
  11. Cooper, Stephen (23 June 2022). "Larry McDonald: "The Skatalites are Jamaica's only [real] legacy band." (The Interview)". reggae-vibes.com. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  12. Selassie, Habte (9 April 2009). "McDonald leads the beat on 'Drumquestra'". The Gleaner. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  13. Poet, J. "Larry McDonald Finally Steals The Spotlight". Drum! Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013.
  14. Set the Children Free - Larry McDonald at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  15. Campbell, Howard (3 July 2011). "Veteran Percussionist To Be Honoured". The Gleaner. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  16. Walters, Basil (5 August 2011). "Tributes to the Greats". Jamaican Observer. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  17. Music, All (2009). "Larry McDonald Credits". allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  18. High Fidelity. ABC Leisure Magazines. 1976.
  19. "Love and War by Ezekiel". iTunes. January 2006.
  20. Walker, Klive (2005). Dubwise. Insomniac Press. p. 150–. ISBN 978-1-897414-60-6.
  21. Vladimir Bogdanov; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2002). All Music Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music. Backbeat Books. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-87930-717-2.
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