Larry McCray

Larry McCray

Larry McCray performing at the 2011 Monterey Blues Festival.
Photo by Mike Shea/Tritone Photography
Background information
Birth name Larry McCray
Born April 5, 1960
Magnolia, Arkansas, United States
Genres Blues
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1980s-present
Labels Point Blank, Atomic Theory, House of Blues, Magnolia, Dixiefrog[1]
Website www.larrymccrayband.com

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

Biography

McCray, the second youngest of nine siblings, grew up living on a farm.[2] McCray learned guitar from his sister, Clara.[1] "She used to play real low-down and dirty", McCray recalled years later.[3] His family moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1972,[3] and McCray took the influence of his sibling, and such as 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]

After high school, McCray worked on General Motors' assembly line, before recording Ambition, his 1991 debut album for Point Blank Records, in a Detroit friend's basement recording studio. He was soon touring with his label-mate, 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 that same year.[2] Magnolia released McCray's first live album, Live on Interstate 75, in mid-2006, and this was followed in 2007 with Larry McCray.

His most recent tour commenced in Chicago on December 11, 2009.[4]

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

Discography

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bill Dahl (1960-04-05). "Larry McCray | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. 2.0 2.1
  3. 3.0 3.1 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 141–142. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. "The Official Website for Larry McCray". larrymccrayband.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  5. "Larry McCray | Discography". AllMusic. 1960-04-05. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

External links