Larry McCray

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

Larry McCray
Larry McCray performing 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
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1980s-present
LabelsPoint Blank, Atomic Theory, House of Blues, Magnolia, Dixiefrog[1]
Websitewww.larrymccray.net
Larry McCray (2012) in Aarhus, Denmark

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] The same year, McCray played alongside Jimmy Thackery as guest guitarists on Sista Monica Parker's album, People Love the Blues.[4] 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 at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas on October 11, 2015 where Larry was honored with the "Sunshine" Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence.[5]

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

Discography
  • Ambition (1990)
  • Delta Hurricane (1993)
  • Meet Me at The Lake (1996) with The Bluegills
  • 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)[6][7]

References
  1. Bill Dahl (1960-04-05). "Larry McCray | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. Archived March 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 141–142. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. Richard Skelly. "Sista Monica Parker | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  5. "The Official Website for Larry McCray". Larrymccray.net. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  6. "Larry McCray | Discography". AllMusic. 1960-04-05. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  7. "Bluesman Larry McCray gives his rock favorites a ride on new album". Themorningsun.com. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
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