Larry McCray

Larry McCray - Delta Hurricane - 1993 - Virgin

Blues guitarist and vocalist Larry McCray's second Pointblank CD gets off to a dreary start with the title track, a tune with neither interesting lyrics nor a good arrangement. But after that flop fades, the remaining 10 cuts are almost as powerful as the material on his critically acclaimed debut. McCray has the kind of tough, down-in-the-dirt voice you can neither fake nor acquire. His guitar work is equally authentic; there aren't any flashy phrases or flamboyant riffs, just pile-driving lines, barreling statements and energetic support for his vocals. There aren't many better contemporary blues albums being made by major labels; McCray is the real deal. © Ron Wynn © 2013 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/delta-hurricane-mw0000619633

Larry McCray, the second youngest of nine children, was brought up on a small farm in Magnolia, Arkansas. His father played the blues on guitar and harmonica, while Clara, his older sister played guitar and was a devotee of Freddie King. The McCray family played records by artists like John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters. Larry was influenced by the "three kings" Freddie, Albert, and B.B. Artists like Elmore James and Magic Sam were also huge influences on Larry's technique. Larry composes and plays funky soul/blues rock often with New Orleans style syncopation. His soulful vocals combined with his searing blues-rock guitar style have earned him worldwide attention and respect. "Delta Hurricane" is a really good blues/R&B/soul album from this underrated but highly regarded and influential guitarist and composer and HR by A.O.O.F.C. If you want to hear an exceptional blues guitar track, listen to "Ain't That Lovin' You" on the Derek Trucks Band's 1998 album, "Out Of The Madness" featuring Larry on vocals and guitar, trading licks with Derek and the great Jimmy Herring. Buy Larry's "Blues Is My Business" album and promote great modern electric soul blues [All tracks @ 256 Kbps: File size = 89.1 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. Delta Hurricane- Uptown Horns 4:27
2. Adding Up - Dave Steen 4:41
3. Last Four Nickels - Dave Steen 4:09
4. Soul Shine - Warren Haynes 4:48
5. Not That Much - Ron Pangborn 3:49
6. Last Hand Of The Night - Dave Steen 3:40
7. Witchin' Moon - Dave Steen 3:38
8. Blue River - Larry McCray 5:01
9. Hole In My Heart - Larry McCray 5:37
10. Three Straight Days Of Rain - Dave Steen 3:25
11. Blues In The City - Larry McCray 5:07

MUSICIANS

Larry McCray - Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Noel Neal - Bass Guitar
Tony Zamagni - Hammond Organ, Synthesizer
Steve McCray - Drums
Arno Hecht - Tenor Sax
Crispin Cioe - Alto & Baritone Saxophone
Laurence Etkin - Trumpet
Bob Bunk, Bob Funk - Trombone
Jackie Johnson, Mike Vernon, Jacquelyn Reddick - Background Vocals

SHORT BIO

If contemporary blues has a longterm future as we boldly venture into the 21st century, it's very likely that guitarist Larry McCray will play a recurring role in its ongoing development. His first two albums, Ambition and Delta Hurricane, signal both a strong commitment to the tradition and the vision to usher the genre in exciting new directions. McCray's first influence on guitar was none other than his sister, Clara, who toured regionally around Arkansas with her own combo, the Rockets. Clara never got to record her Freddie King-styled blues for posterity -- but her little brother has at least partially made up for that omission. Larry followed Clara up to Saginaw, MI, in 1972. She turned him on to the joys of the three Kings (B.B., Freddie, and Albert), Albert Collins, and Magic Sam, and Larry added superheated rock licks (à la Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers) to his arsenal as he began playing the local circuit with his brothers Carl on bass and Steve on drums. Working on General Motors' assembly line occupied a great deal of Larry McCray's time after he finished high school. But he eventually found enough free hours to put together Ambition, his 1991 debut album for Pointblank, in a Detroit friend's basement studio. The stunning set was a convincing hybrid of blues, rock, and soul, McCray combining the interrelated idioms in sizzling fashion. Suddenly, the stocky young guitarist was touring with label-mate Albert Collins. His 1993 Pointblank encore, Delta Hurricane, was a slicker affair produced by veteran British blues maven Mike Vernon that McCray much prefers to his homemade debut. He followed Delta Hurricane with Climbin' Up in 1995 and Meet Me At the Lake in 1996. Born to Play the Blues appeared in 1998. Believe It was followed in early 2001. © Bill Dahl © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-mccray-p451/biography

BIO (WIKI)

McCray, the second youngest of nine siblings, grew up living on a farm. McCray learned guitar from his sister, Clara. "She used to play real low-down and dirty", McCray recalled years later. His family moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1972, 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. 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. His 1993 follow-up, Delta Hurricane, was produced by the veteran British blues devotee, Mike Vernon. 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. Magnolia released McCray's first live album, Live on Interstate 75, in mid 2006, and this was followed in 2007 with Larry McCray. His recent tour commenced in Chicago on December 11, 2009.