DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
Premier Sponsors
|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/110398/2
jackhatfield - Posted - 03/16/2009: 09:45:35
Larry is alive and well in Carthage NC. He likes to lay low, not a "socially active " person but a charming and friendly guy. Scooter: I talked to him a coupe of times since you were at my shop. The wording of your your comment makes it sound like he is impolite or unresponsive. Not so. I talked to his wife Beth about month ago. He still plays beautifully, just doesn't perform.
Jack Hatfield
Hatfield Music
Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy
hatfieldmusic.com
1-800-426-8744
imac50 - Posted - 03/16/2009: 11:23:45
I'm another fan of Larry's. I have the Rhapsody. McCabes and Confederation albums. They were a great source of inspiration to me. Unfortunately I haven't played them much with the advent of "modern technology". I'll have to get them out and convert them to mp3 or something. They don't deserve to be left on the shelf. Great stuff!
Iain
iainmaclachlan.com
arnie fleischer - Posted - 03/16/2009: 11:30:00
Larry is one of the five banjo players on Byron Berline's Rounder album "Dad's Favorites," which is available on CD. The others are Doug Dillard, John Hartford, John Hickman and Alan Munde. I stole his version of "The Grey Eagle" from this recording. Great player.
mvolcjak - Posted - 03/16/2009: 11:41:52
Geat thread - I also am a Larry McNeely fan and also have most of his albums. No CDs - are there any McNeely CDs out there?
However; he just does not look right playing that Deering. He needs his Baldwin D back! Although he would sound good picking just about anything that even resembled a banjo!
The album he did with Jethro Burns, (another picker who never got the full recognition he deserved), is one of my favorites - I've recently started working up Bluejazz up again - so this thread is timely for me.
I hope something comes out of this thread to encourage him to be more active - It would be a shame if he just kept out of site - sorta like Bobby Thompson did.
Take it Easy ... MarK
banjer5 - Posted - 03/16/2009: 11:56:30
Larry had some real tasty licks he used and I stole one of them off of "Sailors Hornpipe". He is a very classy and unique player.
Fast Freddy the engineer says: Throttle in RUN 8 and highball, then don''t look back, something might be gainin'' on ya. 73,s de K5BGZ
pickalot - Posted - 03/16/2009: 12:10:43
Hey Mark -
There is one CD that I know of. The title is "After Midnight". It was produced in the 90's from old recordings done in the 80's (I think).
I have it and it's KILLER stuff! I found it on Half.com several years ago. he has Jeff Levin & Jack Skinner with him on the CD. If I see another one I'll try to get word to you and the Hangout.
Pickalot
Larry McNeely''s #1 fan!
mvolcjak - Posted - 03/16/2009: 13:35:29
Hey Don,...
ThanX for the info - I don't mind vinyl, but I have been spoiled by CDs...
I'll check this out...I have a record with McNeely, Skinner & Levin (Live at McCabes I think with "Number 5" on it) - a Great record! McNeely is one of the few people out there who will actualy tackle classical music on the banjo. In fact, I have yet to hear anyone else do it as well!
Take it Easy ... MarK
Ray Soulard - Posted - 03/16/2009: 16:58:15
I've been working on learning Rhapsody for almost two months. In another six months I might be able to get through it - slowly.
pickalot - Posted - 03/16/2009: 17:53:35
Amen, Mark, on "Live at McCabe's".........maybe my favorite next to the "Rapsody For Banjo" album. Everything on McCabe's is super but I love the way he did Earl's Breakdown. There's a lot to learn about "drive" on that one!
Pickalot
Larry McNeely''s #1 fan!
jackhatfield - Posted - 03/18/2009: 11:38:02
I just heard from Beth, Larry's wife...looks like he will be at Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy May 1-3.
Jack
Jack Hatfield
Hatfield Music
Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy
hatfieldmusic.com
1-800-426-8744
jackhatfield - Posted - 03/19/2009: 10:58:53
Mvolcjak:
In writing the bio for the SMBA website I googled him and noticed there are two Larry McNeely DVDs available from the website where I lifted some of his bio info: ArtistDirectMusic.com.
Come hear him play LIVE and chat with him at Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy May 1-3rd!. U 2 Scooter! (roll Tide).
Jack Hatfield
Hatfield Music
Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy
hatfieldmusic.com
1-800-426-8744
pickalot - Posted - 03/19/2009: 15:31:49
ArtistDirect shows the CD, "After Midnight" and lists the tunes and performers....and that it was recorded 1-1-1990, but they also say it's not in stock. The other CD (obviously copied from the vinyl album) is mostly guitar & vocals & no banjo. I have never seen it in CD,only vinyl. I am still watching for "After Midnight". I wouldn't take $100.00 for mine!
Pickalot
Larry McNeely''s #1 fan!
pickalot - Posted - 03/21/2009: 07:30:07
For anyone interested in Larry's CD from 1990, "After Midnight", I found a cluster of them (new & used) on Amazon. This link should take you there.
amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0...&sr=1-162
The CD is really great!
Pickalot
Larry McNeely''s #1 fan!
moses - Posted - 03/21/2009: 08:55:09
Hey Pickalot,
I live in LaFollette, TN. My family is from this area. I don't remember Larry. He was already gone from here by the time I grew up. But my dad talks about going to the pawn shop Larry worked at in the 60's and sitting and listening to him play for hours. He would name a tune and Larry would play it. He could also play the song in the style of the banjo player who wrote it, note for note. Any song, any style. I'm looking forward to seeing him play again this year at the Louie Bluie festival held each year at Cove Lake State Park. Thanks for the info on Larry.
pickalot - Posted - 03/21/2009: 10:09:08
Great post, Moses!............good info, for sure. I hope to go to the Louie BluieFestival myself. Maybe I'll see you there. I'll be the bearded old coot with the dirty cowboy hat that's drooling over every note that Larry plays! I'm 2 months and 13 days older than Larry, but he's held up better than me. LOL
Pickalot
Larry McNeely''s #1 fan!
neatertone - Posted - 03/23/2009: 09:14:58
I was with Bobby Thompson back stage at The Opry a few years ago and we were surprised to find that Larry was no longer with the house band. We were told he grew frustrated with the lack of income from music, citing that he had never owned a house, and that he was "hanging it up". I can completely relate after "hanging it up" myself over 25 years ago.
sdfarris - Posted - 03/23/2009: 10:53:20
"After Midnight" is available from emusic.com as MP3 downloads. Great album! I have already digitized the "Rhapshody for Banjo" LP and I'll get my "Live at McCabe's" and "Confederation" LPs converted someday soon.
Live at McCabes' featured Larry, Jack Skinner on bass and Geoff Levin on guitar. Trivia - Jack Skinner did a light beer commercial in the 80's and Geoff Levin was married to actress Diana Canova from "Soap" - I had a huge crush on her when that show was on!
Sam Farris
tranjo.com -- Tranjo travel Banjo
electricbanjo.com - TranjoCaster electric banjo
silentbanjo.com - Silent Practice system for any banjo
Edited by - sdfarris on 03/23/2009 10:56:17
RB5 - Posted - 08/05/2009: 18:34:59
Wow I was doing some house cleaning and found that lesson book and video cassette with all those tablatures from Larry with the following tabs; Red Wing, Charlotte's breakdown, Dixie Breakdown, Sockeye, Follow The Leader, Sugarfoot Rag, Weave and Way, Bill Cheatum, American Rifle Team Hornpipe, Sailors Hornpipe, Blackberry Blossoms, Turkey in the Sraw, Red Haired Boy, a bunch of back up stuff for all the songs in his book, Doc Harris Hornpipe, Grey eagle Hornpipe, Etude # 1 and #2, Zubenelgenubi, Song of Giza and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I had learned allot of these tunes but I guess I am going to get busy and learn some of his more complicated ones that I had shy ed away from. I can't believe this thread was still going after all this time. I am still hopping we will see him one day on the hangout.
That''s my story and I''m sticking with it!
Robert.
RB5 - Posted - 08/06/2009: 09:35:18
Wow! Never knew Larry played a deering. I have seen him with Gibson's and Stelling's before. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all stay young.
That''s my story and I''m sticking with it!
Robert.
Edited by - RB5 on 08/06/2009 16:34:45
pearcemusic - Posted - 08/07/2009: 20:28:46
I played with Larry once ... right around the date on that cover.
He was playing a Deering ... I think a Maple Blossom ... My friend Raul Reynoso was the guitar player in Larry's trio ... with Johnny Pierce on bass.
My wife just found my cassette of "Powerplay" (with Larry, Johnny, and Raul) ... it was an amazing record for the time ... and it was sitting under a bookcase for years.
Glad to be reunited with it.
The Pearce Family Bluegrass Band
pearcemusic.com
RB5 - Posted - 08/13/2009: 20:57:25
Wow Doub!
Lucky! You are lucky to have played with him, gosh I would give my right arm for that experience. I have dowloaded all his albums on to my I pod touch and listen to him almost every week. I love his version of Oh Susana I think on the Power Play album.
That''s my story and I''m sticking with it!
Robert.
pearcemusic - Posted - 08/14/2009: 18:18:49
quote:
Originally posted by ldgrmnmcquote:
Originally posted by RB5
Hey Idgrmnmc
You are missing Larry's Power Play album and the Confederation album which was recorded by Sheffield Lab direct to disk album. Those two albums of his are the best he has ever recorded. Some great songs on these albums are siver wings on the water, lonesome angels, sleepy eyes, old Joe Clark, roll in my baby's arms and big fat mama just to name a few.... You should try to get copies of these albums. They are classics especially if you're a McNeely fan.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
Robert.
Thanks,,,,,,I've now looked for these recordings, and I've seen them listed, but I haven't found them for sale anywhere.........If anyone has a post or URL for sales, post it here!!!
Edited by - pearcemusic on 08/15/2009 09:57:50
pearcemusic - Posted - 08/15/2009: 09:56:34
quote:
Originally posted by RB5
Wow Doub!
Lucky! You are lucky to have played with him, gosh I would give my right arm for that experience. I have dowloaded all his albums on to my I pod touch and listen to him almost every week. I love his version of Oh Susana I think on the Power Play album.
That''s my story and I''m sticking with it!
Robert.
banjoy - Posted - 10/28/2009: 03:48:21
I came across this late 1960s photo of Larry McNeely with the Blue Valley Boys, Lafollette, TN:
Edited by - banjoy on 10/28/2009 04:02:26
Ronnie - Posted - 10/28/2009: 06:38:46
Larry and I used to jam at Bobby Thompson's house several years ago. He was playing the Deering at that time, maybe 2003 or 2004.
bobbythompsonbanjo.com
MJO - Posted - 01/01/2010: 10:16:27
I’m also a long time Larry McNeely fan. I’ll never forget when Glen Campbell introduced Larry on his Goodtime Hour on the first show of the season following John Hartford’s departure. Glen announced that Larry was going to play “a medley of fiddle tunes”. At that point I had never heard or heard of the melodic banjo style. John Hartford at the time kind of approached it but not quite what I was going to hear from Larry. Wow…it just blew me away. I’ll never forget it. I wish I had a recording of that.
I kind of wondered what happened to Larry. In 2000 I e-mailed the Banjo Newsletter, twice concerning Larry but never received a reply. I also wrote Glen Campbell a letter. I’m not sure if it ever got to him but I received no reply from him either.
Now, thanks to the Banjo Hangout I’m up to date of Larry and glad to hear that he is picking as well as ever.
I can’t resist sharing some correspondence received from Larry in 1983 and 84. I had written Larry at his Fan Club address inquiring as to whether there were 45-RPM discs of songs from his Power Play album. (I wanted to install them in a jukebox at local club).
Attached is his reply. Also attached is a letter that I received from Larry a year later. I of course was very surprised to receive this but that shows you what kind of a person that Larry is.
BTW did Larry’s group “Southern Manor” ever make a recording? I kept checking with Elderly Instruments for about two years after the last letter from Larry but nothing ever turned up.
MJO
 |  |  |
Tuneager - Posted - 01/02/2010: 03:19:35
I'm glad to see Larry McNeely getting the recognition he deserves. He was one of my biggest inspirations as a kid, especially the Rhapsody LP, and Zubenelgenubi, Beethoven's 5th, Blue Jam, etc. There's a lot of "bests" comparisons thrown around at times and Larry was one of the biggest innovators on the instrument and definitely deserves his place amongst the top players of all time.
Ray Soulard - Posted - 01/17/2010: 09:21:33
Thanks Noah, that was great. What a job he did on Little Girl of mine in ..... And, to see/hear him play Paradise - I love that tune.
Flying Eagle - Posted - 01/17/2010: 13:37:51
I watched that youtube video as well... honestly, it's kinda painful to see a legendary picker like Larry McNeely playing in a lame jam by the side of the road. I sure hope that's not indicative of his current musical activity. This is the kind of guy who should be getting facetime at IBMA, the Opry, and any other upper-level bluegrass venue.
Tuneager - Posted - 01/17/2010: 15:15:25
I found watching that video of Larry McNeely insightful. He seemed to be just enjoying the music, playing in a laid-back atmosphere, not one of trying to outdo the next guy in a speed competition. I can relate, while I'm no Larry McNeely, I'd much rather enjoy music for music's sake amongst other kind-hearted people. Larry McNeely has gotten more than his 15 minutes of fame and he's entitled to choose his musical associations where he sees fit. Not everyone relishes the limelight. Larry McNeely, amongst others in his day, represented the height of melodic banjo. No one will ever take that away from him.
Flying Eagle - Posted - 01/17/2010: 17:24:14
I hope Larry is happy with whatever he's doing in life... whether it involves music or not. And I'm sorry if I sound selfish for saying so, but I hope Larry's "15 minutes of fame" aren't over yet. I'd like to see him playing live again on stage and recording. He was an inspiration to me when I was first learning, and I figure my chances of running into him at a roadside produce stand jam session are pretty slim.
JW
Tuneager - Posted - 01/17/2010: 17:30:45
Me too, Larry McNeely represented my finest moments of banjo listening. I'm right there with you on wanting to hear more, more, more. I have the feeling he may have become disenchanted with the music scene. That's just an intuitive feeling, I have no proof. But I can understand if that's the case. He definitely has never ever truly gotten the respect or exposure he deserved. His moments on Glen Campbell's show were pure genius and pleasure. He's definitely amongst the top of my list.
pearcemusic - Posted - 01/17/2010: 17:44:48
I got to play with him just one time, but it was really fun ...
I saw my friend Raul Reynoso this weekend at NAMM ... he was the guitarist on the Powerplay record with Larry and Johnny Pierce.
That was one of the most impressive trios I have ever seen ...
... Larry is an amazing player and it's good to get a little glimpse of him playing today.
thanks for posting the video link.
fiddlechik - Posted - 01/20/2010: 14:36:44
quote:
Originally posted by RB5
I often wonder about Larry McNeely's where abouts and what he is doing in life at this moment. Larry McNeely's banjo playing is what inspired me to take up the banjo and I will never forget when I received my video lessons of intermediate banjo playing 101 by the great Larry McNeely himself. Wow it was an awesome banjo course with the final song in the course Bethoven's fifth symphony. I mean what could top that? I own all his albums and listen to them faithfully all the time but he seams to have dropped off the planet. Does anybody out there have some news on his where abouts and what he is doing with his life at the moment? I would greatly apprerciate any little tid bit.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
Robert.
fiddlechik - Posted - 01/20/2010: 14:40:33
Hi Guys .............Larry hasnt fallen off the planet ........He is living in Carthage NC with his wife ........although he has retired from the road we have nbeen playing together now for about a year and starting in the spring will hopefully be doing some more gigs together ........Larry is an awsome musician....one of the best that ever put on a set of pics not to mention an excellent guitar picker
Lynn Hargrove
fiddlechik - Posted - 01/20/2010: 15:22:51
oh and I guess Fallen Eagle has never played in a " so called Lame jam session,
poor taste of words ....Im sure Larry wouldnt appericiate it.........
Flying Eagle - Posted - 01/20/2010: 20:08:02
quote:
Originally posted by fiddlechik
oh and I guess Fallen Eagle has never played in a " so called Lame jam session,
poor taste of words ....Im sure Larry wouldnt appericiate it.........
MJO - Posted - 01/28/2010: 06:37:09
Another Larry remembrance; Larry playing “Nola” on the Glen Campbell show. A real mind-blower. Did Larry ever record Nola? I could never find it. It would be nice to get videos of all of those old shows, especially the “concert” portions where Glen, Larry, and whatever guest would just let it all hang out and pick.
MJO
robbif - Posted - 01/28/2010: 18:19:15
I've requested - and heard - Bill Keith play Nola - several times - astounding!
Forrest - Posted - 01/28/2010: 18:47:53
Hey Lynn.... nice clip of y'all jamming with Larry. Is that my friend Lynn Mathis singing at the beginning? It sure sounds like her voice.
BanjoLink - Posted - 01/28/2010: 20:31:00
Looks like Larry has a great perspective on his life........ doing what he enjoys with whom he enjoys doing it! He dosen't have to please anyone but himself. I have always admired him as a banjo player and now admire him even more as a person!
ShawnBlackwell - Posted - 04/25/2010: 08:35:59
Wow! Strange how I can get lost going down one path on the internet and end up somewhat magically in a different place. I was on the Acoustic Oasis site looking at an album by Jerry Thomasson...there's a song on there named "Slipped Disc". I have a McNeely album with that song on it. Jethro Burns was the mando player. Incredible stuff!!!...the whole album!!! I'm a guitar player for 40+ years and Larry McNeely was one of the first to inspire me to wanna play bluegrass. I've wondered for many years now what ever happened to him. I have several of his LP's including the direct disc mentioned earlier. I wonder if he ever visits this site? Larry...if you do....I just want you know how much joy you have given me for all these years....We all miss you.
ShawnBlackwell - Posted - 04/25/2010: 09:58:29
BTW...I just found this clip of Larry playing guitar ( The Claw ) with Glen Campbell and Jerry Reed:
youtube.com/watch?v=GUa7iQHphNY
tom elder - Posted - 04/25/2010: 20:25:18
My favorite larry m song is sevestapul.I'm sure the spelling is wrong. Tom Elder
pickalot - Posted - 04/26/2010: 07:06:35
I have a "copy" of a Woods Brothers CD made a few years ago with Larry playing the banjo and his breaks and back-up are absolutely "killer"! What great timing and drive he has. There are 18 tunes.......mostly old standards like Rocky Top, FMBD, Jed Clampett, Little Maggie, ect. and he was absolutely awesome, as always!
If it wasn't for hearing Larry play on the old Glen Campbell Shows in the 70's, I doubt I would have ever picked up the banjo. I had heard plenty of banjo....including Scruggs - who lived less than an hour away........so it wasn't like I hadn't been exposed. Larry was really different...and still is!
Pickalot (Larry McNeely's #1 fan)
Scooter Muse - Posted - 04/26/2010: 12:46:25
I was fortunate to be able to play the famous arch-top Baldwin McNeely played all those years. Its in GA now along with a couple of Garland Shuping's Baldwins..
Its a great banjo -- needs a little bit of set-up simply because they all do from time to time and this one is not being played much.
 Larry McNeely's Baldwin Banjo |
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
