Larry Richardson
Encyclopedia
Larry Richardson was an American bluegrass
and old time banjoist and guitarist from Galax, Virginia
. He is known for his work with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers
, Bill Monroe
and His Bluegrass Boys, and the Blue Ridge Boys.
Larry Richardson began his bluegrass career with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers along side mandolin player Bobby Osborne
of Osborne Brothers
fame. These two musicians are credited for transforming the band from western swing
to bluegrass music
in 1949. Larry and Bobby left the band after only a year and were replaced by Jimmy and Paul Williams. After Larry's brief time with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, he joined Bill Monroe as a banjo player from 1950-1951. He never made a recording as a "Bluegrass Boy". Larry then went on to work for Carl and J.P. Sauceman who ran a bluegrass show on WREN (AM).
In 1956, Larry was featured on a record that changed the way many people hear and play the banjo. "American Banjo Scruggs Style" which showcased the many banjo players who had adopted Earl Scruggs
' famous "three finger roll" style of picking.Soon after the release of this record, Larry relocated to Low Gap, North Carolina. From the mid-1950's to the mid-1960's Larry recorded with the Blue Ridge Boys who focused on a traditional bluegrass sound.
In the latter 30 years of his life, Larry became an evangelist and spent the rest of his life preaching and singing bluegrass gospel. He lived in Lake Butler, Florida until he lost his battle to colon cancer.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and old time banjoist and guitarist from Galax, Virginia
Galax, Virginia
Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is bounded to the northeast by Carroll County and to the southwest by Grayson County. The population was 7,042 as of 2010...
. He is known for his work with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers
Lonesome Pine Fiddlers
The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers were an early bluegrass band which included such notable "first generation" bluegrass musicians as Ezra Cline, Bobby Osborne, Paul Williams, Melvin Goins, Charlie Cline, Curly Ray Cline, Larry Richardson and for a short time Jimmy Martin...
, Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
and His Bluegrass Boys, and the Blue Ridge Boys.
Larry Richardson began his bluegrass career with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers along side mandolin player Bobby Osborne
Bobby Osborne
Bobby Osborne is a bluegrass musician known for his mandolin playing and high lead vocals.Born December 7, 1931 in Leslie County, Kentucky, Bobby Osborne is known primarily for his collaborations with his brother Sonny Osborne in their band, the Osborne Brothers. He was a pioneer in conceiving the...
of Osborne Brothers
Osborne Brothers
The Osborne Brothers, Sonny Osborne and Bobby Osborne , were an influential and popular bluegrass act during the 1960s and 1970s...
fame. These two musicians are credited for transforming the band from western swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
to bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
in 1949. Larry and Bobby left the band after only a year and were replaced by Jimmy and Paul Williams. After Larry's brief time with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, he joined Bill Monroe as a banjo player from 1950-1951. He never made a recording as a "Bluegrass Boy". Larry then went on to work for Carl and J.P. Sauceman who ran a bluegrass show on WREN (AM).
In 1956, Larry was featured on a record that changed the way many people hear and play the banjo. "American Banjo Scruggs Style" which showcased the many banjo players who had adopted Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
' famous "three finger roll" style of picking.Soon after the release of this record, Larry relocated to Low Gap, North Carolina. From the mid-1950's to the mid-1960's Larry recorded with the Blue Ridge Boys who focused on a traditional bluegrass sound.
In the latter 30 years of his life, Larry became an evangelist and spent the rest of his life preaching and singing bluegrass gospel. He lived in Lake Butler, Florida until he lost his battle to colon cancer.
External links
- http://bluegrasstoday.com/blog/2007/07/18/larry-richardson-tribute-1927-2007/