About Larry Dunn

Musician, singer-songwriter Larry Dunn has recently completed his 5th independent CD Movin’ On released on his record label, New Blue Classics. Songs from his 4 prior CDs Migration Of The Groove, The Hound of Music, Got It Workin’ and One of These Days have been placed in movies, used on television (network and cable), included on compilation albums, covered by other artists, recorded for Muzak and have charted in the Top 10 on syndicated radio.

Larry was raised in a musical household and as far back as he can remember, great music was always playing on his family’s Hi-Fi. On any given day he’d hear the sounds of The Nat Cole Trio, Charlie Christian (Benny Goodman Quintet), Illinois Jacquet, Wes Montgomery or Allen Touissaint. The thrill he got listening with his dad to these great sounds began his lifelong love of music and set the stage for his musical career. He bought his first guitar (a used ‘Montgomery Ward’ sunburst model) at age 14 from the money he made selling popcorn and sodas in the stands at the county rodeo. After a time spent learning some chords and licks, and because he could sing (a soloist in the school choir), he was asked to join a local band in his hometown of Casper Wyoming. This group of rock ‘n’ roll friends kept him busy playing music throughout his high school years.

Larry’s travels began in earnest when he moved to Denver Colorado after graduating high school. It was there that he first saw, heard and studied some of the legendary electric blues players... the Three Kings (B.B., Albert and Freddie), Magic Sam and Buddy Guy as well as the rock ‘n’ roll poet laureate Chuck Berry and the great rock players Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. During his stay in Denver he was fortunate to have fallen in with a dedicated group of young musicians hungry to learn all the ‘roots’ music they could... Bluegrass, Country, Delta Blues and the current Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and Jazz. It was from this diverse musical background that Larry began to find his voice.

The idea of working on the West Coast had always been on the top of the list for him so when the prospect of working with a group in California presented itself, Larry moved from Denver to the Golden State. Settling in San Francisco he began playing in the local clubs and experiencing the cultural richness that only a town like San Francisco can offer. Since moving to California he has had the opportunity to work with Bo Diddley, Eddie Money, Steve Cropper, Big Joe Turner, Mary Wells and Sir Mac Rice (the man that penned "Mustang Sally" and "Respect Yourself"), as well as many talented sidemen/band members of acclaimed recording artists. He spent 6 years touring and recording with The Dynatones and as guitarist/songwriter for that group, Larry recorded one album for Warner Bros. Records, two albums for Rounder Records and a single for Rhino Records. His work with The Dynatones also included opening for many great artists including The Four Tops, The Stylistics, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jr. Walker and the list goes on.

After leaving The Dynatones, he formed and led his own group, The Rhythm Sheiks. This band had a long run in San Francisco performing regularly in Bay Area nightclubs and included tours in Europe. Gone were the days of relying on cover songs to get the job done. The focus and success of this group was the solid, well-oiled original material that Larry was writing. With The Rhythm Sheiks he wrote, recorded and produced two independent CDs (mentioned above) that were well received by both fans and critics alike. The band also opened concerts for Tower of Power, Dr. John, The Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, Junior Wells and C.J. Chenier among others.

With the release of his latest CD Movin’ On, Larry continues to add to his ever expanding catalog of original recordings, creating music in a voice that has become uniquely his own but at the same time draws directly from the immensely rich American Music Tradition that songwriters and musicians, the world over, invariably turn to for inspiration.