Posted December 2022
Boomerocity LOVES the blues. You already know that. We’ve interviewed several blues greats and look forward to interviewing more. One of those greats I’ve finally got to interview is Larry McCray.
If you love the blues, you no doubt know who Larry McCray is. I got to listen to him live and in person about six or seven years ago, He came through my hometown of Maryville, Tennessee and played at the local blues society there. I got to sit in on that and listen to him live my first and only time that I've seen Larry. Hearing him that one time live made me become a huge, huge fan.
Larry has a new album that came out earlier this year - back in February, called, “Blues WithoutYou,” and I absolutely love it! The opportunity came up to talk to him by phone. He's on the road with on his own tour as well as touring with the Allman Family tour that has to do with the kids of the Allman Brothers. We talked a little bit about that, talk about the new album, and even got a little bit of a hint of what the next album might be about. We talked about some other artists like Joe Bonamassa and others. Basically, we had a phenomenal easy very laid-back chat like what always takes place on Boomerocity. He called me from his hotel room in Albuquerque, and we just we just sat and shot the breeze about the blues. I think you're really gonna love that.
We had a technical glitch where for some reason the Zoom audio on his end was not working. We could not hear him he can hear me, but I cannot hear him. So, what we did is I had him call my cell phone and I we kept the video running and I held the microphone or the phone up to my microphone. But I still think you're going to enjoy the chat regardless. So, please, watch the entire interview. Share it with your friends. I encourage you to pick up your own copy of “Blues Without You”. Heck, pick up copies as gifts for your blues loving friends. Just click on the album cover on this page to order.
You can keep up with the latest on Larry McCray by visiting his website, LarryMcCrayLive.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. If you listen to your music via streaming, catch his work on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify.
Press Release
Legendary Blues Singer and Guitarist Larry McCray Announces Fall 2022 US Tour Dates With
The 6th Annual Allman Family Revival
McCray will be performing songs from his new album
Blues Without You - “a damn near perfect blues record” (Blues Rock Review), produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith
Poised to become a genre-shaping staple early in his career performing alongside the greats B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, and more, rustbelt singer and guitarist Larry McCray will now join The 6th Annual Allman Family Revival on 18 tour dates starting November 26th. In addition, he will perform a select number of solo dates in support of his first album in seven years, Blues Without You, produced by blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, and released via Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive Records (KTBA Records).
Purchase tickets HERE
Stream Blues Without You HERE
Order the album HERE
Blues Without You features performances from Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Joanna Connor, and Reese Wynans. McCray’s 12-song collection comes with critical acclaim from Blues Rock Review stating the album “is a damn near perfect blues album” and that it’s “the record of a lifetime and the best project of his career.” Guitar Techniques Magazine, dubbing Blues Without You as “exquisite” and the tracks “run the gamut of what many blues fans want: great songs, rich grooves, tight band interplay and stingingly singing guitar solos,” while Raw Ramp exclaimed, “This is a magnificently soulful blues album, seasoned with wisdom,” and Fireworks Magazine stated the album “oozes passion and intensity.”
Blues Without You features performances from Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Joanna Connor, and Reese Wynans. McCray’s 12-song collection comes with critical acclaim from Blues Rock Review stating the album “is a damn near perfect blues album” and that it’s “the record of a lifetime and the best project of his career.” Guitar Techniques Magazine, dubbing Blues Without You as “exquisite” and the tracks “run the gamut of what many blues fans want: great songs, rich grooves, tight band interplay and stingingly singing guitar solos,” while Raw Ramp exclaimed, “This is a magnificently soulful blues album, seasoned with wisdom,” and Fireworks Magazine stated the album “oozes passion and intensity.”
McCray was named the Orville H. Gibson (in honor of the vaunted Gibson Guitar founder) Male Blues Guitarist of the Year in 2000, won the Top Guitarist prize in the International Blues Matters 2014 writer’s poll and was awarded the “Sunshine” Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence in 2015. Over the years, Larry has performed and toured with such blues greats as BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Bonamassa, as well as rock legends the Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh, Jonny Lang, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Chris Robinson, Dickey Betts, and countless others.
Touring with The Allman Family Revival, McCray says, “I am extremely grateful to be asked to participate in the Allman Family Revival tour with Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and the rest of the incredible lineup that has been assembled for this great tour!
I have a long history with the Allman Brothers, Gregg Allman, The Dickie Betts Band, Warren Haynes, and Gov’t Mule, and I have a deep affection for all of those incredible musicians. Being invited to perform with their offspring is just an incredible honor, and brings my friendship full circle with the extended Allman family and fans. I can't wait to hit the road with all of them!"
Tour Dates Below:
SPECIAL GUEST WITH ALLMAN FAMILY REVIVAL TOUR*
Nov 7 - Rams Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
Nov 9 - Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center - Old Saybrook, CT
Nov 11 - The Spire Center for the Performing Arts - Plymouth, NH
Nov 13 - Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club - Portsmouth, NH
Nov 26 - Macon City Auditorium - Macon, GA *
Nov 27 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL *
Nov 28 - Van Wezel - Sarasota, FL *
Nov 29 - PB Amphitheater - Pompano Beach, FL *
Nov 30 - Florida Theater - Jacksonville, FL *
Dec 2 - Beacon Theater - New York, NY *
Dec 3 - Shubert Theater - Boston, MA *
Dec 4 - Warner Theater - Torrington, CT *
Dec 6 - Owens Auditorium - Charlotte, NC *
Dec 7 - DPAC - Durham, NC*
Dec 8 - Mont. Perf Arts Ctr - Montgomery, AL*
Dec 9 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN*
Dec 10 - The Factory - St. Louis, MO*
Dec 12 - Paramount Theater - Denver, CO*
Dec 14 - Mesa Arts Center - Phoenix, AZ*
Dec 15 - Westgate - Las Vegas, NV*
Dec 16 - Wiltern Theater - Los Angeles, CA*
Dec 17 - Fillmore Theater - San Francisco, CA*
Dec 28 - Boyne City, MI - Freshwater Gallery*
Dec 30 - Westland, MI - Token Lounge*
Jan 19 - McCain Auditorium - Manhattan, KS*
Feb 24 - Hi-Fi - Indianapolis, IN*
Feb- 25 - Space - Evanston, IL*
Feb 26 - Temple Theater - Des Moines, IA*
March 13-17 - Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea VIII, Miami, FL - Puerto Plata, DR
April 14 - Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2023 - St. Petersburg, FL
April 15 - The Lyric Theatre - Stuart, FL
About Larry McCray
Rustbelt blues guitarist and singer Larry McCray was born in 1960 in Magnolia, Ark., as one of nine siblings. Early on, his sister, Clara, introduced him to the guitar and the transformative music of the three Kings of the blues. In 1972, 12-year-old Larry followed Clara to Saginaw, Mich., where he honed his guitar skills, adding rock riffs to the traditional blues style he loved. After high school, Larry began playing the local circuit, and by the late ’80s, he had attracted the attention of the head of Virgin Records’ blues label, who signed Larry as Point Blank Records’ inaugural artist. His debut album, Ambition—aptly named for fusing elements of blues, rock, and soul to create a contemporary blues sound—was released in 1990 to critical acclaim. Throughout the ’90s, Larry continued to help define blues rock, releasing Delta Hurricane (1993), Meet Me at the Lake (1996), and Born to Play the Blues (1998). In 2000, Larry started his own label, Magnolia Records, releasing Believe It (2000), Blues Is My Business (2001), Live on Interstate 75 (2006), Larry McCray (2007), and The Gibson Sessions (2015). Throughout those years, Larry played with such blues greats as BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Keb Mo, Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Bonamassa, as well as rock legends the Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh, Jonny Lang, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Chris Robinson, Dickie Betts, and countless others. Blues Without You, Larry’s latest, a 12-track release, was recorded on Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive nonprofit label.
