Larry McNeely at Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy

[giggleblaggle]

Anyone know if this is the same Larry McNeely that plays banjo on many of the Smoky Mountain series albums (like Smoky Mountain Sunday) by Brentwood Music?

[onelady4]

Love the music

[5picking]

Anyone advise what Banjo Larry's playing there ( obviously a Raised head ). Thanks.

[PFCBeetleBailey]

@5picking I know you asked this question a long time ago -- but I think it is an archtop Baldwin D Model

[dgilray]

I was lucky enough to be at this mini-concert and even edited some video for Jack. Got Larrry's autograph. He is much more influenced by Don Reno than Earl.

[FlyingTiger64]

Larry pays homage to Don Reno in this video, and I'm sure Reno was an early influence on Larry due to his (Reno's) creativity and innovative banjo playing... but I'd say that Larry sounds a lot more like Scruggs with some Bill Keith, Bobby Thompson and Alan Munde thrown in... at least that's how he sounds to me on everything but "Choking the Strings". Larry is also very creative in his own right. Larry's playing inspired many banjo players, including me. Don't mean to nit pick.. just sayin'.

[dgilray]

I am just tellin what he sed. You ought to hear his Dixie Breakdown. Pure Don.

[jnhatfield]

Larry's Reno tunes are a little more like Reno played them than his Earl tunes are like Earl played them. IMO, its because Earl's style is more lick oriented while Reno's was more technique-oriented. Reno's great instrumentals would explore a roll sequence, a chord progression, or a melody line, while Earl's would focus on a hook lick and fill in with his repertiore of "standard" rolls and licks. Earl's approach lends more to variation by players who come later and interpret the same tunes.

[jnhatfield]

Larry does have his own touch, VERY precise and he can play FAST, as he demonstrates on Dear Old Dixie. He is a REALLY nice person, very mild mannered and family oriented. He does not perform much but is picking as good as ever. I'm hoping to get him back to SMBA this year. Jack Hicks, Ron Block and Leroy Troy will be there, along with regulars National banjo champs Gary Davis and James McKinney, and Tom Nechville. Bill Keith and Eric Weissberg are also invited but not confirmed.

[EADGBE54]

I was lucky enough as a teenager to see Larry and Jerry Reed with Glen Campbell when Campbell's touring show made a stop in St. Louis during the summer of 1971. I'd managed to learn a little bit of Scruggs-style banjo and was intrigued with the more linear things I heard Larry and Bobby Thompson doing on TV. I always wanted to tell Larry how much I admired his playing. I hear he's a shy guy, but boy, I hope he's still performing somewhere!

[0024681]

Steve L

is that you from NJ

[RWayne72160]

I wish I could have seen Larry, Jerry and Glen performing live in person. I used to get a kick out of watching them on Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour TV show though. And you're probably right about Larry being shy and reserved, at least he always seemed that way on TV in contrast to Jerry Reed's outgoing personality. I did get to see Jerry play in concert in Lake Charles, LA and he was terrific. It would have been even better if Larry and Glen had been there too.

[EADGBE54]

Yeah, Jerry's picture ought to be in the dictionary next to the word "extrovert". Tommy Emmanuel's even more so.

[banjoman80]

Great playing Larry, keep it up !!!

[MEPublishing]

Help! I've been trying to contact our old friends larry & Bethe McNeely!

Please ask them to go to mepublishing on youtube

and send Michael Mileham and Marilyn "Ellis" Mileham an email. Thanks for your help!

[TruegrassBoy]

Good banjo picker, very Scruggs based. Cool.

[macarthurp]

He is an amazing musician! Another favorite of mine is Buck Trent.

My boyfriend found a copy of the "Glen Campbell presents Larry McNeeley" LP (yes, on vinyl!) this weekend and I love it.

[marshaul]

Larry McNeely is the man! Awesome.

[Wishuey]

"Dear Old Dixie", a great old Scruggs tune; good to see Larry McNeely again after all these years.

[sandyrothman]

John Palmer is the name Larry's trying to think of. Fine bass player for Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups.

[banjobluegrass]

Great surprise to see Larry again. He's one of the best 5 string banjo player.

[jujubean29]

I'm glad to see he hasn't lost his touch since the late 60's. It's good to hear you play again.

[GetShorty29]

Larry is the man! Miss you guys, hopefully we'll be coming up to see you all soon!

-Chris

[williamsnc5]

AWESOME banjo pick'n....more McNeely!, please

[deepwhiff]

thanks for posting!