Larry Jon Wilson : 1940-2010

Larry Jon passed away this afternoon, June 21st, 2010.
A sad day for those who loved him. A day of reflection on
the gifts he shared.

Larry Jon was born on October 7, 1940, in Swainsboro, in
Emmanuel County, to Louise Phillips and John Tyler Wilson.
Larry Jon was raised in Augusta, Georgia. He attended high
school at Carlisle Military Academy in Bamberg, South Carolina,
before attending the University of Georgia, where he majored in
chemistry. From 1963 to 1973 he worked in Langley, South Carolina,
for United Merchants and Manufacturers as a technical consultant
in fiberglass manufacturing.

"Back then I was making money - now I'm making music," he
said once, after taking up music as his calling. At the age of thirty,
Wilson received his first guitar and taught himself to play. Four
years later. By then a husband and the father of three children,
he decided to try to make his living by making music. In the second
half of the 1970s he had 4 great records out on the Monument
label - New Beginnings, Let Me Sing My Song To You, Loose Change
and Sojourner.

His compositions reflect his experiences, and many focus on his
southern childhood. One writer called them "eloquent, elegiac songs
of the South." Of his first album, the critic for the Saturday Review in
New York said, "Larry Jon Wilson's New Beginnings is, to sum up,
the best thing I have heard in country, rock, pop, or you-name-it for a
very long time."

In 2008, at the age of 67, Larry Jon Wilson released his first-ever cd
album, "Larry Jon Wilson".

I met Larry Jon in Austin, Texas, in the summer of 2008. He was in
a backstage area, an hour ahead of his performance time at the
eight annual Mickey Newbury Gathering, where I was also performing.
We got to talking. Well, to be honest, Larry Jon got to talking. I asked
a question or two, and he told me stories. The performers ahead of
him ran late, so our time together continued a while longer. Stories
of his meetings with just about every performer of the folk boom era
in Greenwich Village and beyond, stories of his travels with Townes
Van Zandt, of his longtime friendship with Mickey Newbury. I laughed
so hard my body hurt. His performance that night made my heart feel
bigger than it had felt in a long time.

Larry Jon performed in April in Lebanon, Tennessee, a house concert
at my friend Denise Williams' home. It remains a mystery as to why he
chose to play there, but it seems like destiny now. I don't know for sure,
but it may have been his last public concert, certainly one of the last.
I mentioned to Denise that she ought to find a videographer to record
the event, saying that Larry Jon wasn't getting any younger and it would
be a shame to miss the opportunity to capture some of his 'in person'
magic on video. I watched a rough copy of that video the other day,
just before learning that Larry Jon had entered the hospital. I hope that
one day that video is released.

Larry Jon took sick and, once in the hospital, his condition quickly
worsened. Today, I heard the news that he'd slipped away.

The songs in this video are from his Monument recordings
- Handy Mackey and Farther Along. I made this video for
Bertrand Tyler Wilson, Larry Jon's son, and for everyone
who grieves his passing.

He was a giant of a character, a legend, never widely successful,
but loved by many. He will be missed. It may sound cliche to say,
but it's true: There won't be another like him.

DL

Many thanks to Denise Williams - and others - for sharing photographs for this video.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Larry
• Jon
• Wilson
• Handy
• Mackey
• Farther
• Along
• Doug
• Lang
• paganmaestro

[MrSruppy]

I just found out that he passed away. I'm shaken! I wanna say something profound but those who know his music will know what i wanna say.

Thanks you Larry Jon Wilson... God Bless you sir...Rest in Peace

[RealRoots1959]

One of the great losses of 2010.

[lastrada52]

He was born on my birthday! He's excellent. Right up there with Johnny Cash. Sounds a little like Jim Reeves with an edge. This country's music business deserves what it gets when it finally flounders. They let this talent get away? OK Sony BMG tried late in his career. Too little too late. His voice is filled with sincerity. Screw hit records. Invite him ONCE to a silly country award show to sing & everyone would know him. We lost. We LOST. We always lose.

[skipgardiner]

Thanks for posting... We saw Larry Jon with Shawn Mullins at Eddie's Attic and loves his style and voice.

[TheDave107]

Sorry to hear...I first heard him, he was opening for Leo K...I booked him at The Double Door in Charlotte....those first two albums are soooo good....what a voice

Thanks for posting

[funfinder27]

Just pulled Testifing,after sapalo,had to utube, one of the GREAT voices in any genre,loverly to pick from the Basket of gold,travel well !

I would bet not many Kiwi's know of him !

[prsmccarty01]

I missed my chance to see Larry Jon at that Lebanon show you mentioned. I can honestly say that not going is one of my biggest regrets ever. I never saw him perform. I've had so much respect for him musically for so many years now...  :-(

[laurenkay25]

We love you, Larry Jon. Rest, now.

[rTwang]

I just found out today and I feel crushed. I have been a huge fan since I was 15 in 1975 and thought those first two albums were coolest of the entire decade. I still put him in my all time top 10. I talked to him a couple times at great length many years later. What a great man.

[plippy]

I have never posted a comment on youtube before, but as a Brit from the UK i was probably one of his few fans over here. I dicovered him on the 'Testiifying' CD and worked back from there....Great tunes Larry Jon - am just off to find my hoe to fix some cakes!

[lifeisalongsong]

+ in my soul forever.Grandissimo!!!!!!

[TheDaddygrace]

The man CARED about life and showed it in his songs, conversations & observations. The first time I met LJ was in his home in Augusta. Within minutes I was a one-man audience to "wildflowers in a mason-jar". I felt real special & later realized he did that for MANY people. It doesn't mean I was any less special, just that he felt that way about just about everybody. HE SAW THE GOOD.

Goodbye my friend. I love you & will miss you dearly.

Shep

[mepsew]

beautiful tribute...thank you for posting it...i have been a fan since meeting Larry Jon in Augusta in 1978...

[quincydubois]

I have never heard of him but a fine singer who made his allotted span of three score and ten ... a lovely compilation

[katson6]

Thanks for posting. I only just heard the news and am deeply saddend by this loss. There are no words to do justice to this man who was incredibly underrated with the exception of his peers. A truly warm, loving and incredibly talented man. A very sad day. God Speed and condolneces to his family.

[wajames123]

Larry Jon was my introduction to what a Poet could do with all of those innermost thoughts and worries- and make them 'ours' (mine), not only his. And in doing so, made me(Us) know a little bit more about ourselves, good or bad. I just recently transferred the vinyl recordings I've been carrying with me since first I heard his deep, rich voice, and his messages within his music/poems that allowed us to step back and remember- I've been there too!

God Bless You LJW!