Larry McNeely: Biography

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• Roy Acuff

• Jay Dee Maness

Born:

Jan 3, 1948 in Lafayette, IN

Genres:

Country Music, Bluegrass Music

Decades Active:

1970's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

A talented session musician, Larry McNeely is known best for his work with Roy Acuff and Glen Campbell. A native of Lafayette, IN, he was born into a musical family, but didn't begin learning to play piano until he was 13. He then added guitar and banjo, and got his professional start at the age of 17 when he joined the Pinnacle Mountain Boys. In 1965, after moving to Nashville to work for the Sho-Bud Guitar Company (formed by Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons), he met Acuff and joined his Smoky Mountain Boys. He remained with them through decade's end and then moved to California, where he joined Glen Campbell's band after John Hartford left. He recorded his first solo album, Glen Campbell Presents Larry McNeely, in 1971. He remained with Campbell through 1974, then left the touring circuit to work as a session man. McNeely played on numerous albums (including work by the Carpenters and Roger Miller) as well as movie soundtracks, commercials, and in 1977, he recorded two albums for different labels. He went back to Nashville in 1984 to try the bluegrass scene, but soon returned to work with Acuff, with whom he played until Acuff's death in 1992. After that McNeely began working with Russ and Becky Jeffers and Smoky Mountain Sunshine.

- Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide