Larry Hoffman started his musical career in his teens as a self-taught folk singer/ guitarist / songwriter, playing open mikes in his hometown of Baltimore, MD, with a repertoire that included traditional folk, old-timey, bluegrass, ragtime, blues, and originals. He landed his first professional gig at the Blues Bag in Provincetown, MA, opening for artists such as John Hammond , The Jim Kweskin Jug Band , Tom Rush , Doc Watson , and blues legend Skip James . In 1966, he moved to San Francisco, where he gigged regularly at many clubs including the Blue Unicorn and Coffee Gallery , while jamming around with such artists as harp legend Sonny Terry , singer/songwriter Loudon Wainright III , famed harpist Charlie Musselwhite , and acclaimed sideman, pianist Alberto Gianquinto . After returning to the east coast, he undertook intensive jazz studies in Philadelphia with the legendary Dennis Sandole , while working jazz/blues bands in Baltimore's red light district: "the block" .
Later, he studied with W. Spencer Huffman, Ray Elam Sprenkle , and Robert Hall Lewis at the Peabody Conservatory , earning degrees in theory and composition. While at Peabody he was awarded the Gustav Klemm Award and the Otto Ortman Prize for compositional excellence and received grants from the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard and the American Music Center . While a student he gained national recognition for his composition Music For Six Percussionists . Published by Seesaw Music , this work became a prizewinner in the Percussive Arts Society Competition - receiving performances by conductor/percussionists John Beck , and Raymond Des Roches . He also received lessons from Pulitzer Prize winning composers Karel Husa , Jacob Druckman , Joseph Schwantner , Charles Wuorinen , Virgil Thomson , David Del Tredici , Ned Rorem , Donald Erb , and George Crumb . He joined the Peabody Institute faculty to teach courses in guitar, music theory, and music history. During his tenure he served also as co-ordinator of the Visiting Composers Program, co-chairman of the Preparatory Theory Department, director of The Arts Expansion Program, and creator/director of Peabody's first jazz program in many years.
He left academia and returned to the blues--this time as a writer, contributing articles , columns , and reviews to premiere publications such as The Baltimore Sun , The Baltimore City Paper , Living Blues , Guitar Player Magazine , the All Music Guide , and King Biscuit Times , as well as writing liner notes for recording companies both in the US and abroad. He was Grammy-nominated for his notes to Mean Old World: The Blues From 1940-1994 which he compiled and co-produced for the Smithsonian Institution Press. Most recently, he was the chief liner note writer for the double Grammy-winning collection, Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues . He was named Living Blues Magazine's "Liner Note Writer Of The Year," and "Best Compiler Of A Historical Compilation."
He began producing blues records during this time, and was named Living Blues' "Producer Of The Year," most notably for the first Alligator CDs of 2008 MacArthur Fellow Corey Harris , whom Hoffman discovered and recorded in 1994. Fish Ain't Bitin' , his second effort with Harris, won nearly ten awards, and was named Acoustic Blues Record Of The Year, garnering artist and producer a W.C. Handy Award . Other of Hoffman's productions include CD's by Chico Banks , Freddie Roulette , Reggie Wayne Morris
, and John Weston . Songs from Hoffman's CD's have been used in shows such as "The Big Easy" (USA Network), and "Lost" (10/18/07 ABC-TV).
As a composer he has been a pioneer in integrating post-war blues into classical music. Members of the Cleveland Orchestra recorded his Blues for Harp, Oboe, and Violoncello , and his String Quartet No.1: The Blues was premiered at the Smithsonian Chamber Music Series in Washington, DC. The Chicago premiere of Hoffman's music was in May, 2006, when this string quartet was performed at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center by members of the New Millenium String Quartet and Eighth Blackbird . Hoffman's music has been performed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey, performed by concert soloists such as oboist John Mack , harpists Yolanda Kondonassis and Gretchen Van Hoesen , cellist Anne Martindale-Williams , and artists of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra such as the The Atlantic String Quartet . Hoffman's work, Colors For Trumpet And Percussion was commissioned in 2006 by BSO principal trumpeter Andrew Balio and percussionist Dave DePeters, and premiered that year at the Maryland Institute College Of Art .In 2007, Hoffman was commissioned by the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra to compose Three Songs For Bluesman And Orchestra , a groundbreaking work that included lyrics of three songs by bluesman John Primer , former Muddy Waters' bandmate who sang and improvised with the orchestra under the direction of Maestro Paul Freeman . This work was premiered at Dominican University on May 11, 2008 and repeated the next evening at Symphony Center in Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times had an interesting take on the style of the piece. Hoffman was also featured at the Harold Washington Library on May 9, as part of the Speakin' Of The Blues series, which featured an interview of the composer by Chicago's Special Events Director Barry Dolins , along with a performance of Hoffman's String Quartet 1: The Blues , -- both to appear on Chicago cable television.Hoffman's other compositions include "Blues Etude For Three Flutes," "Wind Quintet No. 2: The Blues," "Blues Suite For Solo Violoncello," and the nine-minute, groundbreaking "Blues For Orchestra."
As an educator Hoffman has lectured nationally, and taught courses in the history, theory, and practice of music both in the classroom and on a private basis---mostly in the Baltimore, Maryland area. He served on the faculties of the Peabody Institute, the Johns Hopkins Evening College, and the Goucher Center. He has served as a consultant to and a lecturer at both the Chicago Blues Festival and the Pocono Blues Festival since 1997. In March, 2008, Hoffman was nominated for a United States Artist Fellowship .
