Larry Mangum

Singer / Songwriter LARRY MANGUM has logged nearly 3000 performances over the last 4 decades as a folk, rock, country and Americana artist. It's not optional for Larry to play music-it's genetic! For over 100 years somebody from Larry's North Carolina family has been playing. Larry's Grandfather, Benton Drye, was a famous fiddle player; Uncle Homer Briarhopper was a radio fixture on WBT Charlotte in the 1930's and had a career on T.V., radio and night clubs for 50 years; Uncle Crawford Drye followed a similar path and added country comedian to the resume as Grandpappy Millsap; sister Kate, Larry's Mom, is a fine singer/guitarist and was also Randy Travis' guitar teacher!A Floridian since 1970, Larry has taken it one step further and added songwriter to the family resume. His song "Ain't It Great To Be Alive & Be In Florida" has been a feature at the Florida Folk Festival and has been performed by many of his fellow performers. It has also been the "fight" song for the Florida Jaycees for the last two decades. Larry's tribute to Gamble Rogers "The Last Troubadour" won 1st place at Gamblefest in 2005 and 3rd place at Wilfest 2006. "The Ballad of Dale and Gamble" won 1st place at Gamblefest in 2008! . Larry was also a top ten finalist at the South Florida Folk Festival with "That's What Daddy's Do". Larry Co-wrote (with Ric Steel) the Lee Greenwood single "Who's That Knocking"Larry excels at adapting his music to the situation, and performs solo, duo, and trio-up to a full Western Swing band called "The Cowboy Orchestra". His band was twice named "Best Country Band" in North Florida and South Georgia in the 1990's. His original music is influenced by legendary musical heroes like Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, Hank Williams Sr., John Denver, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Dwight Yoakam, The Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot and John Prine.Larry's concert appearances with music legends are too many to mention but some highlights include the late Waylon Jennings, The Texas Playboys, Billy Joe Shaver, Vasser Clements, Ray Price, Roger McGuinn, Juice Newton, Steve Young, T. Graham Brown, Gene Watson, T.G. Sheppard, and Alabama.After years of high quality performances at festivals, country clubs, fairs and honky tonks, Larry Mangum has become one of the premiere performers in North Florida and South Georgia!---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------