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I'm a keyboard player with a specialty in B-3 styles. I live in a wee dell at the foot of Gleng'ry Hill in Nashville where I raise turkeys, occasionally displaying them on MySpace. The rest of the time I spend in the studios, on stage or on the bus.I have a blues, RnB, gospel, soul background which I morph into pop, country, RnR, funk, folk, and jazz. I love it all. I have production, songwriting, tracking, singing, arranging and performance experience with a variety of artists. Nuendo, Digital Performer, ProTools and Reason are my DAW's of choice so far. But wait, there's more!Here's a little about the toons I've posted, some of which I wrote in a fit of pique and as an inexpensive alternative to counseling, medication, and physical restraint. The bio stuff follows in paralyzing detail. Thank you for your attention!
~ Look To The Rainbow ~ Eeeeeek, it's a freakin' Irish show tune! Aye, but I like it too. I was having fun with the computer a few nights ago and wanted to share. It was my intent to accentuate the soul of this gorgeous song, and avoid bumbling into Anthony Newley-Land as unto the Black Plague. It turned out I wasn't in danger of going there in the first place.~ Rita Don't Live Here No More ~ Co-written with with my ol' pal Thom Thornell , the title came literally from a note his landlord had stuck to a neighbor's door. We never knew what happened to Rita, but we decided to assume the best. This song features a true rock 'n roll legend, Ms. Bonnie Bramlett , singin' sweet and soulful. What a privilege it was to sing with this fine and remarkable lady. The b.g. vocals were done by another fabulous vocalist who has also been there and done that, sista Kim Morrisson .~ We Could Be Hip Next Week ~ The title popped out in a conversation that turned into a "gosh that sounds like a song title" kind of moment. A co-write with Thom Thornell , it just sounded like it should have a Tower Of Power-ish kind of vibe. So here then is our rotgut tribute to that little band from the city by the bay.~ Thinkin' About Goin' Home ~ I wrote this song about a working girl I met when I was performing in a little oil field town in the middle of Kansas. I was starting to burn out with the direction life seemed to be taking me, and I found it ironic that a place I wanted to escape from so badly would be the destination, or at least a soft place to land, for another. The lovely Johnny Neel from the Allman Brothers among others, joins me in sanctified, woholio church sangin' on this one.~ Misery Loves Company ~ I think this little dumpling by Jerry Reed is about the best bar-room song ever written. Delivering the sermonette we have Mike O'Neil from the Mount Holy Olive Second Baptist Zion Church of the Sanctified Sweet Singular Double-Clutchin' Non-Stop Livin' Swing. Jaisson Taylor , percussionist with the celebrated Alvin Aillie Ensemble, sings the first verse while the bodaciously sensitive Ed Yokely of KC plays guitar.~ What The Woman Knows ~ Ahhh, there's nothing like being in a classic love triangle to make you feel alive, like you've got yer shirtsleeves rolled up and you're in there playing the game. I dealt with it in a mature and pro-active way by getting my first and last DUI, writing 25 songs and moving to Nashville. And hey, I'm truly honored to present the great cajun squeezeboxer Jo-El Sonnier on this song, so things eventually worked out for the best.Alrighty then, hope you lak 'em!~ Larry van Loon ~
this is from the Music City Bluesletter~ Nashville, May '03 ~Larry's style is the result of a classical upbringing and musical education colliding headlong with barbeque, fried chicken, gospel music, the blues, jazz, rock and funk. He studied at the University of Hartford's Hartt College of Music performing with and under the direction of such notables as Aaron Copeland, Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, and with soloists from the New York City and Metropolitan Operas. This should have led the young Dutch immigrant down a more conservative path.Kansas City is what happened to Larry van Loon. From front porch sit-downs to the improvisations of the famous KC jam sessions, Larry sought exposure from all sides of the city's musical heritage. Still, back in the late 70's, the town was a virtual desert when looking for the blues. So Larry played 'em to packed houses every night. His group evolved into the Kansas City Blues Band which recorded and toured during the 80's. And the blue monday jams that he co-hosted for many years in Old Westport not only had great vitality but great influence as well on the newly re-emerging Kansas City blues scene.When you're loaded for musical bear like that, what do you do? Well, you hit the road, and share the stage with legends like Muddy Waters, B. B. King, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Buddy Guy, Martha Reeves, Jay McShann, Gregg Allman, Air Supply, The Winans, The Mighty Clouds of Joy , and Oleta Adams to name a few. Larry added to this musical soup extensive tours with blues brother Matt "Guitar" Murphy , and mixed in a touch of organ work for Bo Diddley, Son Seals, A.C. Reed, Lee Oscar, Wayne Cochran, and Al Green. He also performed exclusively original material for several years with the house band at a fondly-recalled KC landmark club, "The Tuba". The end result? One very special singer/songwriter ready to find a place where his roots could take hold.Nashville is the musical nest that Larry has found. He has performed in some of this city's most notable venues, from the Grand Ole Opry to B.B. King's, and co-written with some of it's finest, such as Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn and Steve Earle. He is active in the studios and creates in the digital domain using software such as Reason, Nuendo, ProTools and Digital Performer.He has appeared and/or recorded with talented and distinguished members of the Nashville musical community such as Michael Peterson, Miranda Louise, Bonnie Bramlett, Johnny Neel, Mike Holloway, Jo-El Sonnier, Jimmy Hall, Justin Conn, C.J. Vaughn, Colt Prather, Clifford Curry , KC-based pianist/vocalist/writer extraordinaire Kelley Hunt and the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher .He performs regularly with soulful country singer T. Graham Brown , harpist deluxe Tim Gonzalez , spankin' blues/funk group Hambone , nouveau rockers The Church Of Cleanliness , Richard Waters & Da Blues Boyz, and Night Train to Nashville star/vocalist with neo-funksters The Dynamites, Charles "Wigg" Walker. He has co-produced, tracked keys, done vocals as well as layout/cover art for Wigg's current solo project slated for a European release in 2007, Justin Conn 's latest CD project, as well as performing with the excellent house band at the historic Starlite Dine and Dance Club . "Come sit for a while on my favorite divan" is the feel Larry lends to a live performance. The Hammond B-3 is the punch that he serves.