This Week Shining Star Salute goes To Master Larry Dunn ..Before i get started..Today is also Larrys Birthday June 19th .Larry Dunn is one of my Favorites..I loved every song the he had part in with his Songwriting and Production skills...From See the Light to Whirlwind and all the Song Between them all....Which From the Lps TTWOTW to NTF.. Larry Dunn is an American keyboardist, musical director and one of the early members of the music group Earth, Wind, & Fire. Dunn, along with other members of Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Born Lawrence Dunhill AKA Larry Dunn ( June 19 1953), he attended East High School in Denver, Colorado. During most of the Earth, Wind & Fire years, Larry produced, performed, composed and arranged for side-projects like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Caldera, Ramsey Lewis, Ronnie Laws, Stanley Turrentine, Sylvia St. James, Lenny White with Twennynine, and many more. Dunn has also toured with Al McKay and his L.A. All Stars. He is, together with ex-EWF keyboardist Morris Pleasure and ex-EWF guitarist Sheldon Reynolds, one of the founding members of the band Devoted Spirits. The first Devoted Spirits album, Devoted Spirits: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire, contains their cover versions of classic EWF songs as well as some new material. A second Devoted Spirits album, called The Answer, is due to be released. Dunn and his wife Luisa are owners of Source Productions, and are involved in music for TV, film and commercials in addition to working with various other musicians. In the Beginning: Larrys Mother is Italian and Father is Black. He Started banging on the piano at the age of two years old...Also his father was a musician that played Bass,Guitars & Piano. His Father was also a hard worker as a X Ray Tech for the Veterans Hospital and a Janitor for the Highway Patrol . At 4 his father has taught him Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino .By the Fourth Grade he had got an Acoustic Guitar and Learn all George Harrisons Solos due to being a Beatle fan. Fifth Grade joined the school band and was sick on the first day when clads started so he had to take the Baritone Horn when he came to class the next day reason for that , that was the only instrument left. Sixth Grade they had got Larry a Organ and the rest was history. .Playing Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela & Jr. Walker All Stars as a Child eleven years old, Bass player Hillard Wilson was Thirteen had hooked up with Larry and the rest was history. One day Larry has seen a Band that has three singers with 3 part harmony and it happened to be Philip Bailey ,Carl Carswell & Winston Ford .They joined Larry band and called then self The Mystic Mood later became Friends and Love .At the age Fifthteen Larry Mother let him play in Night Clubs 7 days a week at that time you had to be great to be playing in the club at that age.. Maurice White Started recruiting for another EWF Band and recruited Phil....Reese ,Verdine and Phil is the beginning...when they need a Keyboard Player and Philip say he has a guy from his hometown is very good but doesnt has much experience and Larry said dont say that..lol With his funky keyboard playing, Larry helped transform Earth, Wind & Fire into one of the all-time most successful R&B bands in the world, with sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide, 6 GRAMMYs, 13 GRAMMY nominations, 4 American Music Awards, 32 Gold & Platinum/Multi-Platinum Records & Albums, a Star on Hollywoods Walk Of Fame, induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (2000) and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2010) as well as other industry awards. In addition to playing organ, synthesizer, piano, keyboards, and clavinet with the group from 1972 until 1983, Larry held the position and handled the responsibilities of the bands Musical Director. As one of the key people behind the scene, much of the groups musical success can be attributed to him. In addition, he rehearsed Earth, Wind & Fire for live stage performances and wrote many of the musical segue ways and medleys. Larry had major creative influence in, and is proud of his contribution to such Earth, Wind & Fire classics as: Shining Star, Spirit, Be Ever Wonderful, Runnin, See The Light, Let Me Talk, And Love Goes On, Jupiter, as well as other melodies that will live on in the hearts of fans and popular music lovers alike.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 23:38:01 +0000
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