I dread the day when a fine album of classic R&B fails to stir my soul. Larry McRay’s new album is quite superb, classic R&B in the best way – deep and soulful vocals with powerful and funky backing. As a tester for the state of my soul, it works perfectly – consider me thoroughly stirred.
Needless to say, McRay has history. Born in 1960 in Smackover, Arkansas, McCray grew up steeped in gospel, soul, and the electric blues of the three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie. He moved to Saginaw, Michigan at 12, where he honed his guitar style by blending classic blues with the psychedelic edge of Hendrix and the southern fire of the Allman Brothers. After years of gigging while working a factory job, he was signed in the late ’80s as the first artist on Virgin Records’ blues imprint Point Blank. His debut Ambition (1990) was followed by acclaimed albums like Delta Hurricane, Meet Me at the Lake, and Born to Play the Blues, solidifying his role in defining modern blues-rock through the ’90s and early 2000s. Over the years, McCray has played alongside a who’s who of music legends—B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, the Allman Brothers, Joe Walsh, Jonny Lang, Levon Helm, and of course, Joe Bonamassa. He was named Orville H. Gibson Male Blues Guitarist of the Year in 2000 and won the Top Guitarist prize in the International Blues Matters writer’s poll in 2014. He came back into notice after a seven year break, with the award winning ‘Blues Without You’ in 2022.
Which brings us up to date and his new release ‘Heartbreak City’. He has signed to Joe Bonamassa’s label and has the great man guesting alongside contributions from Reese Wynans, Kirk Fletcher, and background vocalists Jade Macrae and Dannielle De Andrea.
McRay’s vocals are strong and emotive, his guitar playing is true to the people he has played with and not short of his own style and his songwriting is top class.
All told, in a world of very average bands, a refreshingly excellent release.
