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".
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 FellowCorey 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).
Later that week in May, 2008, Hoffman was featured at Chicago's 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, --a program appearing in rotation on Chicago cable television, as seen in the video posted on this site.
Hoffman's other compositions include "Theme and Variations For Cello And Piano," "Blues Etude For Three Flutes," "Wind Quintet No. 2: The Blues," "Blues Suite For Solo Violoncello," and the nine-minute, groundbreaking "Blues For Orchestra." His latest work is "String Quartet 2." (2008)
Larry is currently composing and teaching guitar and music theory privately in the Baltimore area. His students-former and current--range from beginners to musicians who record and perform professionally on a regular basis.
As an educator he has lectured nationally, and taught courses in the history, theory, and practice of music both in the classroom and on a private basis. He served on the faculties of the Peabody Institute, the Johns Hopkins Evening College, and the Goucher Center and has been a consultant and lecturer at the Smithsonan Museum Of American History the Chicago Blues Festival and the Pocono Blues Festival since 1997. In March, 2008, Hoffman was nominated for a United States Artist Fellowship.
Thanks for your kind words Larry. What a fun night! Looking forward to tomorrow. I've been checking out Otis Rush on youtube etc., thanks for the story :-)
howz about a Happy Holidays Sir Hoffman! I'm with mi papa right now in Atown, listening to the blues--Johnny Meister's show from last weekend & typing on the new pc Santa brought him. Hope you're having a rockin' Holiday!
Hi Larry, I'm impressed that you have Mozart and Brahms as friends, and that Brahms is on-line as I type this!
I wonder if you might be interested in these:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=185294362&blogID=259514333&MyToken=696b3698-ffce-42ae-a6bb-ab63d79eb3ea
and http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=185294362&blogID=259494057&MyToken=696b3698-ffce-42ae-a6bb-ab63d79eb3ea
Larry your links are great!!!
the Blue Unicorn - right around the corner from our old place on Ashbury and Fell - now a part of the H.A. Pilgrimage Tour (ha ha)... the Coffee Gallery in North Beach... the Block in B'more ... picture you slouched over an old piano or guitar with your eyelids drooping and a cigarette hanging from your mouth, floating on a cloud of music.
