Larry McGrath Music

Larry McGrath’s first exposure to live music was listening to his older brother Jim’s band in high school with John Belushi on drums and vocals, practicing Loius Louis and Tobacco Road in the basement! From their love of the blues, he started listening to the great blues artists in small intimate clubs in Chicago. Artists such as,Freddie King, Muddy Waters,Buddy Guy, Little Walter, Willy Dixon, Albert King and last but not least the great Otis Rush who invited Larry to sit in and play with him on numerous occasions at the Wise Fools Pub in Chicago, he was a friend and a great inspiration to Larry.

Larry has recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee and played extensively through the years on Beale Street, The Peabody Hotel, Memphis in May, Mud Island and concerts -opening shows for Carl Perkins,Steve Cropper, Eric Johnson,Charlie Daniels,Sean Lane and The Four Tops.

When it became apparent that music was not going to be enough to provide for his wife and five kids, he decided to take a hiatus from music for  25 years until the kids were grown and gone. His wife Mary would say “Why don’t you play your electric guitar?” He Just couldn’t do it, because he knew if he picked it up he wouldn’t be able to put it down.  After his 60th birthday party when all his family had left after playing acoustic guitars and singing old beatle songs on the back deck. He was sitting alone and thought I still love playing as much as I ever did and the kids are all raised and my day job would easily enable me to do this again - and he hasn’t looked back since! 

Larry is currently writing and recording his original material and occasionally plays when possible with songwriter Wes Dorethy in a duo called DORETHY & MCGRATH. They have just released a album called Lost & Found. Available online or at their website dorethymcgrath.com.

Larry also plays with Al Corte’ & The Memphis Soul Machine, a ten piece horn band out of Memphis whenever possible.