Larry Groce (born April 22, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and radio host. From 1983 until 2021, Groce served as the host and artistic director of ''
Mountain Stage'', a two-hour live music radio program produced by
West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by
NPR. He first entered the national spotlight in 1976 when his
novelty song
A novelty song is a type of song built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor, and wi ...
"
Junk Food Junkie" became a
Top Ten hit. After that, Groce's voice became well known by children and parents alike as a result of his Platinum recordings of classic children's songs for
Walt Disney Records ''Children's Favorites'' four-volume series: ''
Volume 1 Volume One, Volume 1, Volume I or Vol. 1 may refer to:
Albums
* ''Volume One'' (The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band album), 1966
* ''Volume One'' (Sleep album)
* ''Volume One'' (Fluff album)
* ''Volume One'' (She & Him album), 2008
* ''Volum ...
'' (1979), ''
Volume 2'' (1979), ''
Volume 3'' (1986), and ''
Volume 4 Volume Four, Volume 4, or Volume IV may refer to:
Music
*'' Lucio Battisti Vol. 4'', Lucio Battisti's fourth album, released in 1971
* ''Vol. 4'' (Black Sabbath album), Black Sabbath's fourth studio album, released in 1972
* ''Volume Four'', a 1992 ...
'' (1990).
Early life
Groce was born in 1948 in
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, to H.T. and Bobbie Groce. He had a younger brother, Gary (born July 7, 1951), and a younger sister, Janna (born April 8, 1961). Groce became interested in music while in elementary school. The family resided in the
Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, that was formerly a separate town in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1901. It has since retained a distinct neighborhood identity as one of Dallas' older established neighborhoods.
Oak Cl ...
section of Dallas, and he attended
Adamson High School
William Hardin Adamson High School, formerly Oak Cliff High School, is a public secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas, United States. It is part of the Dallas Independent School District and is classified as a 5A sc ...
there.
Classmates included singer-songwriters
Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey (born March 14, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, country music and popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including ''Cowboy Songs' ...
,
Ray Wylie Hubbard and
B. W. Stevenson.
Career
Groce's first album, a collection of hymns called ''Peace and Joy and Power'' for
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of which he is a member, was recorded in 1969 while he was still a college student at
Principia College
Principia College (Principia or Prin) is a private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois. It was founded in 1912 by Mary Kimball Morgan with the purpose of "serving the Cause of Christian Science." "Although the College is not affiliated with ...
in
Elsah, Illinois. After graduating in 1970, he moved to New York and became a regular performer at a "Focus", an
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side (UWS) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Central Park on the east, the Hudson River on the west, West 59th Street to the south, and West 110th Street to the north. The Upper West ...
organic food
Organic food, ecological food or biological food are food and drinks produced by methods complying with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological ...
restaurant and coffeehouse co-owned by future Hollywood producer and manager
Larry Brezner. (Brezner's wife at that time, musician
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage.
Early l ...
, was also a regular.) Later that year, Groce signed a recording contract with Daybreak Records, a subsidiary of
RCA Records
RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also ...
. His first album of original songs, ''The Wheat Lies Low'', was released in 1970. From 1972 to 1985 he was a
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federa ...
sponsored "musician-in-residence",
visiting schools in twenty US states.
One of those residencies brought him to
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...
in 1972, where he continues to make his home.
In 1976, his satiric
novelty song
A novelty song is a type of song built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor, and wi ...
"Junk Food Junkie" became a ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' top-ten hit
and led to appearances on ''
The Tonight Show
''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 2010� ...
'', ''
The Merv Griffin Show
''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 197 ...
'', ''
American Bandstand
''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pr ...
'', ''
The Midnight Special'', ''The
Rich Little Show'', ''
Nashville Now'',
The Disney Channel
Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compa ...
, ''
Dr. Demento'', and ''
A Prairie Home Companion
''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed '' Live from ...
''.
Between 1979 and 1990, Groce performed on nine
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
albums, one of which was certified
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...
and five certified
platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver".
Pla ...
.
His first Disney recording, ''
Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear and Pooh, is a fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard.
The first collection of stories about the character was the book ''Winn ...
for President'', was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" in 1976, and Disney's ''Children's Favorites'' Volumes I–IV remain in print and continue to sell.
In 1983, Groce co-founded ''
Mountain Stage'', a two-hour live music program produced by
West Virginia Public Radio and distributed nationally and internationally by
NPR and
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
's satellite radio service to over 200 stations.
He is its host, producer and artistic director.
His musical tastes have been instrumental in defining the sound of the show. ''Mountain Stage'' was the first nationally broadcast radio or television program to feature live performances by
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957)Lyle Lovett Pageat Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007 is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Active since 1980, he has recorded 13 albums and releas ...
,
Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three ...
,
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their Barenaked Ladies (EP), self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold i ...
,
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...
,
Ani DiFranco,
Phish
Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended Jam session#Rock, jams, blending of Music genre, genres, and a dedicated Fandom, fan base. The band consists of guitari ...
,
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of guitarist David Bryson, drummer Jim Bogios, vocalist Adam Duritz, keyboardist Charlie Gillingham, David Immerglück, bass guitarist ...
,
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live perf ...
,
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, and poet. He has released 23 albums, as well as three studio albums as a former member of alt-country band Whiskeytown.
In 2000, Adams left ...
,
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan OC OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. As of 2015, she had sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is '' Surfacing'', for which she won two Grammy Awards (ou ...
,
Tori Amos
Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...
,
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live perf ...
,
Lucinda Williams,
David Gray, and
The Avett Brothers. The show has also featured musical pioneers such as
Bill Monroe
William Smith "Bill" Monroe (; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter, who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the " Father of Bluegrass".
The genre take ...
,
Ralph Stanley,
Doc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award ...
,
Pops Staples and
Brownie McGhee as well as modern superstars
R.E.M.,
Martina McBride
Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material.
McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and relo ...
and
Norah Jones
Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. '' Billboard'' named her the ...
. Groce retired from hosting ''Mountain Stage'' in 2021; his successor is
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that re ...
.
In 2016, Groce released his first recording in 27 years ''Live Forever'' with his wife, violist Sandra Groce.
It includes four originals and eight covers, and includes the full version of the Mountain Stage theme song, "Simple Song."
Side projects
In 1990, he starred in ''Paradise Park'',
a low budget feature film made in West Virginia
about life in a Mountain State
trailer park. (It was later re-released as ''Heroes of the Heart''.) Groce also co-wrote the title song with
Webb Wilder, who also appeared in the film with country musicians
Porter Wagoner
Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour.
In 1967, he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, ''The Por ...
and
Johnny Paycheck. Groce co-wrote a musical theatre version.
Groce owned The
Morgantown School of Ballet from 1980 to 1985.
He was part owner of West Virginia's only statewide arts and entertainment alternative tabloid, ''
Graffiti
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
'', from 1990 until 2004.
In 2005, he became Executive Director of
FestivALL Charleston, a ten-day festival of music, dance, theater and visual arts in West Virginia's capital city
Charleston
Charleston most commonly refers to:
* Charleston, South Carolina
* Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital
* Charleston (dance)
Charleston may also refer to:
Places Australia
* Charleston, South Australia
Canada
* Charleston, Newfoundlan ...
.
Personal life
Larry Groce resides in
Charleston, West Virginia, having relocated there in 1972.
He is married to Sandra
Groce (née Armstrong), a classically-trained
violist
; german: Bratsche
, alt=Viola shown from the front and the side
, image=Bratsche.jpg
, caption=
, background=string
, hornbostel_sachs=321.322-71
, hornbostel_sachs_desc=Composite chordophone sounded by a bow
, range=
, related=
*Violin family ...
.
They have two daughters, Virginia (also a violist)
and Bonnie.
See also
*
List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Groce, Larry
1948 births
Living people
American children's musicians
American country singer-songwriters
American male singer-songwriters
Country musicians from Texas
Country musicians from West Virginia
Folk musicians from Texas
Folk musicians from West Virginia
NPR personalities
Musicians from Charleston, West Virginia
Musicians from Dallas
Principia College alumni
American Christian Scientists
Radio personalities from Dallas
Radio personalities from West Virginia
Singer-songwriters from Texas
Walt Disney Records artists
People from Oak Cliff, Texas
Singer-songwriters from West Virginia