Larry Lee Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

, and writes songs in the bluegrass tradition.

Biography

Early years

Stephenson learned how to play the mandolin as a young boy. At age 13, he recorded a

45 rpm single In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standal ...

with his interpretation of the

Osborne Brothers The Osborne Brothers, Sonny (October 29, 1937 – October 24, 2021) and Bobby (December 7, 1931 – June 27, 2023), were an influential and popular bluegrass act during the 1960s and 1970s and until Sonny retired in 2005. They are probably ...

Rocky Top "Rocky Top" is an American country and bluegrass song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967 and first recorded by the Osborne Brothers later that same year. The song, which is a city dweller's lamentation over the loss of a simpler ...

" on one side and

Jim & Jesse Jim & Jesse were an American bluegrass music duo of brothers, Jim McReynolds (February 13, 1927 – December 31, 2002) and Jesse McReynolds (July 9, 1929 – June 23, 2023). They were born and raised in Carfax, a community near Coeburn, Virgini ...

's "Somebody Loves You Darling" on the flip side. Stephenson started touring with his father Ed Stephenson in the mid 1970s in Larry Stephenson & the New Grass. He also toured with Cliff Waldron and Leon Morris. Starting in 1979, he toured with Bill Harrell and the Virginians for more than four years. In 1983, he joined the Bluegrass Cardinals. During this time, he recorded two solo albums: ''Sweet Sunny South'' in 1982 and ''Every Time I Sing A Love Song''. He moved close to Nashville in April 1992.

The Larry Stephenson Band

Stephenson formed the band February 10, 1989. Initially, Marc Keller played guitar, Doug Campbell played bass, and, Rick Allred played banjo. The current lineup is Derek Vaden (banjo), Matt Downing (guitar), and Norbert McGettigan (bass).

White House

White House was a bluegrass supergroup formed by Stephenson,

David Parmley David L. Parmley (born February 1, 1959) is a bluegrass vocalist, guitarist, and award-winning bandleader. He is best known for being a co-founder of both the Bluegrass Cardinals and Continental Divide. Biography Parmley was born in White H ...

(guitar, lead vocals),

Missy Raines Missy Raines (born April 6, 1962) is an American bassist, singer, teacher, and songwriter. She has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Bass Player of the Year. Missy Raines was the first woman to win IBMA Bass Player of the Year aw ...

(bass), Jason Carter (violin), and Charlie Cushman (banjo). All members are or were residents of

White House, Tennessee White House is a city in Robertson and Sumner counties in the United States state of Tennessee. The population was listed as 12,982 in the 2020 census. It is approximately twenty-two miles north of downtown Nashville. History Settlers The area ...

. They released one album, ''White House'', in 2003.

The Bluegrass Band

The Bluegrass Band was formed in 1972 by Butch Robins, but disbanded one year later. The band started up again in 1989, this time with members Wayne Henderson (guitar), Ronnie Simpkins (bass),

Wyatt Rice Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit. Biography Rice was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Florida and other loca ...

(guitar), Arnie Solomon (mandolin), Robins (banjo),

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christ ...

(violin, mandolin, vocals), and Stephenson (mandolin, vocals). They recorded four albums that were sold via telemarketing: ''Once Again From the Top'' volumes 1 and 2 were traditional bluegrass, and ''Shine Hallelujah Shine'' volumes 2 and 2 were traditional gospel.

Whysper Dream Music

Stephenson and his wife Dreama run their own record label Whysper Dream Music, named after their daughter Falon Whysper. They started the label when Pinecastle temporarily went out of business.

Awards

Stephenson has won numerous Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) awards: * 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008: Male Vocalist of the Year. * 2005: Song of the Year for "Clinch Mountain Mystery". * 2006: IBMA Album of the Year for his participation in ''Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer''. * 2011: Mandolin Player of the Year. * 2008: Recorded Event of the Year for his participation in ''Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother''. * 2010: Recorded Event of the Year for "Give This Message To Your Heart" from his ''Give This Message to Your Heart: 20th Anniversary'' album. * 2015: Album Of The Year for ''Pull Your Savior In''. * 2016: Vocal Group of the Year. Stephenson is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996).

Discography

Solo albums

* 1982: ''Sweet Sunny South'' (Outlet) reissued on Webco in 1999 * 1988: ''Everytime I Sing a Love Song'' (Webco)

Compilations

* 2005: ''The Webco Years'' (Pinecastle)

As a member of Larry Stephenson and the New Grass

* 1976: ''Best of Bluegrass'' (Major MRLP 2198)

With Cliff Waldron

* 1978: ''God Walks the Dark Hills'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

)

As a member of Bill Harrell and the Virginians

* 1982: ''Blue Ridge Mountain Boy'' (Leather) * 1983: ''Walking in the Early Morning Dew'' (Rebel)

As a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals

* 1984: ''Home is Where the Heart Is'' ( Sugar Hill) * 1986: ''The Shining Path'' (Sugar Hill)

As a member of the Bluegrass Band

* 1990: ''Once Again, from the Top, Vol. 1'' (Hay Holler) * 1990: ''Once Again, from the Top, Vol. 2'' (Hay Holler) * 1992: ''Shine Hallelujah Shine Vol 1'' (Hay Holler) * 1992: ''Shine Hallelujah Shine Vol 2'' (Hay Holler)

As a member of White House

* 2003: ''White House'' (Pinecastle)

With the Larry Stephenson Band

Note: Webco releases listed below have been reissued on Pinecastle * 1990: ''Timber'' (Webco) * 1991: ''Can't Stop Myself'' (Webco) * 1993: ''Wash My Blues Away'' (Webco) * 1994: ''Close My Eyes to Heaven'' (Webco) * 1994: ''Born to Sing'' (Webco) * 1995: ''Far Away in Tennessee'' (Webco) * 1996: ''I See God'' (Webco) * 1998: ''On Fire'' (Pinecastle) * 2000: ''Two Hearts on the Borderline'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: ''Heavenward Bound'' (Pinecastle) * 2004: ''Clinch Mountain Mystery'' (Pinecastle) * 2006: ''Life Stories'' (Pinecastle) * 2007: ''Thankful'' (Pinecastle) * 2010: ''Give This Message to Your Heart: 20th Anniversary'' (Whysper Dream Music) * 2012: ''What Really Matters (Whysper Dream Music) * 2014: ''Pull Your Savior In'' (Whysper Dream Music) * 2017: ''Weep Little Willow'' (Whysper Dream Music)

Videos

* 2007: ''The Larry Stephenson Band: In Concert at Cypress Gardens'' DVD (Pinecastle)

As primary artist/song contributor

* 2003: various artists – ''Pinecastle Christmas Gathering'' (Pinecastle) – track 5, "Country Christmas" (with Kristin Scott Benson) * 2004: various artists – ''The Essential Bluegrass Christmas Collection: Christmas Time's a Comin (Time/Life) – track 16, "

Away in a Manger "Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most popular carols; a 1996 Gallup Poll ranked it joint second. Although i ...

" * 2008: various artists – ''Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country'' (Pinecastle) – track 13, "Alone with You" * 2012: various artists – ''Life Goes On: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer'' (Rural Rhythm) – track 17, "I Should've Called"

Also appears on

* 1996:

Bill Emerson Norvell William Emerson (January 1, 1938 – June 22, 1996) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri from 1981 until his death from lung cancer in Bethesda, Maryland in 19 ...

– ''Banjo Man'' (Pinecastle) – mandolin * 1999: Jeff Autry – ''Foothills'' (Pinecastle) – mandolin, vocals * 1999: Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers- ''Jimmy Martin Songs For Dinner'' (louisvillemusic.com) * 2001:

– ''What We Leave Behind'' (Pinecastle) – vocals * 2005: Aaron McDaris – ''First Time Around'' (Pinecastle) – mandolin, vocals * 2007: John Starling and Carolina Star – ''Slidin' Home'' (Rebel) – mandolin, harmony vocals * 2009: Kristin Scott Benson – ''Second Season'' (Pinecastle) – vocals

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Larry Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Country musicians from Virginia American country singer-songwriters American bluegrass mandolinists 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Virginia