album Too Blues.
Garner grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his first inspiration being the guitar-playing preacher Reverend Utah Smith. Garner made
acquaintance with local musicians such as Lonesome Sundown, Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelley and Tabby Thomas. His musical influences include
Hogan, Clarence Edwards, Jimi Hendrix, and Henry Gray. He was taught to play guitar by his uncle and two other elders. Garner completed
military service in Korea and returned to Baton Rouge, working part-time in music and full-time at a Dow Chemical plant.
Garner won the International Blues Challenge in 1988, and his first two albums, Double Dues and Too Blues, were released by the British JSP
label. The latter album's title was in reply to a label executive who judged Garner's original demo to be "too blues". Thomas' nightclub, Tabby's Blues Box, provided Garner with a playing base in the 1980s and gave him the subject matter for the strongest song on Double Dues, "No Free Rides".
You Need to Live a Little (1994) was followed by Standing Room Only (1998), Baton Rouge (1999) and 2000's Once Upon the Blues. Baton Rouge''s 1999 track, "Go To Baton Rouge," offered a tourist's guide to Louisiana music spots.
In 2008, Garner was treated for a serious illness that was the inspiration for his 2008 album, Here Today Gone Tomorrow.(Wiki)
Back in the mid 90's Larry spent some time in the UK and we got to hang out occassionally ...I've bought him a few pints of Guinness !
It was enjoyable because I had peviously purchased some of his CD's and liked his original compositions, based on his own life experiences .
He came to the Earl Green 'Feel The Fire' CD launch party at the 100 Club, London, in 1996, where we both played, and he borrowed my Strat (which was nice!). OK... there's nothing outstandingly original about him, but he has a unique personality and style, he's a nice player and doesn't rely on covering old standards. He's added to the Blues Canon.
This album was his first on a major label and I really enjoyed it...Give it a listen and judge for yourself...
