Larry Long singing in New Orleans with a group of people

Larry Long recording a song collectively written with residents from the 9th Ward of New Orleans through his Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song program in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Author Studs Terkel called Long “a true American Troubadour.” When Pete Seeger was told that Larry is often referred to as the Pete Seeger of Minnesota, Pete replied, “I would be honored to be called the Larry Long of New York.”

“Out of muteness, silence, and pain there comes a song. It rises from the earth, the exploitation, work, and sorrow of the people. It rises from struggle kept alive in our wonderful multiplicity and sounds the tenderness of our solidarity. Bird song, people’s songs, from struggle and death, from the lost and gone and mute, out of the corpse of our death we sing.

Then our joyous singer like Larry Long begins to come where we are working, where we are living, and listens, repeats like a mockingbird, or notes of nightingales or meadowlarks, makes songs out of the first and last breath. He sings where we are, about what is happening. He takes the real sound, the real words and gives us back our songs and we hear what singers we all are and how beautiful, and how strong.”  —Meridel Le Sueur, American Author & Poet

American Roots Revue feat. Robert Robinson, Tonia Hughes Kendrick, Larry Long & Barbara Cohen

American Roots Revue is baaaaack! The Revue’s stellar players slated for the band’s return for two shows on Saturday, January 13th in the new year include gospel legend Robert Robinson, R&B, soul […]

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Sweet Thunder Available Now On Digital Platforms Worldwide through Larry Long Music in association with Rock the Cause Records

Larry Long writes songs the same way an artists uses found objects: a bit of local folklore here, a traditional American Indian instrument there, and, before you know it, he’s […]

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Larry Long’s new release entitled ‘Songs for My Grandchildren’ is available now at no cost for family and friends.

Click here to receive your free download. 

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American Roots Revue feat. Robert Robinson, Tonia Hughes Kendrick, Larry Long & Barbara Cohen

American Roots Revue is baaaaack! The Revue’s stellar players slated for the band’s return for two shows on Saturday, January 13th in the new year include gospel legend Robert Robinson, R&B, soul singer and actor Tonia Hughes Kendrick, American Troubadour Larry Long, singer-songwriter and film composer Barbara Cohen, vocalist & keyboardist Billy Steele, drummer Michael Bland with Cellist Jacqueline Ultan, lead guitarist Jeremy Yivisaker, Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott, bassist Liz Draper, and Anishinaabe Ojibwe singer Alana Dickenson-Gaabay Aniikwaad.

Indigenous song, Gospel, R&B, Blues, Folk, Rock and all stops in between and combined are on tap when the American Roots Revue takes the Dakota stage with its most robust – and rootsiest – lineup ever! The evening will swing from an Anishinaabe Ojibwe tribute for water to rhythm and blues, old-time fiddle tunes, soul, folk, and gospel and a handful of memorable Larry Long original tunes.

Band Led by former Prince and current Soul Asylum Drummer Michael Bland and Keyboardist Billy Steele from Sounds of Blackness.

Show Times: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
For tickets: www.dakotacooks.com
Box Office: 612-332-5299

“You could think of the American Roots Revue as Larry Long’s version of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. Well-known rockers, soul singers, folkies and other first-class musicians rotate through the line-up at different gigs, giving audiences the rare chance to see different artists collaborating on each other’s songs.” – Martin Keller, Twin Cities Author & Journalist

American Roots Revue’s last performance at the Dakota in October 2022 was featured on the inaugural of STAGE –TPT-PBS.

That performance is also captured on American Roots Revue Live at the Dakota and is now available on all social media platforms, Spotify, Apple, etc., plus on CD.  Available for purchase online through the Dakota.

Sweet Thunder Available Now On Digital Platforms Worldwide through Larry Long Music in association with Rock the Cause Records

Larry Long writes songs the same way an artists uses found objects: a bit of local folklore here, a traditional American Indian instrument there, and, before you know it, he’s created a thing of beauty.  It might take a little time before that beauty becomes clear, but the listener’s patience never goes unrewarded.

On this, his third album, the Minneapolis song crafter and guardian of the Mississippi River has assembled a most intriguing and beguiling collection of tunes.  (Long has called in some chips, and fans of local music will recognize assistants like Michael Johnson, Peter Ostroushko, Claudia Schmidt, Leo Kottke, Billy Peterson and Bruce Kurnow).

The centerpiece of the album is a 13-minute-long “Water in the Rain,” which recalls and is dedicated to the 38 Dakota warriors who were hanged en masse in Mankato in 1862.  It also features Dakota poet Amos Owen listing the names of the 38 and offering a prayer for reconciliation.  It is a project of moving depth and emotion that demands repeated hearing and rapt attention.  Rating: 4 Stars – James M. Tarbox, St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch

Larry Long – Lead Vocal, 12-String Guitar | Amos Owen – Dakota Prayer & Reciting the names of the 38 Dakota hung by Lincoln’s decree in 1862 | Raymond Owen – Hand Drum on Memorial Song ‘Dakota Oyate’| Mitch Walking Elk – Drum, Singer on ‘Dakota Oyate’.| Sherry Blakey Banai – Singer on ‘Dakota Oyate’.| Claudia Schmidt – Support vocals | Peter Ostroushko – Violin
Billy Peterson – Acoustic Bass | Steve Faison – Beanpod, Congas | Ron Miles – Rainstick | Production: Amos Owen, Larry Long, Rick McArthur, Billy Peterson

Produced by Billy Peterson & Larry Long
Digitally recorded at Creation Audio
Recording Engineer: Chopper Black
Mixing Engineers: Chopper Black & Lynn F. Peterson
Musical Consultant: Rick McArthur
Front Cover Art: Traditional Cree Biting of Birch Innerbark by Angelique Merasty (Beaver Lake, Saskatchewan)
Front Cover Photo: Ron Miles

Sweet Thunder is made available through Larry Long Music in association with Rock the Cause Records

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