LARRY WALLACE banjo

Welcome To LarryWallaceBanjo.com!

Larry Wallace is one of the nation’s top bluegrass banjo players, and has been active in bluegrass music for over forty years. Through the years, he has been a member of several nationally known groups including Perfect Tyming, The Warrior River Boys, and the "King of Bluegrass " Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys.

Larry Wallace was a member of Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys in Nashville for 10 years and holds the record as the banjo player with the longest tenure with the "King of Bluegrass" Jimmy Martin.

Larry Wallace has appeared on The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Nashville Network (TNN), Great American Country (GAC), RFD-TV, Ontario, Canada, and The Bluegrass Cruise to the Bahamas. His musical work has been documented by the Mississippi Arts Commission and he has also been awarded a Folk Arts Apprenticeship three times as a Master Traditional Artist by the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Latest News!

Larry is currently teaching two of his banjo courses online and at his home studio:

The Physics Of The Five-String Banjo

and

The Science Of The Solid Right Hand

These original courses contain very detailed information in the two most important concepts of bluegrass banjo playing - understanding how the banjo physically projects the best sound and exactly how the right hand should play to achieve the best sound.

For more information about private and online lessons with Larry Wallace click here to be directed to his teaching page on this website.

Larry Wallace teaches at the

18th Annual SPBGMA Banjo Workshop

Nashville, Tennessee

On February 6, 2015, Larry was very proud to be a special guest instructor at the 18th Annual SPBGMA Banjo Workshop at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville. The featured banjo artist this year was 4-time IBMA Banjo Player of The Year Kristin Scott-Benson of The Grascals. Other instructors were workshop director and author Jack Hatfield and author Janet Davis. Hatfield and Davis have been Mel Bay authors and columnists for Banjo Newsletter magazine for more than forty years.

Larry's teaching session included his explanation of the right hand as detailed in his developmental course, "The Science of the Solid Right Hand". Larry also assisted Jack Hatfield in a very informative banjo set-up and maintenance session.

SPGMA is the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. The primary function of SPBGMA is to educate the public; preserve, promote, and encourage new development in bluegrass music.

Gusto Releases Compilations That Include Larry Wallace

Gusto Records of Nashville, Tennessee has released two new collections that feature many classic recordings from several legendary bluegrass artists. Included on these releases are two instrumentals by Larry Wallace, originally released on his Sunny Mountain Banjo with Jimmy Martin album.

These new releases feature classic selections by Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Reno and Smiley, Stringbean, The Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman, Raymond Fairchild, Larry Sparks, The Stonemans, Hylo Brown, and many other bluegrass greats. Larry’s “Pike County Breakdown” is included on 16 Blazin’ Bluegrass and“Fire On The Mountain”appears on Essential Bluegrass:16 Classics. Gusto Records has also released these two albums as a 2-CD set that includes all 32 songs in one collection.

Larry states, “This is one of the greatest things that has happened in my career. Growing up, I collected many classic Gusto albums and I just can’t believe that now I’m a part of that label in Nashville. In 2007, I was so proud they released my album, Sunny Mountain Banjo with Jimmy Martin, and now this. This is definitely a dream come true.”

16 Blazin' Bluegrass, Essential Bluegrass: 16 Classics, and Sunny Mountain Banjo with Jimmy Martin are all now available here on Larry's store page.

Blue Chip Pick Endorsement!

Larry Wallace is proud to announce his endorsement of Blue Chip Picks. These type flatpicks are the best available today for acoustic and bluegrass players. For many years, a tortoise shell pick had been the most desirable choice for many mandolin and guitar players. Now Blue Chip! These unbelievably fast and durable picks are manufactured in Knoxville, Tennessee and are considered "the best" available. Blue Chip recently announced the addition of the J.D. Crowe Blue Chip Thumb Pick to their line of picks and Larry Wallace has been playing with the Crowe model.

Larry says, "This is the best thumb pick I've ever played a banjo with. I predict the standard plastic thumb pick will become a thing of the past. I'm hearing tones from my banjo that I've never heard before. Thanks to Blue Chip!"

So, if you're a mandolin, guitar, or banjo player who's serious about playing and sounding better, click the Blue Chip link here on our site. You'll be glad you did!