Larry Muhoberac

Larry Muhoberac
Birth name Lawrence Gordon Muhoberac, Jr.
Also known as Larry Owens, Larry Gordon
Born (1937-02-12) February 12, 1937
Louisiana, United States
Genres Rock
Pop
Occupation(s) Musician
Arranger
Instruments Piano
Organ, keyboards
Years active 1950s–present
Associated acts Elvis Presley, Woody Herman, TCB Band

Larry Muhoberac (born Lawrence Gordon Muhoberac, Jr.; February 12, 1937) is an American musician, producer, and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon.[1]

Muhoberac is widely known as the original keyboardist in Elvis Presley’s TCB Band. He first appeared live with the group at Presley’s Hotel International debut in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 31, 1969,[2] After years of touring, Glen Hardin replaced him on piano. Other members from the TCB era were James Burton (lead guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar) and Ronnie Tutt (drums).

Muhoberac was born and raised in Louisiana and began playing accordion and piano at age five. He went on the road with Woody Herman at 20, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1959. In 1961, then using the pseudonym "Larry Owens", his band played two of Presley’s Memphis charity concerts.[3]

He moved to the West Coast in the early sixties to work as a studio musician. There, Presley first recruited him to work on his movie soundtracks.[4] He developed a reputation as a top player, working first with Elvis and later with Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Tanya Tucker, Ray Conniff and Barbra Streisand among others. Later in his career he arranged and conducted for numerous successful acts, including Seals & Crofts and Contemporary Christian band The Archers. He emigrated to Australia in 1986 where he continued to produce and arrange.

He is married to Andra Willis, a former vocalist on The Lawrence Welk Show. He composed the opening theme, entitled "Interlude", to The Joy of Painting.

As of February, 2015, after years of suffering from dementia, Larry was permanently admitted to a care facility. However, his musical skills are still outstanding.

His sons, Jamie Muhoberac and Parrish Muhoberac, are also well known session musicians, arrangers, producers and engineers.

Selected discography

References

  1. ↑ Who's Who in Rock Music, by William Gary York, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982 OCLC 8034627
  2. ↑ Elvis Presley & the TCB Band
  3. ↑ Bio: Elvis.com TCB Band
  4. ↑ Paradise Hawaiian Style

External links

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