Larry Groce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Groce
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 22, 1948 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, Bluegrass music, folk, children's music |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1971–present |
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Larry Groce is an American singer, songwriter, and radio host. From 1983 to 2021, he hosted and directed Mountain Stage. This was a live music radio show from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, heard across the country on NPR.
Larry became famous in 1976. Many kids and parents know his voice from his popular Walt Disney Records albums. He recorded many children's folk songs for the Children's Favorites series. These albums, like Volume 1 and Volume 2, sold millions of copies.
Contents
Larry's Early Life
Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1948. He became interested in music when he was in elementary school. He went to Adamson High School in Dallas. Some of his classmates there also became famous musicians.
Larry's Music Career
Larry's first album was a collection of hymns. He recorded it in 1969 while he was still in college. After graduating in 1970, he moved to New York City. There, he performed regularly at a coffeehouse.
Later that year, Larry signed a recording contract. His first album of original songs, The Wheat Lies Low, came out in 1970. From 1972 to 1985, he visited schools in twenty U.S. states as a special musician. One of these visits brought him to West Virginia in 1972. He still lives there today.
Between 1979 and 1990, Larry recorded nine albums for Walt Disney Records. One of these albums earned a gold award, and five others earned platinum awards. His first Disney recording, Winnie-the-Pooh for President, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1976. This award was for "Best Recording for Children."
Hosting Mountain Stage
In 1983, Larry Groce helped start Mountain Stage. This is a two-hour live music show. It is produced by West Virginia Public Radio and shared by NPR. Larry was the host and artistic director. He helped shape the show's musical style.
Mountain Stage was the first national show to feature many famous artists live. These include Lyle Lovett, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss, and Phish. The show also featured music legends like Bill Monroe and R.E.M.. Larry retired from hosting Mountain Stage in 2021. Kathy Mattea took over as the new host.
In 2016, Larry released his first new recording in 27 years. It was called Live Forever and featured his wife, Sandra Groce. The album includes the full version of the Mountain Stage theme song, "Simple Song."
In 2017, Larry Groce was named "West Virginian of the Year." In 2020, he was added to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
Other Projects
In 1990, Larry starred in a movie called Paradise Park. It was a low-budget film about life in a trailer park in West Virginia. Larry also helped write the movie's title song.
Larry Groce also owned The Morgantown School of Ballet for five years. He was also part owner of an arts and entertainment newspaper called Graffiti. In 2005, he became the executive director of FestivALL Charleston. This is a ten-day festival of music, dance, theater, and art in Charleston.
Larry's Personal Life
Larry Groce lives in Charleston, West Virginia. He moved there in 1972. He is married to Sandra Groce, who plays the viola. They have two daughters, Virginia and Bonnie.
See also
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
