Apr 14, 2023
For more than 30 years, rust belt blues shouter and guitar
slinger Larry McCray's greatness has been
hiding in plain sight. A native of Magnolia, Arkansas, Larry McCray
discovered his love of music at a young age through his sister
Clara, who introduced him to the guitar and the transformative
music of Blues legends like B.B. King. After moving to Michigan at
12, he spent his teen years harnessing his guitar skills, adding
rock riffs to the traditional blues style he loved. After high
school, he began playing the local circuit, and by the late 80's he
attracted the notice of Virgin Records and was signed as the
inaugural artist to their blues label Point Blank Records. In 1990,
McCray released his critically acclaimed debut album, aptly named —
Ambition. A stunning debut, the record was a convincing
hybrid of blues, rock, and soul, with McCray combining the
interrelated idioms in sizzling fashion. Throughout the 1990's, he
continued to help define blues rock, releasing several albums
including 1993's Delta Hurricane, and
1998's Born to Play the Blues. After starting his own
record label, Magnolia Records, the bluesman remained active
throughout the 2000's, releasing 2001's Believe It and
Blues Is My Business, 2006's Live on Interstate
75, and his self-titled album Larry
McCray in 2007. He toured extensively, playing with blues
greats like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Keb' Mo and Joe
Bonamassa, and worked with rock legends like the Allman Brothers,
Levon Helm, Chris Robinson, Dickie Betts and countless others.
Somewhere along the way, though, his path to the top of the blues
world was derailed. During the recording process of his latest
release, McCray felt "reborn" as he developed a newfound drive and
passions for his career. In 2021, McCray released his first
original material in nearly 15 years, Blues Without
You, an album that showcases his power as an instrumentalist
and a vocalist. The 12-track record, produced by Joe Bonamassa's
Keeping the Blues Alive label, garnered McCray even more critical
acclaim with Blues Rock Reviews calling it "the record of a
lifetime and the best project of his career."
Born and raised in Ashland, WI, Phillip Anich
served as Big Top Chautauqua's Operations Manager and member of the
Blue Canvas Orchestra for nearly 30 years. Phil was a vocalist in
UWEau Claire’s singing Statesmen and then launched a career in the
US postal service. But, a performer at heart, he couldn’t resist
the invitation to join the troupe performing the shows written by
Warren Nelson & Betty Ferris about the history of the local Lake
Superior region. Every summer since Big Top's founding in 1986,
Phillip Anich has continued to perform in shows at the tent
including, Riding The Wind, Big Top Opry, Wild Woods &
Waters, and most recently In Spite of Ourselves: The Music
of John Prine & Nanci Griffith. Last August, Phillip Anich,
Dale Engquist, Brian Russ, and
Mason Pavel performed together as "Phil Anich &
Friends" playing the opening set for legendary country swing band
Asleep At The Wheel. Mason Pavel is the son of the late, great
bandleader of the Blue Canvas Orchestra, Don Pavel. Dale and Brian
are long time musical friends from Fairmont, now Minneapolis,
MN.
This episode features recordings from each artists' August 2022
performances at Big Top Chautauqua.
First broadcast in 1994, Tent Show Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program showcasing the best live recordings from acclaimed music acts and entertainers who grace the Big Top Chautauqua stage each summer in beautiful Bayfield, WI. In the program's nearly 30-year history it has featured artists like Johnny Cash, B.B King, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, Don McLean, and many more. Hosted by celebrated New York Times best-selling author Michael Perry-who weaves stories and humor throughout each episode - Tent Show Radio features performances from renowned national & regional artists, with regular appearances featuring Big Top’s own unique brand of shows that feature songs and stories performed by its acclaimed house band, The Blue Canvas Orchestra. Tent Show Radio is independently produced by Big Top Chautauqua, a non-profit performing arts organization, with a mission to present performances and events that celebrate history and the environment - along with their annual summer concert series - nestled in the woods on the shores of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Jaime Hansen - Engineer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
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2023 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area
Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce - https://washburnchamber.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio
- https://www.wpr.org/