Larry Dunn

Last updated
Larry Dunn
Larry Dunn.jpg
Larry Dunn with Earth, Wind & Fire c.1977
Background information
Birth nameLorenzo Russell Dunn
Born (1953-06-19) June 19, 1953 (age 71)
Origin Denver, Colorado, United States
Genres Funk, disco, soul
Occupation(s) Musician, producer, songwriter
Years active1972–present
Labels Columbia, ARC, Another Hit, 101 South
Website http://www.larrydunnmusic.com

Larry Dunn (born Lorenzo Russell Dunn; June 19, 1953) is an American keyboardist, producer, songwriter and musical director, known as one of the original members of the music group Earth, Wind & Fire. Dunn was inducted, as a former band member, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Dunn has received the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, 7 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Dunn is a co-composer of EWF's "Shining Star", a song that's been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Dunn has produced artists such as Lenny White, Caldera, Ramsey Lewis, Level 42 and Twennynine. He's also worked with the likes of Ronnie Laws, Raphael Saadiq, The Emotions, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Brian Culbertson. [4] [5]

Career

Earth, Wind & Fire

Born as Lorenzo Dunn to an Italian mother and African American father, [6] he early on became fond of music and later attended East High School in Denver, Colorado. During 1972, while in Los Angeles, Dunn joined a new band led and founded by a Chicago musician known as Maurice White by the name of Earth, Wind & Fire. As a keyboardist Dunn played with the legendary band for the next 11 years until his departure in 1983. [4] [7] [8]

Dunn went on to make a guest appearance on EWF's 2013 album Now, Then & Forever . [9]

Production

Dunn produced Caldera on their 1977 album Sky Islands . Sky Islands rose to No. 18 on the Cashbox Top Jazz Albums chart. He then co-produced Ramsey Lewis' 1977 studio LP Tequila Mockingbird . Tequila Mockingbird peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. He again produced Caldera on the group's 1978 album Time and Chance. Dunn later produced Lenny White on his 1978 album Streamline . Streamline reached No. 27 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]


Along with White he co-produced Twennynine's 1979 LP Best of Friends . That album reached number 15 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. Together with Lenny White he again co-produced the group's 1980 album entitled Twennynine with Lenny White . That LP reached No. 22 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. Dunn went on to produce Ramsey Lewis on his 1980 album Routes . Routes reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] He later produced Stanley Turrentine's 1981 LP Tender Togetherness . That album got to No. 13 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. [21] [22] He then co-produced, along with EWF's Verdine White, Level 42's 1983 album Standing in the Light . Standing in the Light was certified Gold in the UK by the BPI. [23] [24]

Guest appearances

Dunn performed as a keyboardist on The Emotions' 1976 album Flowers, Deniece Williams' 1977 album Song Bird , Dee Dee Bridgewater's 1977 LP Just Family and Ronnie Laws' 1977 album Friends & Strangers. He also performed on the Emotions' 1977 album Rejoice , the Pockets's 1978 LP Take It On Up , Caldera's 1978 album Time and Chance , and Lenny White's 1978 album The Adventures of Astral Pirates. Dunn went on to play the keyboards on Ronnie Laws 1978 LP Flame , Hubert Laws 1979 LP Land of Passion and Dee Dee Bridgewater's 1979 album Bad for Me . [4]

He then played on Ronnie Laws' 1980 LP Every Generation and his 1981 album Solid Ground . Dunn then performed on Ronnie Laws' 1983 album Mr. Nice Guy and Jennifer Holliday's 1983 LP Feel My Soul . [25] [4]

Dunn later featured on Morris Day's 1985 album Color of Success and Ronnie Laws 1986 LP Mirror Town. He then appeared on Ramsey Lewis 1987 album Keys to the City and Ronnie Laws' 1989 LP True Spirit. [4]

He later composed on Ronnie Laws' 1991 album Identity and his 1992 LP Deep Soul . Dunn also worked as an arranger on Laws' 1995 album Brotherhood. He then played on Dean James 1997 LP Intimacy and Reel Tight's 1999 album Back to the Real . Dunn also appeared on Ronnie Laws' 2000 LP Dream a Little and his 2004 album Everlasting. [4]

Dunn later performed on Brian Culbertson's 2008 album Bringing Back The Funk , Raphael Saadiq's 2010 LP Stone Rollin' and Culbertson's 2014 album Another Long Night Out. [4]

Discography

YearCDLabelAdditional info
1992Larry Dunn Orchestra : Lover's SilhouetteAnother Hit RecordsOriginal, US release
1996Larry Dunn Orchestra : Lover's Silhouette101 South ( fusion label )European release

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire</span> American musical group

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice White</span> American musician (1941–2016)

Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.

<i>Thats the Way of the World</i> 1975 soundtrack album / Studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 3, 1975, by Columbia Records. This was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name. The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. That's the Way of the World has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Bailey</span> American musician (born 1951)

Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.

<i>Gratitude</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1975 live album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Gratitude is a double live album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, issued in November 1975 by Columbia Records. The album spent six weeks atop the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. Gratitude has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Ronald Wayne Laws is an American jazz and smooth jazz saxophonist, and singer. He is the younger brother of jazz flutist Hubert Laws, jazz vocalist Eloise Laws and the older brother of Debra Laws.

Roland Bautista was an American guitarist. He was best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire. He also worked with such artists as Ronnie Laws, The Crusaders, George Duke and Randy Crawford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheldon Reynolds (guitarist)</span> American musician (1959–2023)

Sheldon Maurice Reynolds was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a member of bands Sun, The Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire.

<i>Spirit</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1976 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit is the seventh studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 28, 1976, by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. Spirit has also been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Caldera was an American band that combined jazz, funk, and rock with Latin music. Return to Forever and Weather Report influenced Caldera, but its members were also influenced by soul, Afro-cuban, salsa, samba, and Peruvian music.

<i>Sky Islands</i> (Caldera album) 1977 studio album by Caldera

Sky Islands is the second album by Jazz fusion group Caldera released in 1977 on Capitol Records. The album reached No. 18 on the Cashbox Top 40 Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Last Days and Time</i> 1972 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Last Days and Time is the third studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in October 1972 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 15 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 9 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire discography</span>

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American musical group. Their style and sound span over various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<i>The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1</i> 1978 greatest hits album by Earth, Wind & Fire

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is the first greatest hits album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire issued on November 23, 1978 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 6 on the Top LPs chart. The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 has been certified Quintuple Platinum in the US by the RIAA. As well Platinum in both the UK and Canada, by the BPI and Music Canada, respectively.

<i>Bringing Back the Funk</i> 2008 studio album by Brian Culbertson

Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

Charles Stepney was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and musician. Stepney is noted for his work with artists such as The Dells, Ramsey Lewis, Rotary Connection and Earth, Wind & Fire.

<i>Best of Friends</i> (Twennynine album) 1979 studio album by Twennynine featuring Lenny White

Best of Friends is the debut album by American R&B band Twennynine, released in October 1979 on Elektra Records. It was produced by Lenny White and Larry Dunn. The album reached No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.

<i>Tequila Mockingbird</i> 1977 studio album by Ramsey Lewis

Tequila Mockingbird is an album by the American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Twennynine with Lenny White</i> 1980 studio album by Twennynine featuring Lenny White

Twennynine with Lenny White is the second album by American R&B band Twennynine, released in November 1980 on Elektra Records. It was produced by Lenny White and Larry Dunn. The album reached No. 22 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.

Eduardo Gutiérrez del Barrio, known professionally as Eddie del Barrio, is an Argentinian composer, arranger, songwriter, and pianist. He is a founding member of the jazz fusion band Caldera. He has collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire, Stan Getz, Herb Alpert, and Dianne Reeves.

References

  1. ↑ "Larry Dunn | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  2. ↑ Aronson, Sheryl (2017-12-01). "Larry Dunn Original Member of Earth, Wind & Fire Inducted Into The Colorado Music Hall Of Fame". The Hollywood 360. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  3. ↑ "EARTH, WIND & FIRE'S Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, and Andrew Woolfolk". cmhof.org. Colorado Music Hall of Fame. 6 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Larry Dunn". allmusic.com.
  5. ↑ Williams, Chris (2012-11-21). "'That Groove Was Undeniable': Making Earth, Wind & Fire's 'All 'N All'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  6. ↑ "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com.
  7. ↑ "Inner-views : LARRY DUNN". www.smartalecmusic.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  8. ↑ Aronson, Sheryl (2017-12-01). "Larry Dunn Original Member of Earth, Wind & Fire Inducted Into The Colorado Music Hall Of Fame". The Hollywood 360. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  9. ↑ Guerin, Harry (October 23, 2013). "Earth, Wind & Fire - Now, Then & Forever". rte.ie. RTÉ.
  10. ↑ "Top 40 Jazz Albums". archive.org. Vol. 39, no. 35. Cashbox. January 28, 1978. p. 43.
  11. ↑ "Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 90. December 2, 1978. p. 56 – via American Radio History.
  12. ↑ Baekgaard, Jakob (May 25, 2019). "Caldera: Caldera / Sky Islands". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 90, no. 10. March 11, 1978. p. 42.
  14. ↑ Stenhouse, Tim (November 24, 2016). "RAMSEY LEWIS 'HOT DAWGIT – THE ANTHOLOGY: THE COLUMBIA YEARS 1972-1989' 2CD (SOULMUSIC) 4/5".
  15. ↑ "Inner-views: MARCUS MILLER". www.smartalecmusic.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  16. ↑ "Twennynine Featuring Lenny White: Best of Friends (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Twennynine Featuring Lenny White: Twennynine with Lenny White (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  18. ↑ "Interview: Lenny White". The Last Miles. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  19. ↑ Marchese, Joe (2013-12-18). "Piano Jazz: Robinsongs Revives Ramsey Lewis, Richard Tee LPs on CD - The Second Disc". theseconddisc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 92, no. 41. Billboard. October 11, 1980. p. 66.
  21. ↑ "Top Jazz Albums" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 93. October 24, 1981. p. 39 – via American Radio History.
  22. ↑ Leggett, Steve, "Stanley Turrentine - Tender Togetherness", Allmusic , retrieved 2023-07-02
  23. ↑ Cooper, William, "Level 42 - Standing in the Light", Allmusic , retrieved 2023-07-02
  24. ↑ "Level 42: Standing In The Light". bpi.co.uk. BPI.
  25. ↑ Ronnie Laws: Mr. Nice Guy. Capitol Records. 1983.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.