Larry began playing the Highland pipes in Austin, Texas - an area known for its broad range of music and a strong piping culture. A few years later, he had the opportunity to move to England where he studied directly under one of the world's top pipers for 5 years. After several years of successful pipe band and solo competitions his piping focus shifted to the world of Celtic music and found that Celtic rock best fit his rapid-fire piping style. Larry has competed and/or performed on 4 continents and has been featured in both radio and television programmes and commercials in both the U.S. and U.K. Although the Highland bagpipes are his primary instrument, he also plays Uilleann pipes (a.k.a. Irish bagpipes) and whistles. On some dark nights when the moon is full and the world is fast asleep, if you listen hard you might even hear him dabbling with a squeeze box. Larry's piping is heavily influenced by the great pipers such as Fred Morrison, Richard Jasper, Steven Duffy, Peter Morrison, Chris Armstrong, Mark Saul, Gordon Duncan, and Hamish Moore, to name a few. His "in-your-face" playing on the Highland bagpipe, Uilleann pipes and Irish whistles integrate perfectly with Tyler's incredible fiddling and brings a new dimension to Homeland's phenomenal sound. When he's not rocking with Homeland, Larry is serving his homeland as an officer in the United States Air Force.  Larry's Influences are: Richard Jasper (a great friend and a great piper), Fred Morrison, Peter Morrison, The Clash, Duncan Gordon, Shane MacGowan & The Popes, The Pogues, The Zac Brown Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frightened Rabbit, Flook, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Deaf Shepherd, The Peabog Faeries, Old Blind Dogs, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Smashing Pumpkins, Kila, The Afro-Celt Sound System, The Peatbog Faeries, Gaelic Storm, Peter Gabriel, Rage Against The Machine, Snow Patrol, Michael McGoldrick, Muse, Static Brigad, The Smiths, Bad Religion, Lunasa, Blur, The Tannahill Weavers, Foo Fighters, Natalie MacMaster, The Violent Femmes, Nirvana, The Beastie Boys, Merle Haggard, Wayland Jennings, Johnny Cash, Townes VanZandt, Willie Nelson and traditional music in general. Larry plays: Highland Bagpipes: Macleod pipes w/ Maclellan 440Hz chanter / Kinnaird CF drone reeds with extenders Uilleann Pipes: Neil O'Grady (www.celticmusiccrafts.ca) Irish whistles: Burke Whistles / Susato Whistles Walsh Shuttle Pipes Larry HIGHLY recommends The Piper's Hut for all your piping and pipe music needs. (Tell Jon that Larry Fortson recommended you! - on second thought, he MIGHT charge you extra!!!!) |