PlayCajon EP 12: Larry McDonald

Bob Marley & the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, and Lee Scratch Perry are only a few of the names that Jamaican percussionist Larry McDonald has played with during his 50 year career. Larry was perhaps best known for his work with the late Gil Scott-Heron. Larry was Gil’s percussionist for 28 years, playing all around the world with Gil’s band Amnesia Express and also small duo shows with just Gil and Larry. They became good friends over the years on the road and Larry became someone Gil could count on throughout his sometimes troubled life. After growing up on the North side of Jamaica, Larry turned to percussion in his 20s. He then moved to the U.S in the 1970s where he ended up playing with Taj Mahal for four years before meeting Gil Scot-Heron and recording the album Reflections. In 2009 Larry released his first solo album called Drumquestra and in 2011 Larry was honoured  at the “Tributes to the Greats” award ceremony in Jamaica, with a lifetime achievement award for his 50 year contribution to Jamaican music. Larry lives in New York City and tours with Lee Scratch Perry

(First published Mar 5th 2016)