With his funky keyboard playing, Larry helped transform Earth, Wind & Fire into one of the all-time most successful R&B bands in the world, with sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide, 7 GRAMMYs, 13 GRAMMY nominations, 4 American Music Awards, 32 Gold & Platinum/Multi-Platinum Records & Albums, a Star on Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame, induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (2000) & Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2010) and the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award (2016) as well as other industry awards.
In addition to playing organ, synthesizer, piano, keyboards, and clavinet with the group from 1972 until 1983, Larry held the position and handled the responsibilities of the band’s Musical Director. As one of the key people behind the scene, much of the group’s musical success can be attributed to him. In addition, he rehearsed Earth, Wind & Fire for live stage performances and wrote many of the musical segues and medleys.
Larry had major creative influence in, and is proud of his contribution to such Earth, Wind & Fire classics as: “Shining Star,” “Spirit,” “Be Ever Wonderful,” “Runnin’,” “See The Light,” “Let Me Talk,” “And Love Goes On,” “Jupiter,” as well as other melodies that will live on in the hearts of fans and popular music lovers alike.
Together with other members of Earth, Wind & Fire, Larry was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2000.
Since 1988, Larry and Luisa have been involved with production projects, writing music for Japanese television commercials, film, and studio work. A lot of which have aired only in Japan.
Along with playing keyboards, programming synthesizers, and composing, Larry has developed a talent of producing and composing for other artists. To further this talent, for the past 20 years, Larry has been increasing his knowledge of sound engineering, computers, and synthesizer programming.
Larry, his wife Luisa, and Darrell S. Elliott esq. formed a production company: Source Productions.
Larry’s production and performance credits include: The Emotions, Level 42, Ronnie Laws, George Duke, Lenny White, Paulinho Da Costa, Foley, Ramsey Lewis, Caldera, Hubert Laws, Stanley Turrentine, Dianne Reeves, Brian Culbertson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stanley Clarke and Deniece Williams, just to name a few.
In keeping with his “goal of reaching as many people as possible through music,” he released in Japan, his first solo album. An album that blends contemporary music and new age while adding a twist of funk, “Lover’s Silhouette” is a project that encompass True World Music featuring eleven powerful tracks that pick up where Larry left off with Earth, Wind & Fire. Luisa also demonstrates her strong vocal talent on “Don’t It Make You Want To Cry.”
This album spotlights musical greats like Phil Upchurch, Ronnie Laws, Marcel East, Hilliard Wilson, Steven Dunn, Derf Reklaw, and original Earth, Wind & Fire band members Ralph Johnson and Al McKay, and brings an array of musical textures to all the finely written and produced compositions. Co-produced by Chris Brunt, it also displays the talent of blind vocalist, Ellis Hall on “Maybe In My Dreams.”
Internationally, Larry has made personal appearances at several spectacular multi-million dollar concert productions in Europe and Japan. French music composer/producer Jean-Marc Cerrone has asked Larry to return year after year to perform.
Larry releases his second solo CD…entitled, “N2 The Journey.” Guest artists on “N2 The Journey” include Hubert Laws, Luisa Dunn, Munyungo Jackson, James Ingram, Foley, Ronnie Laws, Stanley Clarke, Sheldon Reynolds, Procton Bonnell, Jay King, Steven Dunn, Paulinho DaCosta, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Michael Harris, Hilliard Wilson, Andre Delano, Jorge “Jeo” Evans, Steve Baxter and more! The CD is currently available for download at iTunes and Amazon…. Larry also produced Luisa’s first single entitled, “May-Umm.”
“I want to create music for every medium. Earth, Wind & Fire’s music touched the world. Along with my other projects, I have created a library of music which appeals to music buffs everywhere. In keeping with this tradition, I am moving into other endeavors with the goal of reaching as many people as possible through music.” – Larry Dunn