The Saginaw blues guitarist played Listening Room Tuesday, the same week Local Spins revealed that his latest album had hit No. 1 at WYCE. See what other albums made the chart; listen to tracks at Local Spins.
‘A Long Time Coming’: Acclaim for guitarist Larry McCray, who played Listening Room on Tuesday. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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When revered blues guitarist Larry McCray took the stage at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room on Tuesday night, he did so as the Michigan artist with the No. 1 album on the Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart.
Touring behind his highly praised new album, “Blues Without You,” McCray and his uber-talented band proved their musical mettle in the intimate setting, buoyed by fans and radio listeners who appreciate and relish the fresh collection of songs co-produced by another acclaimed guitarist, Joe Bonamassa.
McCray told Local Spins Tuesday that he’s absolutely tickled that things in his career are “happening now that never happened before, and it feels great. I just hope the full-package gratification comes along with it.”
Indeed, the Saginaw-based guitarist has mounted an ambitious tour that crisscrosses the Midwest and East Coast in May, before heading overseas to Germany in early June.
“It’s been a long time coming,” McCray, 62, said of the recognition for his latest album and career accomplishments.
“Blues Without You” soared to the top spot on the Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for April, representing the local or regional album that received the most radio airplay at WYCE (88.1 FM) in Grand Rapids.
Interestingly, two other blues-hued releases came in right behind McCray on the chart: Young Albion guitarist Jake Kershaw’s latest self-titled album and Cadillac native/singer-guitarist Luke Winslow-King’s “If These Walls Could Talk” (with tracks released to radio, but with its official release coming later this week).
Both Kershaw and Winslow-King will perform as part of Local Spins’ 10th anniversary celebration in mid-May. Winslow-King plays Listening Room with guitarist Roberto Luti on May 16 with Ralston Bowles and Justin Wierenga opening (tickets available at listeningroomgr.com); Kershaw plays Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on May 20, with Hank Mowery & The Hawktones opening (tickets available online here).
At No. 4 on the Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for April was Detroit soul outfit Laura Rain & The Caesars’ “Rise Again,” with The Accidentals’ “Time Out Session #2” at No. 5. The Accidentals will help celebrate Local Spins’ anniversary by headlining Local Spins Fest at the Studio Park piazza in downtown Grand Rapids on May 21. The all-day event also will features sets by DJ SuperDre, Cabildo, Hannah Rose Graves, Full Cord and Public Access (wsg Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives). Get tickets, just $20, for Local Spins Fest online here.
The April chart reflects a completely new set of Hot Top 5 albums after Greensky Bluegrass’ “Stress Dreams” had spent three straight months at No. 1. View previous Hot Top 5 Charts here.
And there’s still time to donate to WYCE’s Spring Fund Drive. Support community radio online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Larry McCray at Listening Room
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
VIDEO: Larry McCray at Listening Room
THE LOCAL SPINS HOT TOP 5 ON SPOTIFY: April 2022
Copyright 2022, Spins on Music LLC
