Self-taught guitarist and folk singer beginning as a teenager playing folk, old-time, and blues in the Baltimore area.
In the mid-60s he played professionally in Provincetown, MA opening for such artists as John Hammond, Tom Rush, Jim Kweskin, Doc & Merle Watson, Skip James and others. In 1966 he moved to San Francisco where he shared stages with the likes of Sonny Terry, Loudon Wainwright III, Charlie Musselwhite, and others.
Moving back East, he sought further formal study with legendary jazz educator Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia, while working in jazz and blues bands in Baltimore. He also studied at The Peabody Institute where he later became an instructor.
Songwriter of over 100 guitar pieces, most of which donated to prestigious universities including Brown University, The Arthur Friedheim Library of The Peabody Institute, and The Library of Congress. Many of these scores can be accessed on Larry’s You Tube channel.
Grammy nominee for liner notes to the 92 page booklet to “Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940-1994.” Larry co-produced the box set for the Smithsonian Press.
Named by The Blues Foundation “Best Producer of the Year” in 1997 for the recording “Fish Ain’t Bitin’,” the second record by Corey Harris, an artist discovered by Larry, the album was named the Best Acoustic Blues Record of the Year, and earning The W.C. Handy Award.
Larry is a 2019 inductee of The Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame.
2011(CD) DBK 701 Works of Larry Hoffman / Contemporary American Music
