Larry Golder (14 January 1951 - 17 April 2002) was a guitarist, arranger and musical director who grew up on Kangaroo Island and became a stalwart of the live music scene in Adelaide, including his work as guitarist and band leader of the jazz group Henceforth.
Biography[]
Larry Arthur Golder was the second son of Mavis (1921-1995) and Les (1915-2000) Golder. Both parents played musical instruments, Mavis on piano and accordion and Les on saxophone and clarinet. Larry started playing guitar with them, and by 1966 was involved in local band The Boardwalks playing 'rock/pop' music for dances in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island. Some details of his early life, and the family musical heritage can be read in the small book "Gentlemen, Select Your Partners" written by his mother Mavis.Larry moved to Adelaide around 1970-71 whilst continuing to develop his musical knowledge and skills on guitar.
He was much in demand as a guitarist for visiting international artists including; Janis Ian, Melissa Manchester, Keith Michell, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison, Johnny Ray, Neil Sedaka, Dick Emery, Warren Mitchell, Rolf Harris, The Platters, O.C.Smith, The Drifters, Earth Kitt, Shirley Bassey, Dame Vera Lynn, Luciano Taioli, Demiss Roussoss, Matt Monroe, Val Doonican, Danny La Rue, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and Jacki Trent and Tony Hatch.
Local Australian acts that Larry accompanied during his career include; Normie Rowe, Doug Parkinson, Ricky May, Colleen Hewitt, Bev Harrell, Judith Durham, Frankie Davidson, Gary McDonald, Dinah Lee, Freddie Paris, Doug Ashdown, John Farnham, Ray Burgess, Little Patty, Kamahl, Barry Crocker, James Blundell, Debbie Byrne, Julie Anthony, Marcia Hines, Tony Barber, Alyce Platt, Tom Burlinson and John Schuman.
He played in the following Australian productions; Annie (1980), Evita (1980), Best Little Whore House in Texas (1981), Chicago (1981), Barnum (1982), Oklahoma (1982), The Sound of Music (1983), They're Playing Our Song (1982), Song and Dance (1984), Oliver! (1984), Sugar Babies (1987), Nine (1988), Starlight Express (1989), Cats (1989), Chicago (1999), Cats (1995), Big River (1990), Anything Goes (1990), The King and I (1991), Les Miserables (1992), Grease (1993), 42nd Street (1994), Me and My Girl (1994), A Chorus Line (1995), West Side Story (1995), Hello Dolly (1996), Hot Shoe Shuffle (1997), HMS Pinafore (1998), and The Boy from Oz (2000).
Larry frequently played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, on guitar, banjo or even ukulele. Works he played with the orchestra include; Porgy and Bess (Gershwin), African Sanctus (David Fanshew), Ebony Concerto (Stravinsky), Water Footsteps Time (B. Conyingham), Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Carl Davis), Symphonic Bohemian Rhapsody (Arr. J. Shortis), Blue Monday (Gershwin), Stava (Bernstein), Mass (Bernstein), and Threepenny Opera Suite (Wiel). Larry played with other leading South Australian orchestras and theatre companies including the State Theatre Company [The Rose Tattoo (Tennessee Williams) and A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare)], the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra [The Seven Deadly Sins (Wiel) and Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)], the State Opera Company [Otello (Verdi) and Boojum (Wesley-Smith)].
Larry was also much in demand as a session musician. His list of credits includes recordings with; Peter Combe, Arthur Greenslade, The Adelaide Connection, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Simon Gallagher, Tommy Tycho, 5AD Big Band, Our Thing Big Band, ABC Ticklepot, Evan Jones, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, The Bookplace Album, and Andrew Firth. Larry also can be heard on the Australian Cast Album Recordings for Oklahoma, Barnum, Evita, and The Sound of Music.
Larry worked at various times as Musical Director for numerous Australian music stars and musical events including; Normie Rowe, Frankie Davidson, John Farnham, Colleen Hewitt, Dinah Lee, Channel 10 Darwin - Inaugral Telethon 1983, and Lisa Cheshire and Friends - 1985 Australian Grand Prix Concert. Larry held continuous membership since 1978 of M.A.G.A. (Music Arrangers Guild of Australia). He arranged, copied and transcribed for Adelaide television channels Seven, Nine, and Ten, the 5AD Big Band, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and various club acts, and jazz and popular ensembles.
Larry also regularly taught master classes in guitar for the Elder Conservatorium.