Larry McCray
Larry McCray is a powerhouse bluesman with a soul-soaked voice, blistering guitar chops, and a story embodying the spirit of his music. With his new album Heartbreak City (out June 13 on Journeyman Records), McCray turns the page on a new chapter—raw, joyful, and deeply personal. Produced by blues-rock champions and Grammy Nominated duo Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Heartbreak City finds the legendary singer and guitarist firing on all cylinders, reconnecting with his roots while stepping boldly forward.
From the first notes of the title track, McCray reminds listeners why he’s long been hailed as one of the most expressive blues artists of his generation. Heartbreak City showcases Larry’s gritty vocals and searing guitar work, evoking the decades he spent grinding it out in clubs, pouring heartache and redemption into every solo. Elsewhere, standout single “Bye Bye Blues” draws on McCray’s teenage years in Michigan, when soul music still ruled the airwaves. Co-written with longtime collaborator Charlie Walmsley, it nods to giants like Johnnie Taylor and Bobby Bland while delivering a sound all his own—grooving, head-nodding, and utterly timeless. “Bright Side,” another standout, was originally written for Bobby Bland and unearthed by Josh Smith, who knew Larry was the one to bring it to life. With call-and-response choruses and sly humor, the track leans into McCray’s knack for pairing deep emotion with irresistible swagger.
The album’s ten original tracks span from soul-infused ballads to roadhouse burners, bolstered by a dream team of collaborators including Bonamassa, Smith, Kirk Fletcher, Reese Wynans, and a full horn section. McCray’s longtime partner Peggy Smith co-wrote several tracks, adding emotional depth and lyrical resonance. Together, they bring a lived-in perspective to songs like “Everything Falls On Me” and “Stop Your Crying”—testaments to weathering storms and emerging with strength.
The release follows 2022’s Blues Without You, which marked McCray’s long-awaited return after a seven-year hiatus. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Blues chart and was named the #1 Blues Album of 2022 by Blues Rock Review, solidifying his status as a torchbearer of modern blues. In 2024, McCray was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, a testament to his deep roots in the state and his enduring impact on American music. Now, Heartbreak City builds on that momentum. It’s a record that reflects Larry McCray at his most self-assured—grounded in tradition, but more fearless than ever.
Born in 1960 in Smackover, Arkansas, McCray grew up steeped in gospel, soul, and the electric blues of the three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie. He moved to Saginaw, Michigan at 12, where he honed his guitar style by blending classic blues with the psychedelic edge of Hendrix and the southern fire of the Allman Brothers. After years of gigging while working a factory job, he was signed in the late ’80s as the first artist on Virgin Records’ blues imprint Point Blank. His debut Ambition (1990) was followed by acclaimed albums like Delta Hurricane, Meet Me at the Lake, and Born to Play the Blues, solidifying his role in defining modern blues-rock through the ’90s and early 2000s.
Over the years, McCray has played alongside a who’s who of music legends—B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, the Allman Brothers, Joe Walsh, Jonny Lang, Levon Helm, and of course, Joe Bonamassa. He was named Orville H. Gibson Male Blues Guitarist of the Year in 2000 and won the Top Guitarist prize in the International Blues Matters writer’s poll in 2014.
But accolades aside, it’s the soul in McCray’s music that keeps fans coming back. “I feel totally reborn,” he says. “This new album lets me show the full scope of what I do—it’s blues, it’s soul, it’s real stories. This is who I am.”