Larry Douglas Carver Williams was born in Dallas, Texas on June 11, 1948. 

Larry DC Williams played his first gig at the age of 16 with C.B. House and the Nite-Riders at the Sawdust Trail. Larry played a regular gig every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night (and after hours) with the Nite-Riders. At the age of 18 Larry became a member of the house band at the Blue Room, led by guitar player Johnny Andrews. Through this gig Larry was able to play behind the likes of Johnny Taylor, Z.Z. Hill, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, T. Bone Walker, Joe Simon, Buddy Ace, Irma Franklin, Little Eva, Charles Brown and a host of other blues greats on a regular basis. In 1972, as a senior at ETSU, Larry performed with the College Jazz Band at the Long Horn Jazz Festival. Larry won one of four outstanding soloist awards.

Larry moved to Austin in 1972 and started playing with Martin Banks, James Polk, Billy Joe Walker, and many others in the Austin music scene for four years. Then Larry made a career decision and moved to the Rio Grande Valley of South West Texas in 1976. Larry taught music at the Camp Gary Job Corps in San Marcos for two years. Larry taught band at Hidalgo High School in the valley and also taught private lessons. Larry soon became a fixed figure on the music scene learning to play cumbias, mambos, polkas, and much more.

Larry moved back to Dallas in 1990 for a few years and worked as a pawnbroker. Shortly after he moved back to Austin where he played with W.C. Clark Blues Revue for a year while teaching at Kealing Junior High. After spending 14 years in the valley and two years playing music, teaching private lessons, buying and selling used instruments, and generally being independent, Larry made the decision in 1994 to be a full time musician. For better or for worse it was time to get it on. Larry joined the Toby Anderson Band and has freelanced with several bands over the past 6 years. Some of the highlights have been playing two gigs with jazz organist Jimmy Smith, opening up for Sinbad the Comedian, making two trips to Europe including nine performances in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. He has been in on many CD recordings and has taught jazz at a clinic held at Huston Tilleston College. Recently, the Texas Folk Life Resources recognized Larry as a Master Musician. Larry was also honored by the mayor of Austin with Larry DC Williams day in February 1998.  Larry has been performing with the Toby Anderson band steadily and has been strongly associated with Clarence Pierce & The East Side band for the past three years.

June, 2001

Larry's last major project was with Prevatt Records.  Larry put his heart and Soul into this album and believe me it was all him.  Larry wrote the music, arranged the tunes, played both B3 Organ and of course the Tenor Saxophone.  Then he sat in the studio with the Engineer and Martin Banks and mixed the entire album.  Larry was really proud of his B3 playing laying down the ground work for the horns that would make the album.  Larry was able to go into Star Dog Studio in West Austin and enjoy the Studio for the first time in his life.  No pressure just pure joy that he was able to lay down some of his own creation with no one telling him how to do it.  Of course any time that Martin would kick in Larry was sure to listen.  Banks was his Cat and he held Martin in the highest regards when it came to music.  I still remember when Larry laid down the solo to Aretha Franklin and King Curtis's Soul Serenade.  After words he listened to it and said nope I got to do it again.  Right when he was about to lay down  the solo again Martin Banks pops into the studio.  His says hey let me hear that.  He puts on the head phone and listens to the entire song.  Then he sets them down and says that's got it.  It was perfect.  The No Sleep Album is Larry's dream.  The music was his and he created it for the world to hear.  He was at a higher level.  This album is dedicated to his memory and to honor the wonderful music that he created. 

May 7, 2004

More on Larry DC Williams

Photo Gallery