Larry Hovis

Larry Hovis' sudden arrival on the musical scene is widely-and deservedly-acclaimed. His sometimes smooth, sometimes crisp song stylings show him to be a young man who has successfully combined the freshness of youth with a maturity that normally comes much later in a vocalist's career.

This is Larry's first album, his first opportunity to present his varied ways with a song, and he takes full advantage of it. With remarkable ease and a flair all his own, he sings favorite romantic ballads and popular uptempo tunes. And songs already ideal for dancing and easy listening sparkle anew to Larry's touch.

A versatile singer, Larry is also a tunesmith. In fact, that's how he was discovered. He composed a song called Every Time I Ask My Heart, and sent his own recording of it to Capitol Records. The tune was later released by another vocalist, {Joel Grey} but Larry's outstanding voice wasn't forgotten. Soon, he had a contract, and had recorded his first single.

Quick national fame came to Larry, and it was no surprise in Houston, Texas, where the Hovis family has lived since moving from Wapito, Washington, when Larry was three. A member of a show business family, Larry has been an entertainer since he was seven. Teamed with an elder sister, Joan, his singing, plus his abilities as a drummer and dancer, helped them to win the bulk of Houston's talent contests until Larry was fourteen. Then the act broke up. Larry's voice changed, and Joan joined a dance band as a vocalist, later becoming a member of Broadway musical casts.

THIS IS THE STORY OF THREE MEN, A SOUND, AND A TOWN

The three men:

Bill Gannon ... Thin, trim and crew-cut. Proud owner of a sleek Jaguar XK150; proud owner of an endless string of original arrangements. Plays a mean piano. Ability to sing tenor or melody with equal alacrity. Thought about a different kind of trio, and quite naturally thought of ...

Larry Hovis ... A college grad, this lad holds a PHD in rhythm. Let his "sticks" meet the "skins," or let his lyric tenor voice fill the room, and you know this is a musician all the way! Only one thing could top Gannon and Hovis together ... and that was Gannon, Hovis and ...

Gerry Lloyd ... Serious and subdued in his private life, but capable of making a string bass sing with joy. Add his resonant bass voice and you've added the final complement to an entirely new trio -and in turn- an entirely new sound!

The Sound! Everything's been done with old favorites that could possibly be done . . ." they cried ... and then they heard what the Bill Gannon Trio could do with old favorites! They heard a bass that captured subtle harmonies and overtones ... a piano not off in left-field, but off-beat ... drums that injected more than "just rhythm" . . . and most of all, they heard "swing," not only in the instruments, but in the voices of the men who played them. What they heard, and what you will hear are contemporary interpretations of standard ballads and rhythm tunes. In each tune, you will recognize the words and melody, as Bill Gannon believes you should, but you will not recognize the marriage of unique arrangements and equally unique vocal blendings. For this is a new sound ... a new sound that began in a vibrant Texas town! The Town! Houston born and Houston bred are the three men of the Bill Gannon Trio. In the chic bistros and smart supper clubs in and around this booming Port city, night owls have been chanting their praises. Disk jockeys throughout the Lone-Star state agree that here are real "comers." And so, without further fanfare, here is the Bill Gannon Trio and their collection of ... SWEET SINGING SWING!

Suggestion! Don't just turn down the Television set ... turn it off! This is music!

Goodman Styne

(Vocals by Larry Hovis by permission of Capitol Records.)