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Larry Braggs - Lead Vocals
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Larry Braggs joined Tower of Power in November of 2000. Larry was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he started his musical training under the direction of Constance F. Duboise.
Larry continued his musical and theatrical training while attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. He performed under the direction of the late Shelton McGee, and was a member of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir.
Becoming lead singer in Tower provided challenges me to grow, to better himself. Brent Carter, a longtime member of the band had just left. Derrick Hughes had been tapped to replace Carter and despite his tremendous vocal ability, he had washed out after just three months leaving the band high and dry.
Larry's audition was held, quietly, at John Ascuaga's Nugget, in Reno. It wasn't actually an audition, it was a 3-day gig with the band. During that 3-day stint, the band did audition Ali Woodson, a veteran soul singer who had fronted the Temptations for a number of years.
The band was going to bring Ali on board for a couple of weeks, but he was not available. The opportunity fell to Larry, and he made the most of it. Meanwhile, the band continued to keep auditioning other singers.... and Larry settled in, and made the gig his own.
Larry's stated goal is "to make the group forget every singer they ever had. I want to be The Voice who drives them to the next level. And I can do that because I’m five years younger than my birth certificate says I am! I’m the lizard who keeps shedding his skin! (Laughs.) Which means I’m just catching up to where my talent is. Which ensures I always have someplace new to go."
2005: Larry Braggs releases his first solo CD, Place
It is a cd that will take you on a musical mind trip. It will make you laugh, cry, and groove to real music being played by real musicans. It features members of Tower of Power, Tony Lindsay of Santana, Eddie M., Mic Gillette, Skip Mesquite, Fred Ross, Bobby Vega, and Raymond Mckinley. The cd was co produced by Larry Braggs and Jeff Tamelier.
This is one of those records that everytime you listen to it, it just keep getting better and better. The CD was recorded in just one week. This was done by having a great band of musicians who put all of their personal feelings outside the room and gave it their best effort.
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Larry Braggs - Lead Vocals
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August 2007: Concurrent with Larry's work with Tower of Power, Larry as selected to sing lead with CTA.
California Transit Authority was founded by Danny Seraphine. He was drummer, percussionist and founding member of the band, Chicago, from 1967 - 1990.
When Danny and Chicago went their separate ways in 1990, he moved to Colorado to set up his own record label and production company.
In 2001, he returned to Los Angeles, continuing to produce and manage other recording artists, and produce Broadway and off-Broadway shows.
All this time, Danny continued playing drums, but it was after conversations with his friends, composer and musician Peter Fish, Don Lombardi (Chairman and Founder) and John Good (Vice President) of DW Drums which started him thinking about forming a band.
Danny was introduced to Marc Bonilla by drummer extraordinaire Greg Bissonette and as soon as they started jamming together, they developed a rapport. Seraphine and Bonilla initially put a band together to play for several charity benefit shows.
The response was so overwhelming that they decided to get serious and put a full 70-minute set together and so ‘CTA’ was born. For Danny Seraphine, this is the first time in 15 years that he has played live with a band.
“I was born to play, it’s been my calling since I was nine years old, and it’s what I do best,” he explains.
Larry Braggs was chosen to sing lead for this very exciting amalgamation of musicians. CTA is different and exciting. Take time to listen.
- Andy Ebon, CEO of Soul
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