Larry Byrom

Larry Byrom (born December 27, 1948) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and session musician renowned for his versatile work across rock and country genres.^[1] Best known for serving as the lead guitarist of the rock band Steppenwolf from 1969 to 1972, during which he contributed to the album Steppenwolf 7 and co-wrote tracks like "Hey Lawdy Mama," Byrom has performed on over 100 albums as a Nashville-based studio player.^[2]^[3] His collaborations include recording with artists such as Neil Young, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Faith Hill, Randy Travis, and Tanya Tucker. Byrom's songwriting achievements feature hits like "Stay" for Alison Krauss and "Feel Right" for Tanya Tucker.^[4]^[2] In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2008, receiving the Studio Musician Award.^[1] Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Byrom spent part of his childhood in South Bend, Indiana, before returning to Alabama, where he attended Lee High School and Huntsville High School.^[3]^[1] Influenced by artists like Chet Atkins, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Memphis soul acts such as Booker T. & the M.G.'s, he began playing guitar at age 14 or 15 and dropped out of school in the 11th grade to pursue music full-time.^[4]^[2] Early in his career, he performed with local Huntsville bands including The Gems, The Good Times, and The Precious Few, and toured with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, which led to his relocation to California.^[2]^[1] Byrom's breakthrough came with his recruitment into Steppenwolf at age 20, where he toured extensively and helped shape the band's hard rock sound amid the era's counterculture movement.^[2] After leaving the group in 1972 to form his own band, Ratchell—which achieved limited success—he transitioned to session work in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, recording with R&B artists like Wilson Pickett.^[3] By the late 1970s and into the 1980s, he established himself in Nashville as a top session guitarist, contributing electric, slide, and acoustic parts to a wide array of projects while continuing to write songs that crossed genre boundaries.^[4]^[1] Now retired and residing in Florence, Alabama, Byrom remains connected to his musical roots through occasional performances and enduring industry relationships.^[2]

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Larry Byrom was born on December 27, 1948, in Huntsville, Alabama. His family relocated to South Bend, Indiana, during his early childhood, where his father worked in the steel business. Byrom grew up in South Bend until completing his first year of high school.^[2]^[5] The family later returned to Huntsville, Alabama, during Byrom's teenage years, where he attended high school. He first enrolled at Lee High School but was expelled, after which he transferred to Huntsville High School. Byrom dropped out during his 11th grade year to pursue opportunities in music, leaving Alabama for California with a plane ticket and $50 provided by his father.^[2]^[1] As a young child, Byrom was exposed to music through listening to Louis Armstrong records, which sparked his initial interest in the art form. This early encounter laid the foundation for his later formal musical pursuits.^[4]

Musical beginnings

Byrom's initial foray into music was shaped by his exposure to Dixieland jazz.^[2] As a child, he was captivated by the trumpet playing of Louis Armstrong, which inspired him to take up the instrument. He began playing the trumpet at the age of 7.^[4]^[6] His enthusiasm extended to other prominent figures in the genre, including Pete Fountain and Al Hirt, whose styles became his first musical loves.^[6] At age 14, Byrom's path shifted dramatically after watching Chet Atkins perform on television, particularly impressed by Atkins' fingerstyle technique in blending "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie" simultaneously, prompting him to abandon the trumpet in favor of the guitar.^[4] ^[6] He dedicated himself to informal practice, honing his skills through self-taught methods and experimentation during his high school years. Byrom began making local appearances in Huntsville-area venues, such as The Epic Club in the Five Points neighborhood, where he gained initial stage experience amid the region's burgeoning music community.^[2]

Career

Early bands and Steppenwolf

After dropping out of high school in Huntsville, Alabama, Larry Byrom relocated to California to pursue music professionally, joining the band Hard Times as bassist and contributing to their debut album Blue Mind on Epic Records.^[6] Earlier in the mid-1960s, while still in Alabama, he had played guitar with the Precious Few, a group that toured as part of Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars promotion.^[3] Following the breakup of Hard Times, Byrom co-formed the psychedelic rock band T.I.M.E. (Trust In Men Everywhere) in 1968 with former bandmates Bill Richardson and Bob Morris, along with Nick St. Nicholas and Steve Rumph, releasing one self-titled album on Liberty Records that year.^[6]^[7] In late 1969, at age 20, Byrom joined Steppenwolf as lead guitarist, replacing Michael Monarch amid internal tensions within the band.^[6] His first performance with the group occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the start of an intense period of touring and recording.^[2] Byrom's honed guitar skills from his formative years enabled him to rapidly adapt to Steppenwolf's demanding repertoire, including high-energy renditions of hits like "Born to Be Wild."^[4] During his tenure, the band undertook rigorous national tours—often four days a week—along with international dates in Europe, performing at venues such as London's Royal Albert Hall and the Paris Olympia.^[6] Byrom made significant songwriting contributions to Steppenwolf's output, co-writing the title track "Monster" on the 1969 album Monster.^[6] He also co-wrote "Hey Lawdy Mama," a blues cover featured on the 1970 live album Steppenwolf Live.^[6] Amid the rock scene's vibrant social circles, Byrom jammed with Jimi Hendrix, a fellow Laurel Canyon regular, and briefly socialized with Jim Morrison of The Doors, though he was better acquainted with Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger.^[6] Byrom left Steppenwolf in early 1972 after about two and a half years, citing personal challenges including the end of his marriage, to form the short-lived band Ratchell.^[2] During his time with the band, he also co-wrote tracks like "Who Needs Ya" and the instrumental "For Madmen Only" (initially titled "Fag" during recording) for Steppenwolf 7 in 1971.^[6]

Session work in Muscle Shoals

Following his departure from Steppenwolf in 1972, Larry Byrom formed the short-lived rock band Ratchell, which featured bassist Howard Messer and guitarist Pat Couchois alongside Byrom on guitar and vocals.^[2]^[3] The group's self-titled album, released that year, showcased groove-oriented rock influences reminiscent of Traffic but failed to achieve commercial success, prompting Byrom to return to his native Alabama.^[2]^[3] In the mid-1970s, Byrom relocated to the Muscle Shoals area, drawn by its burgeoning studio scene at facilities like Muscle Shoals Sound, FAME, and Wishbone studios, where he began freelancing as a session guitarist.^[2]^[3] His prior experience with Steppenwolf provided initial credibility that helped secure invitations to these regional sessions.^[2] Byrom contributed guitar to recordings by R&B artists such as Wilson Pickett on the 1978 album A Funky Situation, as well as Millie Jackson, Wayne Newton, and Mac McAnally's debut album, often blending his rock roots with the soulful, horn-driven sound characteristic of the Shoals.^[2]^[3] He also played on the 1977 hit "Angel in Your Arms" by the band Hot, recorded at Wishbone Studios.^[2] By 1975, Byrom had emerged as a versatile studio musician in the region, extending his work to film soundtracks, including several produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. During this period, his playing increasingly incorporated emerging country elements into rock frameworks, reflecting the Shoals' evolution from soul to broader genre fusions while maintaining an emphasis on anonymous, high-caliber session contributions.^[2]^[3] Byrom later recalled the challenge of breaking into the tight-knit Muscle Shoals circuit, noting he spent about nine months waiting outside studios before gaining traction.^[2]

Nashville collaborations and later projects

In 1980, Larry Byrom relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where his experience as a session musician in Muscle Shoals served as a foundation for establishing himself as a premier studio guitarist in the country music scene.^[2] He quickly became a go-to player for major country artists, contributing guitar—often on acoustic, electric, and slide—to recordings by Barbara Mandrell, Eddie Rabbitt, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, George Strait, and Travis Tritt, among others.^[8] His work extended to extensive collaborations with the band Alabama, where he not only performed but also co-produced thirteen of their number-one hits, solidifying his role in shaping the sound of 1980s and 1990s country music.^[9] Beyond performance, Byrom's songwriting gained prominence in Nashville, with notable credits including co-authoring the hit "Stay" alongside Allyson Taylor, which Alison Krauss recorded for her 1999 album Forget About It.^[2] The track, a mandolin- and dobro-infused ballad about reunited lovers, showcased his ability to blend emotional depth with accessible melodies, earning widespread acclaim in bluegrass and country circles.^[10] Byrom's Nashville tenure also bridged genres through rock and crossover projects, where he recorded with artists such as Neil Young on the 1984 album Everybody's Rockin' with the Shocking Pinks—providing piano and backing vocals—and joined Young for the subsequent tour.^[6] Additional sessions included work with Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Carl Perkins on his 1989 album Born to Rock, Bob Dylan, Glenn Frey, and Jimmy Buffett, highlighting his versatility across rockabilly, folk-rock, and pop.^[11]^[12] He further toured internationally with Steve Winwood in 1991 and Peter Frampton in Australia, expanding his live performance footprint.^[2] Over the course of these decades, Byrom contributed to more than 100 albums spanning rock and country, underscoring his enduring impact as a behind-the-scenes architect of American music.^[13]

Personal life

Family and residences

Byrom spent part of his early childhood in South Bend, Indiana, where his family relocated due to his father's employment in the steel industry before returning to Huntsville, Alabama.^[2] In the late 1960s, Byrom moved to Los Angeles, California, to join Steppenwolf, and during the band's peak success in the early 1970s, he resided in Malibu at Ramirez Canyon in Paradise Cove, where he enjoyed significant financial rewards from touring and recordings that supported a lavish lifestyle including luxury cars.^[2] After leaving Steppenwolf in 1972, Byrom returned to Alabama in the 1970s, settling in the Muscle Shoals area to focus on session work at local studios.^[2] By 1980, he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue opportunities as a session guitarist and songwriter amid the city's thriving country music scene.^[6] Byrom is married to Allyson Taylor, a songwriter with whom he has co-authored tracks such as "Stay" and "The Natural Thing," and the couple shares a home in Florence, Alabama, where they retired.^[14]^[15]^[2] Throughout his career, Byrom's family life intertwined with professional relocations, as moves to California, Alabama, and Nashville were tied directly to musical prospects that shaped his household's geographic path.^[2]

Retirement and legacy

After decades of performing and session work across rock and country genres, Larry Byrom retired around age 72 in 2020 and settled in Florence, Alabama, in the Shoals area, where he resides with his wife.^[2] Byrom's contributions to Alabama's music heritage earned him a featured profile on the Roots of American Music Trail, recognizing his role in the Muscle Shoals recording scene and broader impact on American music.^[3] His legacy endures as a versatile guitarist who bridged rock stardom with Steppenwolf—performing live hits such as "Born to Be Wild" and co-writing "Hey Lawdy Mama"—and extensive country session work in Nashville, influencing over 100 albums by artists including Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, and George Strait.^[2]^[8]^[3] Early encounters with icons such as Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and Jim Morrison further highlight his place in rock history.^[2] Reflecting on his career, Byrom has noted transitioning from trumpet, which he played starting at age seven inspired by Louis Armstrong, to guitar after the Beatles' influence, allowing him to adapt fluidly across genres from blues-rock to country.^[4]^[6] He emphasized a philosophy of positive manifestation, stating, "If you put things out in the universe, they’ll come back to you," underscoring his resilient journey from a "green kid" in Steppenwolf to a sought-after studio musician.^[2]