Larry Donn

[Robertjack]

Larry Donn (June 6, 1941 - May 1, 2012) was a Rockabilly singer who has played with many stars in his career and was also active as a session musician. He was equally capable on guitar and piano and was an energetic live performer. He is best known for the great double-sider “Honey Bun”/“That’s What I Call A Ball” (1959) and for his columns in the British R&R monthly Now Dig This (1990-2007).

An only child, Larry Donn Gillihan was born in the small town of Bono, Arkansas, where he has lived all his life. He grew up on a farm and was raised on country music. His first exposure to live rock and roll took place in the summer of 1955, when he attended a show by Sonny Burgess. Soon thereafter Donn saw Elvis Presley perform in Bono and decided that he wanted to be part of this new musical movement. Forced to have some rest after a lawn mower accident, he learned to play the guitar. Back on his feet he entered a talent show at his high school, in which he won second place. It was there that Larry met 14-year old Benny Kuykendall, who came third in the contest. Together with Benny’s brother Scotty Kuykendall and drummer Eddie Reeves, they started their own rock n roll quartet, playing all over Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri.
On August 13, 1958, Billy Riley gave Larry the chance to record for Sun. That’s when Donn recorded the first version of “That’s What I Call A Ball” and one other song, called “Molly-O”. However, the tapes of this session have stubbornly failed to surface so far. Later in 1958 the band broke up and Donn joined Bobby Brown as his bass player. Brown had recorded a single for the Vaden label and introduced him to label owner Arlen Vaden, who inquired if Larry wanted to make a record.