Larrie Londin
| Larrie Londin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ralph Gallant |
| Born |
October 15, 1943 Norfolk, Virginia, USA |
| Died | August 24, 1992 (aged 48) Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| Genres | Country, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, session musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1960s–1992 |
| Associated acts | Elvis Presley, Journey, many others |
Ralph Gallant (October 15, 1943 − August 24, 1992), better known by the stage name Larrie Londin, was an American drummer and session musician.
Larrie Londin commenced playing drums at the age of 15, and was largely self-taught. Londin initially planned to be a singer, and had an early recording contract with Atlantic Records, but decided to stay loyal to the band The Headliners and signed with Motown under the VIP label.
Londin's first professional drumming engagement was in Norfolk, Virginia, in a club where he was a cook and dishwasher. One night, the engagement drummer did not show up, and Londin substituted.
As young men, Larrie Londin and his bassist brother Lonnie aka Eugene Bunten were members of The Headliners, the first white act to be signed to a Motown record label. In 1965, two singles were released by the Headliners.
During his time at Motown, Londin commenced his career as a session drummer, following a heart attack suffered by Funk Brothers session drummer Benny Benjamin. Motown owner Berry Gordy asked Londin to play at various sessions, rather than cancel them, due to Benjamin's health challenges. Londin played drums on recordings by The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Jr. Walker & the All Stars. Though credited to Benny Benjamin, it is asserted that it was Londin who played drums on Jr. Walker's hit song, "Shotgun".
After his time at Motown, Londin joined the band of the Tennessee Ernie Ford television show.
Encouraged by guitarist Chet Atkins and singer-guitarist Jerry Reed, Londin moved to Nashville in 1969, and grew to be regarded as Nashville's top session drummer. In 1991, Chet Atkins publicly introduced him as "the greatest drummer in the world". Londin was considered to be a "master class" drummer, and made appearances on the "drum clinic" circuit.
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