Larry Cordle

Larry Cordle was born and raised on a small family farm in eastern Kentucky. At a young age, he was introduced to bluegrass, country, and gospel music by his great-grandfather. Cordle fondly remembers this early influence by pointing out, “we lived so far away from everything, that we had to make our own entertainment. Music was just a way of life me, for all of us actually.” After graduating from high school, Larry spent four years in the Navy and after being honorably discharged, attended Morehead State University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. “I just didn’t see how I could ever make a living doing only music,” he explains, “so I worked for a CPA firm during the day and played in clubs at night.” All the while, Larry desperately wanted to devote to music completely, but his commitments would remain divided until he wrote a song that changed everything. Cordell, Kentucky was not only home for Larry, but also for his childhood friend and neighbor, Ricky Skaggs. Upon hearing Larry’s new song, “Highway 40 Blues,” Ricky promised that he would one day record it. In the summer of 1983, it was the number one song in the nation, helping to launch Larry’s songwriting career and Skaggs’ country music career. In 1985, at Ricky’s urging, Larry gave up the stability his office job offered and moved to Nashville to be a full-time staff writer for Amanda-Lin Music. At last count, Cordle's songs had appeared on projects that had sold a combined total of more than 50 million records, by artists such as Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson, and others.
	Though songwriting took Larry to Nashville, his desire to perform has never subsided. With his band, Lonesome Standard Time, Cordle has the perfect platform to share his music with fans everywhere. The band has been awarded Song of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association on two separate occasions, garnered GRAMMY nominations for Best Bluegrass Album, and landed #1 slots on the Bluegrass and Americana charts. Lonesome Standard Time is comprised of seasoned, esteemed musicians in their own right, providing Larry with an outlet to feature his trademark singing, original material, and engaging personality that immediately connects the fans to his music.
In addition to his revered songwriting and role as a bandleader, Cordle is often featured as a lead and harmony vocalist on some of Nashville’s most awarded and popular music. He’s provided harmony vocals for artists such as Garth Brooks, Billy Yates, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Blake Shelton. His lead singing is featured on Livin, Lovin, Losin: A Tribute to the Louvin Brothers, which won a GRAMMY for Best Country Album in 2003 and was named Recorded Event of the Year by IBMA in 2004. He’s also featured on two tracks of Moody Bluegrass, alongside artists such as Tim O’Brien, Alison Krauss, John Cowan, and Harley Allen. Cordle remains extremely active in all facets of his career. He tours extensively in the US and abroad with Lonesome Standard Time and is currently a staff writer for Sea-Gayle Music, which is co-owned by country superstar Brad Paisley, Frank Rogers, and Chris Dubois.