Good things on the go with Larry Berrio

By JUDI KOSKI

Sudbury's very own Larry Berrio (Barriault) is rockin' this town with his new album RPM.

It's pure Canadian country music with attitude, and a rock-hard edge.

This Northern Life reporter caught up with Berrio recently to get updated on what's been happening with his CD.

Q. You've just released a new CD. Tell us about it.

A. It's called Larry Berrio RPM and it was produced and recorded with Gil Grand and Brady Seals together with band members from Jason Aldean's Band in Nashville. I'm very happy to feature my hometown on this album, especially cut three, Rock Town. I'm really proud of it. We (Grand, Seals, Berrio) wrote it about Sudbury and dedicated it to our miners because I wanted to show people I'm from Sudbury. (Also, Berrio is the first country artist to remake a song by Canadian icon Tragically Hip, on the CD called Boots or Hearts).

Q. Tell us who's on the album.

A. The CD features: Larry Berrio (vocals), Tully Kennedy (bass), Rich Redmond (drums), Kurt Allison (lead guitar), Bobby Terry (accoustic guitar), Murray Pulver (lead guitar), Dan Dugmore (dobro, peddle steel, lead guitar, lap steel), Larry Franklin (fiddle), Dave "Swanee" Swanson (harmonica), Tony Ramey, Gil Grand and Brady Seals (background vocals).

Q. What gave you the idea for your cover design?

A. As a teen, ZZ Top was my favourite band and they had a red car on their cover.  Also The Dukes of Hazzard was my favourite television show and they were always being pulled over. So we tied that together with my love of cars and the end result is pretty amazing.

Q. You've got some great local pictures on the album. Tell us about them.

A. The cover itself features photos taken in Sudbury at Cooter's garage, the Big Nickel bypass and the Copper Cliff Smelter/Vale Inco. The hotrods used on the sleeve photos were loaned to me for the shoot by Gary Cooter Lonsberry (1931 Ford Coupe), and Ivon Chaumont (1969 Pontiac GTO The Judge).

Q. What's this about three Valley boys do good?

A. The two guys from the Valley that are involved on my album are brothers Gil Grand and Jake Matthews (Gilles Lagrandeur and Jacques Lagrandeur). They changed their names when they became involved in the entertainment industry. Gil owns the studio in Nashville, Grand & Gee Music Studios and co-wrote Rock Town, In the Rough and RPM with me. Jake has written many songs on my album with other writers from Nashville. Both brothers have been very successful in the country music scene with videos and hits on Country Music Television.

Q. How did you get your nickname "Larry Berrio from Ontario"?

A. My friend David Swanee Swanson owner of Wild Bill's in Banff, who is also on the CD, promoted my shows at the bar and the news releases would be on the lines of Berrio from Ontario to perform in the rockies, or Berrio back from Ontario, and the name stuck.

Q. Where can people buy this kickin' country rock album?

A. The CD sales and comments are amazing. We sold out at Neil's Independent Grocers in Hanmer and at Dumas Independent Grocers on Lorne Street in Sudbury, but both are re-stocked and ready for more sales. You can also find out more at www.larryberrio.com .

Q. What's coming up for you?

A. I'm heading off to the Country Music Awards in Winnipeg from
Sept. 5-8 to promote the new album. My manager Nancy Christman from Edmonton is flying out to meet me there too. I'll be driving there with my promotions manager Jeff Sheppard from Kitchener. On our route to Winnipeg we will be dropping in at country radio stations across Ontario to promote the new single.