Randy Larson was selected as Artist of the Year 2024! He will be honored at the Artist Reception in Lake Bronson on Sunday, April 21, to receive his award. He and his sons will also be providing entertainment for the visitors. The program will start at 3 p.m. at the historical museum in Lake Bronson but visitors should come early to enjoy the local artwork and have a bite to eat and drink before the program begins.
Betsy Saurdiff was chosen recipient for the Northwest Star Lifetime Achievement Award and Rom Ogaard of Crookston was chosen for Arts Advocate of the Year for his work as a radio announcer on Pioneer 90.1 and supporting the arts in our region. Rom is retiring from that position this year after 14 years of interviewing artists.
The following nomination was submitted to the Arts Council by Deb Aune in support of Randy: “I am writing this letter to nominate Randy Larson for the Artist of the Year Award. Randy is an artist in every sense of the word. We sometimes forget about the musical artists; the vocal artists; the sound and equipment artists living right under our noses. Randy is all three and has been since his musically inclined parents brought him into Rollis Township, Marshal County. The home was full of instruments and musicians. His professional resume is boggling for a country boy that grew up with the address, Gatzke, MN. I’m very happy and proud to call him my neighbor and friend.
Randy had a nice music and vocal education; from both his days at school and his parents. His resounding success and happiness amplifies the importance of music in our schools and home. He took part in concert band, choir, jazz band, octet and quartet. This early training planted the seed to his first band. It was a rock band called, “Equinox.” Their first gig was at a prom banquet. They played “Pieces of April” by Three Dog Night. Randy was a High School Freshman. His pay? He got to attend prom.
In 1979, a group of young neighborhood boys from Gatzke got bored. Randy was one of them. They all lived within 10 miles of each other. (The following has not been tested, but, we believe there is music in the water around Gatzke, Minnesota.) This talented, high school quartet began “The Back Behind the Barn Boys.” Randy was just 17. The Barn Boys, their abridged title, started out as a vocal group playing county fairs and contests. It took but one year and the band added drums, piano, and guitar. Weddings, clubs, fairs, country music festivals and dance floors delighted in their talents as “The Boys” hit the road full time, touring 23 states and 3 provinces. With one 45 record, 2 albums and a CD, it was 1982 when they earned a trip to Nashville, TN.
The band took a little hiatus in ‘85. But Randy didn’t. He played bass, guitar and fiddle in the band “Imagine.” The Barn Boys revved back up again in ‘86 and ‘87. The Boys were very close to being a national act, but fell short as many of the members had families to tend to. Randy tended, but he kept playing and singing in what was arguably one of the most popular bands in the area; “Saddle Tramp.” Saddle Tramp toured the region and state for 20 years.
In 2010, Eagle Creek evolved. I imagine Randy is prouder than any man deserves to be, as he plays in the Eagle Creek band with his two sons. Eagle Creek plays the regional circuit to this day.
I’d like to share, in list form, awards, accolades, and the volunteerism Randy has accomplished and taken part in:
•Numerous star ratings in High School and a talent contest winner with an appearance on TV. Again, the importance of music in our schools.
•Represented Minnesota at the Wrangler Star Search competition in Nashville, TN, preforming at The Grand Ole Opry.
•“Come on Sunday Morning”, a song written by The Barn Boys, reached #88 on Billboard, #68 on Cashbox, and #2 on the National Indie Charts. It stayed on the charts for 8 weeks.
•Sang national anthem at a Twins game.
•Played We Fest 11 times.
•Played with and fronted dozens of national acts: Alabama, Charlie Daniels, Reba McEntire, just to name a few.
•Organized free concerts for special needs kids.
•Randy helped develop a couple local bands by teaching young potentials vocals, giving guitar lessons, and running sound.
•Who do you call for harmony and sound progression help? Randy Larson
•Randy likes to give away guitars and fiddles to those who may not be able to afford them.
•He likes to fix broken guitars as long as the owner will pick it back up and play it.
•Grygla High School has been the recipient of several music scholarships donated by Randy.
•Dariann Leigh Wikstrom got her first big break when Randy asked her up on stage to sing at an outdoor concert. Dariann is doing very well in Nashville as of late.
•Randy has written or co-written dozens of songs.
•Randy has jumped in to play pep band at school, run sound system for school concerts, played for countless weddings, funerals, anniversaries, church, and campfires.
•He is a band-filler. One year in mid-July Randy remembers filling in for 7 different bands in 10 days. Randy plays guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, and fiddle.
•And one of my favorites: under miscellaneous in Randy’s Professional resume, he states: Ran sound for Kitty Wells and Lynn Anderson. That was under miscellaneous!
In closing I’d like to share a quote from Randy. “When opportunity comes up, I try to do what I can to help people with music. I believe if you have music in your life at any level, you’re a better person for it. Even if all you can do is play the radio.”
Congratulations, Randy, on this well-deserved award! Mark your calendars for April 21 for the awards presentation, a visit to a local art gallery, and enjoying some of Randy’s music at the historical museum in Lake Bronson.
