LARRY’S MUSIC & SOUND; HICKORY’S HEARTBEAT OF THE MUSIC SCENE
Right in the heart of downtown Hickory, almost on the corner, lies a small shop that you’ve probably passed a million times without even realizing. You might have even wandered in, not noticing where you really were. If you are in the music scene, though, you most likely know it very well. Some would call it a cornerstone of Hickory, NC…. Larry’s Music & Sound. Celebrating 30 years this year, Larry’s has withstood the test of time and the evolution of the rapidly moving industry.
“It's always felt like a second home to me. All of the folks at Larry's have always been super kind and very helpful when it comes to supporting local music. Couldn't really imagine a Hickory without them!” - Thomas Grell, Lighting and Sound Tech/Local Musician
At the heart of it all is Larry Gragg. Family man, drummer, father, husband, grandpa, and the owner of Larry’s Music & Sound. Larry’s no stranger to the music industry. Starting on the drums in his youth, influenced by his father, who played guitar, and his mother, who played piano, music has always run in his blood.
Larry and his son, Scott standing right outside the store.
With a bluegrass household, choosing the drums was frowned upon. But Larry wasn’t easily discouraged. By his early 20s, his music had taken a sharp turn toward Rock n’ Roll. Today, he plays in the local rhythm & blues band ‘Cold Sweat’ (which has been running since the 80’s) alongside some of his closest friends.
“I grew up with country and bluegrass, but I started playing rock and roll probably, seriously, at 22 or 23.”
Throughout the years, Larry’s has grown into something beyond what he ever imagined. There was no grand plan to open a store, just a little convincing from his wife, Bernice. Larry went into business with his friend Mac, opening Mac’s Musical Madness, before eventually branching off on his own to open Larry’s Music & Sound. It changed both his life and the Hickory Music scene forever.
“Having Larry’s Music in the town I reside in, known as Hickory, has not only benefited me, along with other musicians in growth, instrument and equipment selection, and benefited different ways of making music, but it has also given many opportunities for us and allowed the public insight into local performances and events that are held. Not to mention how absolutely awesome the workers/musicians themselves there are. Thank you, Larry’s Music.”
- Anna King, Local Musician.
In the early days, Larry was running on fumes. Juggling a full-time job, a band playing 4 nights per week, and a store that needed him.
“Well, at that time, I had a band that was playing three to four nights a week, worked a full, full-time job, and had the store. I had John Porter help me. He opened the store with me. … it was tough. Yeah. It was tough. Real tough. … I did it for two years. Mm-hmm. So it's paid off.”
His efforts were not in vain. Larry’s has grown well beyond the small shop it once was. From providing gear and working alongside local production companies like Codex Sound, producing for local events like Sails in the Hickory Square, churches, Oktoberfest, and being the birthplace of the Hickory Music Factory.
“We've actually progressed much more — we got the production company, the install business, and the full retail shop.”
And Larry doesn’t do it alone. This cornerstone of Hickory is all in the family; his son Scott Gragg does repairs, production, and installation, while his grandson Nathaniel Sinclair pitches in on production, lighting, and installs. Beyond family, Ben Hall and Nick Martinez help run the store and work live shows while Derek Sanders and Jim Ashton teach lessons upstairs.
“So I’ve been going to Larry’s since I was 13, I did my guitar lessons there for the first few years, the first electric guitar I ever bought with my own money was from there, and in all that time I was always greeted by someone friendly and down to teach me something about gear or recommend a band. It really left an impression on me, and several people I’ve gotten to know in the local music scene have been through Larry’s. I always preferred going to Larry’s over the other, more corporate music shops in Hickory.
- Miguel, Guitarist & Singer in Chupakabra
It is Larry’s hope that the shop will survive him. Passed down through the family, continuing to anchor Hickory’s music scene for the next generation. He plans to hand the reins to Nathaniel, who serves as the lighting designer for Codex Sound. Watching the family find their place in that legacy has meant everything to him.
“I've been happy. I didn't think they would get into it, but it's worked out great.”
Despite the upward growth of Larry’s, the Hickory music scene is still sitting on untilled soil. The losses aren’t just about empty stages; they’re about momentum. The kind of momentum that takes years to build and can disappear overnight when the crowd stops showing up.
“It needs help. I just don't think people in general are supporting live music around here.”
“Larry’s music and sound has been one of the friendliest, fairest, and most knowledgeable independent music stores I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with.
- Josh Goodfellow, Owner of Codex Sound & The Premier
It’s a tension that’s grown hard to ignore. For every step forward (like the opening of The Premier), there’s been a step back. Larry’s worked closely with The Hum, which was a beloved venue that had become a gathering point for the community before it shut its doors in late ‘25. For those embedded in the local scene, it was a reminder of how fragile the Live Music “ecosystem” really is.
Larry has watched this cycle long enough to know what it takes to break it, and what happens when it doesn’t.
“That's probably gonna come from people's mentality changing as far as going out and supporting live music. I wonder if the younger crowd is going to support live music moving forward. I really don't know — it concerns me.”
It’s a moment of honesty from a man who’s spent the last 30 years being a pillar of this community. But maybe that concern is exactly what Hickory needs to hear. The scene won’t save itself. It’s been saved, year after year, by people like Larry. By shops that stayed open. By bands that kept playing. By fans who kept showing up.
The question is whether enough people are willing to do the same. When asked about what advice he’d give to musicians navigating it all - or anyone who wants to get into music - today, Larry didn’t hesitate.
“Do it. The music scene has changed tremendously for retail shops and for musicians. Everybody's playing in pubs now, and people don't always care that you're there — but do it anyway.
Three decades behind that counter, and that’s still the answer. There’s no strategy, platform, algorithm, or anything new. Just show up. Play the gig. Keep the shop open. Do it anyway.
For Hickory, that’s always been enough. Because people like Larry made it enough.
“Larry’s has always been a staple in the Hickory music scene. From supporting local artists to supplying some of the best gear in the area, Larry’s always knows what the artists, regardless of genre, need. They also offer some of the best repair options in town for any musician who may need a little help, plus some of the best conversations and an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.” -Sarah Crump, Guitarist/Singer for Come in, Travis
