Orleans' Larry Hoppen Dead at 61

Between 1969 and 1971,his Ithaca, NY-based band, Boffalongo, made two LPs for United Artists. The second included the original recording of "Dancin' in the Moonlight," later a hit by friends King Harvest. Soon after Boffalongo disbanded in late 1971, Larry received a call from guitarist and future U.S. Congressman John Hall, inviting him to come to Woodstock, NY to join with the late Wells Kelly and John to form Orleans which he did in early 1972. Larry's younger brother, Lance, joined the band the following fall. Tens of millions know Larry's uplifting tenor from the Orleans hits "Still the One," "Dance With Me" and "Love Takes Time."

Larry also performed and/or recorded with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Livingston Taylor, Lulu, Graham Parker, Blues Traveler, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Michael Franks, Levon Helm, John Sebastian, Bela Fleck, Felix Cavaliere, Edgar Winter, Robbie Dupree, Spencer Davis, Rick Derringer, Mark Farner, John Ford Coley, Jimi Jamison, John Cafferty, the late great Michael Brecker, the late great Chet Atkins, the late great Artie Traum, and many more notable artists. Hoppen released 2 solo albums: "HandMade" and "Looking for the Light," the latter being a flagship fundraising vehicle for his 501(c)3 nonprofit Sunshine for HIV Kids.

Larry was still touring with Orleans, including brother Lance and youngest brother Lane, and was scheduled to appear on Fox TV's nationwide "Fox & Friends' All- American Concert Series" show this coming Friday, July 27. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Smith Hoppen, and his daughters, Claire and Maeve, as well as his bothers, Lance and Lane, and his sister, Lynda.