Album Notes

You can feel the passion Larry Mages has for music in his deep raspy voice. Just sit back and close your eyes and live the songs line for line. Feel the pain of suffering a lifetime in a wheelchair as in the song "Now I Can Dance" that Larry wrote for his wheelchair bound uncle's funeral. Thousands have found solace and hope in his beautiful words. The song is especially a favorite of people that have lost a loved one that suffered a long hard death. No one I know has listened to the song without getting teary eyed. Larry's country background and keen observation of life has enabled him to relate to people's joys and trials. In "Forever With You" Larry has a unique sense of the guilt we all feel in our lives. Somehow he has such a simple way of putting it into words.
Larry grew up in a family of 16 children on a dairy and grain farm in southern Minnesota. Everyone of Larry's brothers and sisters played an instrument and Larry has passed that tradition down to his children. The Mages Family Band has the beautiful harmonizing voices of Larry and Maggie's three daughters, Theresa, Amanda, and Emily. You'll hear Amanda's sweet vocals singing lead on "One Day At A Time". Son's Matt, and Joe pound out the toe tapping rhythms.
In a poll of fans at a Mages concert, Larry's slow rock rendition of "The Lords Prayer" was the crowd favorite. You may have heard "The Lord's Prayer" before, but never like this, you're sure to love it.
Pop songs "I Believe" and "These Are The Days" are the heart and soul of this CD. Both show the positive attitude Larry has toward life. "Like A Rock" should only be played on 'wide open' so you can absorb the range of this big man. Larry throws his Minnesota country flavor into old standards like "I Can't Stop Loving You", "There Goes My Heart" and the gospel sound of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee". Even though they cross several genres of music Larry and the Mages Family Band will have you playing this simple, but 'so true to life' CD of songs over and over.