Vinyl kings

Early in 2023, the Vinyl Kings graced the world of art with the premiere of "Smoke Rings for Renee."

The stimulus for "Smoke Rings"—written by Vinyl Kings founding member Jim Photoglo—had been the passing of his bandmate Josh Leo's wife, Renee LaRose Leo, an artist and educator who died early in 2021. "Smoke Rings," in turn, was the impetus for an impressive body of work—Big New Life—by this imposing combo of noteworthy musicians and songwriters.

Now, the project continues with the release of "Sunshine" by Larry Lee and Harry Stinson.

"I believe the sequence of events in writing that song was that I had the verses and channel [pre-chorus segue] musically with a melody," says, Lee, who unmistakingly sings lead on the song, "but I didn’t have a chord progression for a chorus. Harry heard where I was going with the song and came up with the needed chorus progression, and then I went about writing the lyrics." 

"I remember you had two capos on the guitar to get those chords," adds Stinson, laughing. 

"To me," Larry explains, "melody is my primary motivator. Melody is the road that a lyric travels on. Without a memorable melody, the journey a song takes you on may soon be forgotten."  

Mission accomplished: "Sunshine's" simple poetry and profound power delivers life's periods of darkness and light, of struggles and hope, as steadfastly and surely as a German sports car navigating a highway as twisty as life.

The song—with its great sing-along chorus—makes this boomer music journalist think of Gerry Rafferty. Not because it sounds like him—it’s dead on Larry Lee—but because it tells a good story like Rafferty with great vocals and big sound via perfect instrumental breaks, culminating in a literal-seeming allegory filled with enough metaphor to allow listeners to insert their own stories and interpretations into the tale. 

"You know," says Lee, "one thing I’ve always liked about somewhat vague lyrics is that there can be an infinite number of interpretations for what the hell the song is about. I’ve always enjoyed hearing what people 'think' a song is about." 

Now, enjoy this beautiful tune and decide what "Sunshine" means to you. 

Tossing from side to side
Waiting on time to fly
Watching for signs of daylight
Through this long endless night 

~"Sunshine" by Larry Lee and Harry Stinson

Members of the band—Photoglo, Stinson, Lee, Leo, and Rhodes—have individually produced, written songs for, played on recordings by, or toured with such artists as Bob Dylan, Elton John, Neil Young, Carole King, Sting, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Steve Winwood, Tina Turner, Mark Knopfler, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey,  and so many more.

The Vinyl Kings' first album, the 2002 A Little Trip—a nod to The Beatles who inspired each of the VKs to pursue a life in music—received rave reviews and developed somewhat of a cult following. After all, it's a little hard to buy the concept of an album of Beatles-esque music, but Beatles fans who found it loved it. Intensely.

"The genius of the record is that the Kings managed to create an album of original tunes echoing the evolving sound and feel of the Beatles—neither impression, nor caricature, but a pure, loving homage," writes Dale McCurry, from his review of A Little Trip for NoteWorthy Music.

For information and interviews, please contact the Vinyl Kings at pr@vinylkingsband.com.