Daily Inspiration: Meet Larry Hampton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Hampton.

Hi Larry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Many years ago, I frequented the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. In the Foundation Room, there was an outstanding ’70s cover band AM/FM that would tear through the era’s greatest hits. Their talent and energy left a deep impression on me and planted the first seeds for what would eventually become The K-Tel All-Stars.

Although I came of age in the ’80s, I am very much a child of the ’70s—the decade I still consider the most magical and prolific in popular music. It produced an astonishing range of groundbreaking artists whose influence endures today. I remember the excitement as a kid: nearly every month seemed to bring another landmark album—Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Led Zeppelin IV, Who’s Next, Hotel California, A Night at the Opera, Rumours, Boston—it felt endless. Those records captured my imagination early and embedded themselves in my musical DNA. Seeing AM/FM reawakened the dream of building a great ’70s band. On a long drive home from a gig in Reno in 2017, floated the idea of starting the band to my friend and bassist, Brian Paulson, who immediately agreed. And The K-Tel All-Stars was born.

From the very beginning, we made a firm commitment: we would perform the music live, exactly as it was done in the 1970s — no backing tracks, no shortcuts — staying as true as possible to the original spirit and sound. To make that happen, I recruited top-tier musicians who are also exceptional singers. We rehearsed for 6 months before our debut, with meticulous attention to detail for every harmony, solo, guitar/keyboard tone, and groove. Our early shows were enthusiastically received, and right away we knew we had something special.

We have built a very committed core of fans, to include many of our fellow tribute artists who tell us we’re their favorite band. Many of these artists have joined us onstage. And in 2024, we were honored to be inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame along with other luminaries such as David Cassidy (posthumously), Walter Egan, The Cowsills, and many others.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any band, there have been challenges.

We see ourselves as a tribute to an entire era, which demands a high level of excellence and precision in every performance. That said, we’re technically a cover band because we draw from many different artists. Booking agents often find it easier to pitch a traditional tribute to a single act — like Elton John or The Who — because the catalog is familiar and well-defined. Our biggest challenge has been the name “K-Tel All-Stars.” Many agents and venue buyers don’t remember (or never knew) that K-Tel was the iconic ’70s company behind those classic compilation records. It can take time to get them to take a chance on us. But once they do and see the show, the light bulb goes on. We almost always get asked back, and I feel we’ve effectively cornered the market on high-quality ’70s music.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All four members of the band are fulltime musicians who are veterans of the tribute band scene as well as the national act, Survivor.

The K-Tel All-Stars are:

Jeff Bryan – keyboards, vocals. Jeff recently played in the national act Survivor, which had the double-platinum hit Eye of the Tiger in the early ’80’s. Jeff was also a founding member of Fool’s Logic, a Tribute to Supertramp, and has worked with a myriad of nationally recognized artists. Jeff is also an accomplished producer and songwriter for TV and film.

Larry Hampton – guitars, vocals. I am the founder and musical director for The K-Tel All-Stars and also the musical director and guitarist for the top-tier Elton John tribute, Kenny Metcalf as Elton and The Early Years Band. I’ve appeared twice on AXS TV’s “The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands” with The Who Generation, with whom I’m still active, and have shared the stage with musical luminaries, such as Liberty Devito (Billy Joel), Caleb Quaye (Elton John), Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett), Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Brother Cane), and Clayton Cameron (Tony Bennett), among others. I have also worked for more than 30 years as a commercial real estate appraiser.

Brian Paulson – bass, vocals. Brian is also a veteran of the tribute band scene, having appeared with me on AXS TV’s “The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands” with The Who Generation. He also plays with Kenny Metcalf as Elton and The Early Years Band.

Seth Kreiswirth – drums, vocals. Seth was signed to a major label and toured with his original band, The Chance. He has shared the stage with members of April Wine, Survivor, and Brother Cane, among others.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Along the way, I’ve learned three important lessons. First, relentless pursuit of excellence. There are thousands of talented players and bands in Southern California, but what separates the successful ones is a deep respect for the music and a commitment to getting it right. The songs of my childhood are part of who I am, so performing them as faithfully as possible is my way of honoring the original artists and keeping that era alive.

Second, keep it fun. No matter how excellent the performance, people ultimately come to have a good time. That’s what matters most. They need to trust that a K-Tel All-Stars show will be worth their time and money—and that they’ll have a blast.

Third, be a good human. Treat your bandmates like family—they’re your brothers and sisters in arms. Show genuine appreciation to your fans, be kind and respectful to the sound/lighting and venue staff, and make sure the club owners know you share the same goal: making the night of our performance a smashing success for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://70soundtrack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thektelallstars/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKTelAllStars
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheKTelAllStars
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KTelAllStars

Image Credits
C.G. Ryche
Kim Lawrence
Sal Gomez
Steve Crothers
Hilary Peters