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Larry Junstrom
Larry Junstrom
Larry Junstrom
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Key Information

Lawrence Edward Junstrom (June 22, 1949 – October 5, 2019) was an American bassist who was a member of the rock band .38 Special from 1977 until 2014. He was also one of the founding members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Early life

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Junstrom was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida when he was 10. He played saxophone and clarinet in school in 5th and 6th grades, but immediately became interested in guitar after watching The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. His first guitar was a Silvertone he received as a gift. Junstrom found himself drawn to the bass parts, playing them on the guitar's lower strings. Eventually he fashioned a piece of balsa wood on the neck and bridge of his guitar to modify it into a bass guitar.[1]

Musical career

[edit]

While in high school, Junstrom became friends with Ronnie Van Zant and was recruited to be the bass guitarist of what became Lynyrd Skynyrd from its formation in 1964 and through its early Jacksonville and regional touring days. He left the band in 1971 before the group's debut album in 1973.[2]

Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd's, Ronnie Van Zant, formed .38 Special in 1974, with Junstrom joining as the bass guitarist in 1977.[3] Junstrom retired from .38 Special after 37 years in 2014 due to a hand injury that required surgery.[4]

Personal life

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An avid amateur radio operator, Junstrom's call sign was K4EB, which he read as "Known 4 Excellent Bass."[5] First licensed in 1962, he became a very active operator from 1990 onward.[6]

Junstrom died on October 5, 2019 in Palatka, Florida at the age of 70. At the time he had been married to his wife Thania for 11 years.[7][8][9]

References

[edit]
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Larry Junstrom

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Lawrence Edward Junstrom (June 22, 1949 – October 5, 2019) was an American musician and bassist, renowned as a founding member of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and as the longtime bassist for the rock band .38 Special. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Junstrom moved to Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 10 and joined what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd in the mid-1960s when the group was known as My Backyard, alongside Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Bob Burns. He contributed to the band's early development and recordings, including demos of songs like "Free Bird," but departed in 1971 before Lynyrd Skynyrd achieved major commercial success with their 1973 debut album. Following his exit from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Junstrom joined .38 Special in 1977, a band formed by Ronnie Van Zant's brother Donnie Van Zant and others, where he played bass on all of their studio albums until his retirement from touring in 2014. Junstrom's career spanned over four decades in the genre, marked by his steady bass lines that supported hits such as .38 Special's "" and "" from the early , helping the band sell millions of records. He was remembered by bandmates for his musical talent and personality. Junstrom died at his home in , at the age of 70.

Early life

Birth and childhood

Lawrence Edward Junstrom was born on June 22, 1949, in , . He grew up in the southern part of the city, where he spent his early childhood until the age of ten. Junstrom was the son of Carl Goddfred Junstrom, a veteran, and Rose S. Junstrom. He had two brothers, John and Bill Junstrom, with whom he shared a close family bond during his formative years. His early life in was marked by a typical family environment in a working-class neighborhood, fostering the personal connections that would later influence his path, though specific pre-musical activities remain undocumented in available records.

Relocation and education

In 1959, at the age of ten, Junstrom's family relocated from , , to , settling in a west side neighborhood that would later become a hub for emerging Southern rock musicians. Upon arriving in Jacksonville, Junstrom attended local schools, including Lake Shore Junior High School and High School, where he integrated into the community's vibrant youth scene. During his elementary and years, Junstrom participated in the school band, playing and in the fifth and sixth grades, which provided his first formal exposure to music performance. Inspired by ' performance on , Junstrom shifted his interest to , receiving a Silvertone guitar for that he later modified into a . In his teenage years in Jacksonville, Junstrom met influential figures such as , with whom he shared the same west side neighborhood and attended overlapping schools, laying the groundwork for future musical collaborations.

Musical career

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Larry Junstrom co-founded in 1964 in , initially as the band My Backyard, alongside on vocals, on guitar, and Bob Burns on drums. Shortly thereafter, guitarist joined, and Junstrom took on the role of bassist, solidifying the group's core lineup during its formative years. As the original bassist, Junstrom provided the rhythmic foundation for the band's early sound, drawing from his teenage experiences playing music in school bands that connected him with fellow musicians like Rossington and Van Zant. The band, under Junstrom's involvement, performed numerous local gigs at high school parties, dances, and small venues in Jacksonville, honing a raw style influenced by and . Over the next few years, the group underwent several name changes to reflect its evolving identity: from My Backyard to The Noble Five, then to One Percent by 1968, before settling on in 1969 as a to their high gym Leonard . These pre-album years saw Junstrom contributing to the band's development through persistent local performances and experimentation with material that would later define their signature sound, including early demo recordings of songs like "," though they remained unsigned and focused on building a regional following. Junstrom departed in 1971, prior to the band's signing with and their major label debut, primarily due to financial needs and his family's relocation to . He was replaced by , marking the end of his tenure in the group's foundational phase as it transitioned toward national prominence.

38 Special

Junstrom joined the band in 1977, shortly after its formation in 1975 by , , and others within the orbit in , replacing original bassist . Drawing from his prior experience in 's , Junstrom provided a solid bass foundation that anchored the band's early sound. As the band's longtime bassist, Junstrom contributed to all 12 of 38 Special's , from their self-titled debut in 1977 to Drivetrain in 2004, as well as four live releases including Live at Sturgis (1999) and Live from Texas (2011). His driving bass lines were integral to the group's evolution from gritty roots—evident in early tracks like those on Rockin' into the Night (1979)—to a polished style in the , characterized by anthemic hooks and radio-friendly melodies. Junstrom's tenure helped propel key hits such as "" (1981), which reached No. 27 on the and became a staple of rock radio, alongside "" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1983), all supported by his steady rhythm work that complemented the band's dual-guitar attack. This period marked 38 Special's commercial peak, with multiple platinum albums and extensive touring that solidified their status. After 37 years with , Junstrom retired in 2014 following hand surgery that prevented him from continuing to perform.

Personal life and death

Family and interests

Larry Junstrom was married to Thania Junstrom for 11 years, from approximately 2008 until his death. He had a close relationship with his stepson, Jason Brown, and maintained strong ties with his brothers, John and Bill Junstrom, as well as a host of members. Junstrom's longtime residence in , established since his childhood relocation to Jacksonville, helped shape his enduring family roots in the region. Outside of music, he was an avid , holding the callsign K4EB—which he playfully interpreted as "Known 4 Excellent Bass"—and first obtaining his license in 1962 before renewing his enthusiasm for the hobby in 1990. His other personal interests included following races, supporting the and teams, and fishing, activities he particularly enjoyed alongside his wife and family. These pursuits reflected his deep community connections in the Jacksonville area, where he lived for much of his life.

Later years and passing

After retiring from in 2014 following hand surgery that prevented him from continuing to perform, Junstrom settled in north-central , where he took up work in . Junstrom passed away on October 5, 2019, at the age of 70 in . The cause of his death was not publicly specified, though it occurred at amid unspecified complications in his . In the wake of his passing, shared a heartfelt tribute on their official page, calling him "The Big Man on the Big Bass" and noting, "He rocked arenas all over the world and succeeded in living his dream. He was the sweet natured, bass playing man that was truly one of a kind." Bandmates and industry figures, including members of , mourned the loss of the founding bassist, remembering his pivotal role in shaping .

References

  1. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/larry-junstrom-dead-lynyrd-skynyrd-38-special-bassist-dies-8532334/
  2. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/larry-junstrom-lynyrd-skynyrd-bassist-dead-obit-895582/
  3. https://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/history
  4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203617813/larry-junstrom
  5. https://theboot.com/larry-junstrom-dead-dies/
  6. https://www.arrl.org/news/lynyrd-skynyrd-founding-member-larry-junstrom-k4eb-sk
  7. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/38-special-mn0000500781
  8. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2019/10/07/larry-junstrom-bass-player-for-38-special-and-lynyrd-skynyrd-dies-at-70/2545295007/
  9. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/orange-park-fl/lawrence-junstrom-8880216
  10. http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:larry_lj_junstrom
  11. https://jitneybooks.com/sweet-home-jacksonville-the-true-story-of-the-origins-of-lynyrd-skynyrd/
  12. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7546931/Lynyrd-Skynyrd-founding-member-Larry-Junstrom-dies-aged-70.html
  13. https://celebritygraveland.com/2022/06/06/larry-junstrom/
  14. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/larry-junstrom-38-special-lynyrd-skynyrd-dies/
  15. https://www.loudersound.com/features/lynyrd-skynyrd-early-years-debut-album-history
  16. http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:legends_of_southern_rock_38_special
  17. https://folioweekly.com/2025/03/26/38-special-a-southern-rock-tradition/
  18. https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-38-special-albums-and-discography/
  19. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesunion/name/lawrence-junstrom-obituary?id=9203125
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