On May 12, 2025, at Coudersport Rotary Club’s meeting at A&W West End Grill, Paul Herzig introduced his speaker Larry Herbstritt. The local boy who made it to Hollywood and beyond.

Larry explained how his musical career evolved over time beginning in 1964 when he loved music enough to learn to play the guitar and with the influence of the Beatles, Reverend Robert Merten, and Jimmy Webb music it became his passion.

This passion helped him through higher education at Mansfield College as a Music major. He did not tell them he could not read music. The guitar was not an accepted instrument he had to train as a vocal major.

After making a recording at Rev Merten’s house then went to Berklee, CA. Next stop was Hollywood, CA, to knock on the doors of publishing companies and signed on with Vogue Music Corp, which is owned by Lawrence Welk.

Now he is a Music Transcriber and Copyist. He made a few minor recordings such as El Chicano for Chad Everett of Medical Center fame with Ron Kramer.

Other music notable names Larry intersected with though his career includes but is not limited to; Roy Rogers, Steve Dorff, Music Copyist then Vocal Arranger for Jim Nabors; and Andy Williams. Also, Snuff Garrett Producer Gary Lewis and the Playboys for Cher.

Larry wrote the melody for “I Just Fall in Love Again” along with co-writers Steve Dorff, Harry Lloyd and Gloria Skelerov. The song was sung by the Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, and Anne Murray. He also worked with Melissa Manchester, Ronnie Milsap and Mary MacGregor.

He worked on TV writing for Gavilan, Spenser for Hire, Growing Pains, Murphy Brown, Oldest Rookie, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, and Alien Nation just to name a few.

And he did arrangements for Bill Medley for the movie “The Last Boy Scout” and for Ringo Starr for the movie “Curly Sue”. He arranged and played on the Greg Lake album, played in recording sessions for Sir George Martin movie “Honky Tonk Freeway, and was the orchestrator and composer for “Blast From The Past” with Brendan Frasier

He also wrote with Nashville Writers and Aaron’s Blue Bell Ice Cream commercials.

He then moved back to Coudersport and currently gives music lessons on guitar and in Music Theory. He teaches students with a passion for music.

He enjoys composing in his studio, and has composed the Eliot Ness Biographical Suite and is working on the Potter County Civil War Soldier Suite

Larry won the Robert Mertan Circle of Fifths Music Award.

Thank you Larry for your interesting and informative presentation!