Trumpeter Larry “Section” Sims has been an active member of the Sounds of Blackness for 36 years. Detroit born and raised; Larry’s professional musical career began under the tutelage of renowned jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and Motown writer and producer Barrett Strong.

Signed by Clarence Avant in 1976, Larry was an original member of the disco-era band, Brainstorm. Their hits included “Lovin’ is Really My Game” and “This Must Be Heaven”. On Brainstorm’s “Journey to The Light” album, Larry wrote the song, “Loving Just You”. Brainstorm toured with Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass, the Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, and opened for the Jackson 5, and Smokey Robinson. (You can still see Brainstorm on “Soul Train” c/o YouTube.)

When Larry migrated to Minneapolis in 1980, he realized he had gone from Motown to Funkytown. In the Twin Cities music scene, he has performed with a plethora of musical ensembles...jazz, big band, Latin, classical, gospel, Dixieland, R&B, and as bugler with the 29th Infantry Colored Troops Civil War Reenactment group.

In the Sounds of Blackness, Larry found a family of vocalists and musicians with the purpose of broadening perspective of the African American experience. Their message of freedom, justice and equality continues...and the beat goes on.