Escondido-area music fans have a new hall of famer to cheer for.

Singer and drummer Larry Grano was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 16, at Vision: A Center for Spiritual Living in San Diego.

He joined a 2026 class that includes reggae hitmakers Big Mountain, the late Mojo Nixon, punk pioneers The Penetrators, radio host Claudia "Jazz Kitty" Russell, trombonist Oliver Luck and Lady Dottie & The Diamonds.

The hall, founded by musician and organizer Jefferson Jay in 2018, honors the lifetime contributions of the region's music community.

This year's eighth annual ceremony featured brief speeches, video tributes and live music, including appearances by members of Big Mountain, the Penetrators and the Beat Farmers.

Jay described the 2026 inductees as a wonderful, eclectic group spanning reggae, punk, jazz, blues and R&B.

A drummer from age 5

Grano grew up in San Diego's Allied Gardens neighborhood and has long lived in the Escondido area, most recently in Hidden Meadows.

His start came early: he was 5 when his father left him at a drum kit during a session at an Elks Lodge.

His first paid gig was a neighbor's backyard party with his first band, Wizard.

He has credited his whole neighborhood for backing him as a young musician.

Decades on San Diego stages

Over the years Grano played with Artisan at the Turquoise Lounge in La Mesa, then with 3-D, Pranx and Private Domain before joining Rockola.

In the early 1990s he was the singing drummer for the Soul Persuaders, and he has also played in the tribute band Steely Damned.

Along the way he has shared stages with Jack Tempchin, Coco Montoya and Denny Laine, and worked for years alongside singer Eve Selis.

That range, from rock and R&B to tribute shows and singer-songwriter sets, is why local coverage of this year's class described him as a versatile drummer and a San Diego music mainstay.

Serve the song

Grano's playing philosophy is refreshingly humble: support the song, stay out of its way, and the music will carry itself.

When he learned of the nomination, he joked that his first thought was whether it was happening because he was leaving town.

More seriously, he says the honor reminds him of all the people who saw how much he wanted a life in music and helped him get there.

One more chance to see him play here

Grano is preparing to move to North Carolina to be closer to a grandchild, and he plans to keep teaching.

Before he goes, he will drum for Richie Furay's final two concerts.

The first is Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., billed as Richie Furay Bids A Final Farewell featuring San Diego's Back To The Garden.

Tickets are listed at $42 to $78, including fees.

The second show is Nov. 7 at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Furay is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Poco and the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

For local fans, Nov. 6 is a chance to give a longtime neighbor a proper send-off.

Official information and sources

The Coast News: Grano inducted · Times of San Diego: the 2026 class · Nov. 6 concert listing · California Center for the Arts, Escondido · Richie Furay tour dates