Larry Goshen Oral History

Larry Goshen (born 1941) is a drummer, historian, and photographer whose life and work are deeply interwoven with Indiana’s musical story. Raised in the remote community of Needmore, Indiana, Goshen caught the rock ’n’ roll bug in the 1950s and never let go. As a student at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, he studied flute, French horn, and eventually drums—an instrument that would carry him into decades of performance across the Midwest.

Beginning in 1957, Goshen played in a succession of Indiana-based bands that captured the sound and spirit of their eras. His early projects included The Crowns, a duo with Jimmy Ganzberg, and later Jerry Lee Williams & the Crowns. Through the 1960s, his musical reach expanded with groups such as Sounds of the Crowns, the Marden Baker Quintet, Kenny Lee & the Royals, the widely traveled Five Checks (which later evolved into The Crackerjacks), and The Sportsman. He continued performing steadily through the 1970s and 1980s with bands including The Fifth Amendment, Them Changes, and Sweetwater, and later with the Ronnie Haig Band in the 1990s.

Alongside his work as a drummer, Goshen became one of Indiana’s most dedicated music historians. Longtime Indiana musician and music historian Larry Goshen has authored four books documenting Indiana musicians. His publications include Indy’s Heart of Rock ’n’ Roll (1985); Reaching for the High Note; and, with co-author Mark Shaw, Let the Good Times Roll: An Anthology of Indiana Music (Rock, Pop, Jazz & Country) (2002). These works remain essential resources for researchers, musicians, and fans alike, documenting not only artists and recordings but also the venues, scenes, and cultural forces that shaped Indiana’s music landscape.

Goshen also built an extensive photographic archive through his agency, Face the Music, which specialized in publicity photography and documented countless musicians, performances, and behind-the-scenes moments. His images, interviews, and carefully preserved materials form a living chronicle of Hoosier music.

In 2015, Goshen was a founding member of the Indiana Entertainment Foundation, the organization behind the Indiana Music History Project (IMHP). The Foundation continues its work today through the production of oral history interviews, documentary projects, and public programs, while maintaining the Indiana Music History Project Museum and its growing archival collections. Goshen’s lifelong commitment to preservation and documentation helped shape the mission and direction of the organization from its earliest days.

In this oral history interview, Goshen reflects on both paths of his life—his decades as a working drummer and his enduring dedication as a historian and photographer. He shares memories from the bandstand, stories of the artists he encountered, and insights into why preserving Indiana’s musical heritage continues to matter.

This interview is part of the Indiana Music History Project’s Amazing Indiana Music Stories series, made possible with generous support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. On this page, you’ll find the Complete Interview, a short Interview Highlight, and a selection of archival photographs that bring Larry Goshen’s story to life.

This interview is part of the Indiana Music History Project’s Amazing Indiana Music Stories series, made possible with generous support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. On this page, you’ll find the Complete Interview, the Interview Highlight video, and the Image Gallery that bring Larry’s story to life.

In this Interview Highlight, Larry Goshen looks back on the birth of rock ’n’ roll in the late 1950s and his decision to jump in as a young Indiana drummer. He recalls playing in early bands, performing with singer Jackie DeShannon, and being inspired by local showmen like Keetie of Keetie and the Kats, while reflecting on the excitement and energy of Indiana’s regional music scene during rock ’n’ roll’s formative years.

In the Complete Interview, Larry Goshen expands beyond his early years as a drummer to share stories from behind the scenes of Indiana’s music history. He recalls photographing B.B. King during a performance in Indianapolis, including time spent backstage and in the dressing room, and reflects in greater depth on his work as a music historian and author. Goshen also discusses the research, writing, and preservation efforts behind his books, offering insight into how Indiana’s musical legacy has been documented and remembered.