Larry Goshen Oral History

Larry Goshen, born in 1941, is a drummer, historian, and photographer whose life has been deeply interwoven with Indiana’s musical story. Raised in the remote community of Needmore, Indiana, Larry 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 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 groups expanded in popularity and reach, from Sounds of the Crowns and the Marden Baker Quintet to Kenny Lee & the Royals, the widely-traveled Five Checks (later evolving into The Crackerjacks), and The Sportsman. In the 1970s and 1980s, Goshen kept performing with ensembles such as The Fifth Amendment, Them Changes, Sweetwater, and eventually the Ronnie Haig Band in the 1990s.

Alongside his work as a drummer, Goshen became one of Indiana’s most dedicated music historians. He authored two landmark books: Indy’s Heart of Rock ’n’ Roll (1985) and, with co-author Mark Shaw, Let the Good Times Roll: An Anthology of Indiana Music (Rock, Pop, Jazz & Country) (2002). These works remain vital resources for researchers, musicians, and fans alike—documenting not only the artists but also the cultural landscape that shaped Indiana’s music scene.

Larry also built a vast photography collection through his agency, Face the Music, which specialized in publicity shots and captured countless moments in Indiana’s music history. His meticulous archives, interviews, and images continue to serve as a living chronicle of Hoosier music.

In this oral history interview, Larry reflects on both paths—his decades as a working drummer and his lifelong dedication as a historian and photographer. He shares memories of performing, offers stories of the artists he encountered, and explains why preserving Indiana’s music is so important to him.

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 highlight reel, and a selection of archival photographs that bring Larry’s story to life.