Tracy Chapman’s Fiddler Larry Campbell Details Their ‘Fast Car’ Grammys Reunion: ‘It Was Just Magic’
By Alex Ross
[People]
Prior to joining Tracy Chapman for a moving rendition of “Fast Car” at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 4, Larry Campbell hadn’t performed with the singer-songwriter since 1997.
The multi-talented musician, who plays more than seven different instruments, originally lended his skills on the fiddle to Chapman, 59, back when she was out on the very first Lilith Fair tour — a traveling music festival headlined by female acts in the late ’90s.
“She asked if I was free to do it with her, and I thought — I was a big fan of Tracy — so I said, ‘Sure, let’s do it,'” Campbell, 68, tells PEOPLE. “And so we did that for about three or four weeks, I guess, and then I haven’t had an opportunity to play with her since.”
The 24-year-long drought came to an end thanks to Chapman, who simply picked up the phone.
“She called me a month or so ago, around Christmas, and said that this was a possibility and would I make myself available,” says Campbell. “I said, ‘Hell yeah.’ And man, I’m so glad I did it.”
After making only a handful of appearances over the last decade, singer-songwriter Chapman joined Luke Combs at the Grammys to perform “Fast Car,” which originally was released in 1988.
Though Campbell admits he wasn’t familiar with country star Combs prior to the joint performance (“I don’t follow the modern country thing,” he says), Campbell knew he was in for something incredibly special the moment they met each other.
“I heard him sing and got to know him and saw the way he related to Tracy and all of us, and man, this guy deserves to be right where he is. He’s so genuine. There’s not a false bone in his body. And that comes across right away,” Campbell says of the two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner. “Same with Tracy, for sure. And the chemistry between the two of them, and then all of us after a couple of rehearsals for this thing, it was just magic. It was a beautiful place to be.”
Campbell’s wife of 35 years, Teresa Williams, cheered on her husband from home. The two are preparing to release their latest album, All This Time, on April 5.
“His wedding ring and the fiddle got a great Grammy moment,” Williams quips with a laugh. “No, it was perfect. I’m just making a joke,” she quips.
All kidding aside, Williams was surprised by how much the performance of “Fast Car” moved her — and how nostalgic it made her feel.
“I thought they did a beautiful job with it. I loved that song and that record when it was first out. I just remember the emotions I had listening to it back then. [Larry] and I were separated then for work. And both of us, being away from home, it was some kind of relief to hear it again,” she tells PEOPLE. “And I’ve heard Luke Combs, and I’m so glad that he loved it enough to do it, too. It just felt great.”
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