Larry Franquez, a native born Chamorro from Guam, started playing the drums at age 4 and began performing in public at age 5. He earned his Master of Music Degree in Music Education from the University of Redlands, Redlands, California and his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. He studied drum-set with world renowned drummer Alan Dawson, as well as, drummers John Ramsay, Ed Kaspik, Skip Hadden and Bob Kaufman. He also studied concert percussion with Dean Anderson, Ed Sandion and Bill Schlitt.

As a graduate student, he was principle percussionist for the University of Redlands Concert Band and drummer for the University of Redlands Studio Big Band.

Franquez is currently Band Director at Southern High School, Guam. Throughout his tenure as a music educator, Franquez has taught Instrumental, Vocal and General Music at the following institutions:
• Piti Middle School (1985-87)
• Bishop Baumgartner Middle School (after school program 1986-87)
• John F. Kennedy High School (1991-98)
• University of Guam (part-time 1993-95)
• Santa Barbara Middle School after school program (1995-97)
• Agueda Johnston Middle School (2006-2008)
• Jose Rios Middle School (2010-12 formerly Piti Middle school)
• Guam High School (DoDEA, 2012-13)

The various instrumental high school ensembles he has directed such as; Jazz Bands, Concert Bands, Drum Lines and Combos have participated in music festivals and conferences in New York City, Boston, New Orleans, San Diego, Hawaii, CNMI, Palau and Toronto, Canada.

In addition, he has conducted and presented music clinics in Massachusetts, California, Japan, CNMI, and Marshall Islands to middle school, high school, college and professional level groups and individuals. Furthermore, Franquez continues to present his popular annual drum clinics since 1997.

As a drum-set artist, Franquez has lived and performed in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. He is the drummer and co-founder of the Guam Jazz Quartet with Carlos Laguana, Patrick Palomo and Mike DiAmore. Franquez has performed with Tom Harrell, Benny Powell, TK Blue, Sadao Watanabe, Bruce Gertz, Phillip Strange, Osamu Soda, Seleno Clark, Jerry Weldon to name a few including a Jam session with George Benson. In addition, he has performed with top jazz artists in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Japan and Hong Kong.

Franquez is Guam’s first and only International Artist Endorser. His endorsement include; SABIAN Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, DW Drums and Hardware and Sunlite Drums.