Van Larsen

Van Jergen Larsen was born on May 5th, 1960. Van lived a mysterious life, very shy and self-conscious, but surfaced publicly in the mid-1980's, in St, Petersburg, Florida, where he may have been born. Van Larsen had a superior vocal range, and could project it with great volume. He enjoyed singing at the piano bars in St. Petersburg during the mid 1980's, and could often be found during daytime Happy Hours at the now defunct A G. Mingles (Janus Landing), and during last calls at Ten Beach Drive, often with the accompaniment of the late, great, Tampa Bay entertainer and pianist; Danny Hay (January. 9, 1948. - September 28, 2007). In 1985, Van was waiting tables at the now defunct Country Dinner Playhouse, which was located on 9th Street North, in St. Petersburg, at the Gateway Mall. It was during the stage run of "Anything Goes", with Van's employ there as a waiter, that he was befriended by independent director Jonathan Morrill. Van loved the theatre, and was particularly infatuated with musical diva's Cher, Liza Minelli, and above all, Barbra Streisand. Jonathan Morrill was producing a series of music videos, live performance and conceptual, entitled "JMTV" (Jonathan's Music Tele-Vision). He was interested in producing a music video for Van, after learning about his vocal talents, through conversations they had at the Country Dinner Playhouse. Jonathan Morrill produced one music video for Van Larsen, an acapella rendition of Barbra Streisand's "Stoney End", which was shot in the kitchen of Larsen's apartment, on 43rd Avenue North in St. Petersburg. The intent was to begin a series of music videos that would showcase Van's talents, to be used as a promotional demo-reel. Morrill had Van, who was fully mustached and bearded, sing a versions of "Stoney End" in the daylight, while he recorded it. Then had Van shave his mustache and beard, and sing it again. The two versions were edited rapidly, creating an odd illusion, of two very different looking men singing one solo version of the same song, and these moving images were laid over the best take of the audio. The final edit appears in "JMTV" (Volume 1). Larsen also appears in a short plug, promoting "JMTV", which was produced just before it's premier, and in it, Van references his own spot; "Hi, my name is Van. I never wanted to go down the Stoney End, but I do make a habit of watching JMTV." "JMTV" (Volume 1) premiered at the now defunct "Ollie O's" restaurant, which was located in North East of downtown St. Petersburg. "JMTV" (Volume 1) was also screened in1986 at The American Stage Company, during set breaks, when Multi Color House & Friends performed there in 1986. Jonathan Morrill was employed at Composite Video Services (CVS), and was often sent out to various events in Pinellas County. Occasionally, Van would assist Morrill at these shoots, specifically football games that were being played by Northeast High School. Van once got into a spat with a squad of cheerleaders from a rival team of Northeast High School, during their half-time routine. He opened up to Morrill that he was irritated by the cheerleaders sassiness in their execution of the cheers. This became a running joke with Morrill, who had to request that Larsen not to assist him in future games. Van Larsen lived a closeted life, and that created great frustration for him.. By 1986, he was desperate to leave St. Petersburg. He ended up leaving Florida, and did travel solo to New England. Van spent a cold, isolated, lonely, and depressing year in Plymouth, Massachusetts, drinking, and waiting tables, before eventually returning to Florida, disillusioned, in late 1988. Van had become ill, with a fast degenerating condition. He passed away on March 21, 1991, at the age of 30. He is interred at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33708.