OK-here's the deal. Bio pages are usually about "I grew up listening to this" and "I started off playing such and such." Pretty lame. THIS page is about what really counts-the dues that have been paid. Gary has played in SO many bands that it's hard to keep track. He is, after all, a musician. They move around, play here, play there, sub with so and so, etc,. So let's just say that it's been a few years and let it go at that!
Maybe we SHOULD list the bands that he HAS played in so that it gives SOME kind of closure to them!
One of Gary’s first bands was at age 16 and consisted of a lot of neighborhood friends. A lot of playing was done in the back yard when parents were away and a lot of cop calling and complaining was done by many neighbors.
This loose nit ensemble was called “The 9TH Street Blues Band” (because Gary lived on W, 9th Street in Alton, IL.) It was an odd name for the band since the only blues song they ever played was “The thrill is gone”. This went on for a few years just getting an idea of how to play and interact with people.
Then after playing Beatles, Cream, and Hendrix Gary started playing in country bands. This could be blamed on the fact that Gary got married at the ripe old age of 19 and his friends all thinking he was insane didn’t come around so much any more. Which was odd because his wife was okay and liked him playing in bands? Anyway the in laws had bands and there’s where the country came in.
After a few years of this Gary got divorced and started playing in a band called “Zig-Zag” with ex brother in law Les Reader. Gary and Les have been life long friends having been married to sisters and getting divorced at the same time you kind of identify with each other, plus we were the dirty hippies to the in laws. “Zig-Zag” played a lot of pop and top 40 stuff of the day. (Early 70’s)
Next Gary and Les band“Tequila Sunrise”. Then, “Brother Jesse” ,A really good band played a lot of Allman Brothers. (YAY- Gary’s musical saviors) and, OH NO SOME OF THE FIRST DISCO.Johnny Taylor, O’Jays. Then, while playing in that band some members meet members of a great country rock band of the day (76 -80) Called “Broken Arrow”
Well some members left that band and 2 members of Bro. Jesse joined that band eventually dragging Gary into it. (Lucky for Gary) Still one of his best musical experiences.
After a few years of this Gary joined another band called “Blue Ridge” also a mighty fine country rock band of the day. After this band Gary drifted in and out of a few classic rock bands, actually it wasn’t classic yet cause the songs were all new at the time. Then (oh horrors) what does he do? He joins another disco rock band.
Having gotten married a second time may have scrambled his brain. (No one is sure). Starts a band with friends from different other ones he’d been in, called it “Net Work” got asked to change the name by a band from St.Louis by the same name but already had done so.(can’t remember the name of that one).
Got divorced yet again. (Brain unscrambled and one great son named Eric after Eric Clapton of course). Played in lots of different bands in the 80’s and 90’s, “Backside”90-94, “Lonesome Dove” 94-96.
Started a recording band called “The Mindgangsters” with friend Les Reader played on and helped produce all the C.D.’s plus engineering duties. Got to record some of friend Les Readers songs with The Father of Rock & Roll The Late Great Johnnie Johnson. Bob Weir from The Grateful Dead, Taz DeGregario from Charley Daniels Band, and Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad. All in All nice experiences for the boy.
In comes the new millennium and a few new bands such as (Gasp) “Hands Off”, All of who have become great friends. “RumBoogie” With fellow “Mindgangster” Larry Vandiver, then “The System” a husband and wife team two of the nicest people Gary’s ever worked with. Then back to “RumBoogie”. And now just hanging loose and playing with different friends trying to figure out what’s next.
Been playing and recording Christian rock songs he wrote, Songs are on itunes, napster, and amazon mp3. C.D. is called “7/15/4 songs.”
Well here we are pretty much present day. The music scene isn’t what it used to be mostly crap nowadays except for a few bands. So even if very few people get to hear them it’s a relief To be able to write and record original music.
Remember all music is original it’s just someone got lucky enough to have their’s become popular and loved by the mass’s, so next time someone says we’re gonna do a song we wrote give them a chance you never know it might be the next big thing and you heard it first.
