As a young
teenager, Gary's parents bought him a small guitar. A friend showed him a
few chords, and he was set on his path. For the next year, he practiced his
guitar while listening to his dad's 8 track tapes of Charlie Pride and Tom
T. Hall. Also during that time, his math teacher, Sidney Jackson,
captivated Gary's attention to the banjo and bluegrass music. The next
Christmas, Gary got a banjo. He practiced before school, after school, and
often forced to go to bed, when practicing late into the night. Gary did
well for a few years on his own, but credits E.C. Miller, for helping him
most, with smoothing out his playing, from March to June of 75. Gary
became very active playing guitar and banjo locally with groups throughout
the 70's. In July 1975, he traveled to Austria, and Italy for a few weeks,
with some school friends, and occasionally, would play his guitar for some
of the locals at Guest Houses and restaurants.
He took an
absence from the banjo and guitar, (with deep regret), for four years, while
honorably serving in the U.S. Army, stateside, and overseas in Germany.
After his discharge from the Army, he returned home to become active, once
again, in bluegrass music. It was during that time, he met, and married,
Lora Campbell. In 1986 he recorded a solo project, "Appalachian River",
which contained all original songs he had written.
Gary also has
an interest in building bluegrass instruments, and built a mandolin, and
guitar, that Joseph and Lora used the first few years, and also, built a
replica 1930's Gibson RB-1 custom banjo, which he currently uses. In August
2004, Gary purchased a 1933 TB-11 banjo which will soon be his main
instrument, after it's conversion. He is also passionate about WWII
Aviation History.
