Gary was born and raised in Chicago. He started playing drums at 13 and started playing guitar and writing songs at 18. He was influenced early on by Cat Stevens, John Prine, Bob Dylan and other popular folk/rock artists from the late '60's and early '70's.  He moved to Nashville in 1973 to pursue a music career where he met his wife of now almost 50 years. They have raised 5 children and are blessed with 11 grandchildren....so far! Gary currently plays in a folk/acoustic duo with Mitch Townley called “The Back Pew Poets”. They perform in venues in and around Knoxville  and east Tennessee. When not performing with the Back Pew Poets, Gary performs mostly in songwriter rounds. He is an active member of the Knoxville Songwriters Association and Red House Round songwriter's cooperative.