John Gary

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John Gary bigraphy, stories - Singer

John Gary : biography

December 29, 1932 – January 4, 1998

For the U.S. politician of the same name, see John G. Gary

John Gary (born John Gary Strader; November 29, 1932 — January 4, 1998) was an American singer, recording artist, television host, and performer on the musical stage.

Early life

Gary started singing at the age of 5. He joined his older sister, Shirley Strader. At the age of 9, he won a 3-year scholarship to the prestigious Cathedral School of St John in Manhattan. He auditioned for the choir master, Norman Coke-Jeffcott. At the age of 10, Gary had won two (2) pins of distinction from the American Theatre Wing Merchant Seaman’s Club for the Stage Door Canteen. Aged 12, he toured the southern states with Frank Pursley, a blind pianist for the Mason Conservatory.

Discography

LP ALBUMS

LA BREA-8010/S8010-1961 pre RCA Victor only known album on this label; probably unauthorized collection of demonstration recordings.

RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2745-"Catch a Rising Star" -1963 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2804-"Encore" -1964 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2022- "So Tenderly" -1964 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2940-"The John Gary Christmas Album" -1964 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2947-"David Merrick Presents Hits from His Hits," with Ann-Margaret -1964 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3349-"The Nearness of You" -1965 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3411-"Your All-Time Favorite Songs" -1965 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-2994-"A Little Bit of Heaven" -1965 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3666-"A Heart Filled with Song" -1966 RCA CAMDEN-CAS-983-"The One and Only John Gary" -1966 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3570-"Your All-Time Country Favorites" -1966 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3501-"Choice"-1966 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3695-"Especially for You" -1967 RCA VICTOR-LS0-1139-"Carnegie Hall Concert" -1967 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3501-"The Best of John Gary" -1967 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3785-"Spanish Moonlight" -1967 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3928-"On Broadway" 1968 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-3992-"John Gary Sings/John Gary Swings" -1968 RCA CAMDEN-CAS-2199-"That Warm and Tender Glow"-1968 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-4075-"Holding Your Mind"- 1968 RCA VICTOR-LPM/LSP-4233-"That’s the Way It Was"- 1969 RCA VICTOR-VPS-6041-"This is John Gary"- 1971 KAMA-SUTRA-KSBS-2666-"Constantly"- 1975 RCA INTERNATIONAL-NL89471-"Sincerely"- no date CHURCHILL-CHS67236-"In A Class by Himself"- no date BRIARWOOD-"On Tour"- no date

COMPACT DISKS

RCA/BEAUTIFUL MUSIC COMPANY-DV01-0899-"All-Time Heart-Touching Favorites"- 1989 AUDIOPHILE RECORDS-ACD-274-"Sings Cole Porter" -1994 RCA/GOOD MUSIC COMPANY-DMC1-1328-"Songs of Love & Romance"- 1996 RCA/BMG-07863-66998-2-"The Very Best of John Gary"- 1997 RESTART/BMG-DMC-12630-"The John Gary Christmas Album"- 2000 RCA-69395-2-"The Essential John Gary"-2001 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-2844-"The Nearness of You/All-Time Favorite Songs"- 2002 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-2806-""So Tenderly/A Little Bit of Heaven"- 2002 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-2805-"Catch a Rising Star/Encore"- 2002 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-"A Heart Filled with Song/Choice"- 2003 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-"Carnegie Hall Concert"- 2004 BMG/COLLECTABLES-COL-CD-"The One and Only John Gary/That Warm and Tender Glow"- 2004

Career

Gary sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own television show, and appeared at Carnegie Hall, with numerous symphonies. He appeared 30 times as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He traveled across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 40 concerts per year. For six years he gave Community concerts in over 400 cities and towns. He was a stylized singer, who recorded 23 albums for RCA Victor Records.

Prior to national stardom, Gary appeared on local New Orleans television station WDSU-TV, as a regular feature on the noontime television show "Midday". He also appeared at the Blue Room of the Roosevelt (later Fairmont) Hotel. He performed "The John Gary Show", three fifteen-minute shows a week, presaging his national (CBS) show a decade later, a summer replacement for the Danny Kaye Show.

Gary was considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extraordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three and 1/2 octaves. His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song. Many popular songs of the time were suited to his intimate style. After signing with RCA Victor, Gary was nominated for a Grammy 1964 for Best New Artist(Unsuccessful).

In 1960, he joined ASCAP and composed several popular songs. He had five songs that made the adult contemporary (or easy listening) chart in Billboard magazine. The song "Cold", released in 1967, was his most successful, topping the chart for two weeks at the end of that year. However, the song failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. In 1968 he voiced John Alden in the Rankin/Bass Animated TV special "The Mouse on the Mayflower".

RCA has reissued some of his recordings and a 92-track, four-CD box set on the .

He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps.