Steven Gary

An evening of fun! Whether as a solo act on vocals and guitar or with one of his groups, I connect with my audience and do whatever is needed to provide a night of great entertainment. I can blend into the background with instrumental material, or engage the crowd with a personal connection so that they feel I'm performing just for them.

In my formative years I learned guitar, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn and piano. I played in concert and symphonic bands, sang in choirs and starred in a number of dramatic and musical theater productions.

In college I was principal vocalist for a variety show that toured 23 cities, mostly on the East Coast.

After the tour, I played the local coffee shops for a while, before packing up and moving to Hollywood.

A dozen years in L.A. produced a wide variety of credits - 6 albums and 2 single releases as a backing vocalist, performances at the LA Street Scene, Mark Taper Forum and the Taper, Too, doing songwriting, performing and co-producing duties for two musical productions. I formed an award-winning Barbershop Quartet, worked with a jazz choir, a madrigal group and sang Christmas Carols. I learned the Bass and performed with a country band and top 40 bands.

In 1990, I went off to the Caribbean, to the Cruise Ship Freewinds, where I was Musical Director, bass player, vocalist and guitarist, working with top international recording and performing artists, appearing on TV and radio as well as countless local events such as the St Vincent Blues Festival (opening for Oleta Adams) and the St Vincent Jazz Festival (sharing stage with Rhianna, Kenny Garrett and Babyface). The band backed up top island performers as well as some of the top entertainers from Europe, Latin America, Austrailia and the U.S. and I became well versed in all styles of music from pop to rock, jazz to reggae, blues to Latin and everything in between. It was also on the ship that I developed my instrumental guitar repertoire and continued to perform my solo vocal/guitar act.

In December 2006, I returned to the Bay Area. My music is as eclectic as my background would suggest, from country to blues to reggae to folk, pop, R&B and gospel. Thus the title of my self-produced album "Eclectic Acoustic" , released in February 2007.

Since my return I have played in a wide variety of venues, from coffee houses to the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater to the Rrazz Room in SF where I performed with Motown legend Martha Reeves.

I am currently recording a second CD and performing at private events and public venues. I have developed working relationships with many local musicians and so can provide most any musical entertainment that anyone might need.

Recent performance venues include the San Mateo County Fair, Dunsmuir Estate in Oakland and a live radio performance on Ozcat radio.

For most private events I bring all the equipment I need. For festival and other concerts, as a solo act I need a mic/stand, DI for the guitar and a monitor. Band requirements vary from group to group but are simple and straightforward.