Bio

After learning how to play trumpet and then drums as a kid, in 1967 I was turned onto Jimi Hendrix. I bought a '67 Telecaster and found my love for the guitar. My neighborhood friends and I started a garage band, and were soon playing live gigs at DC military bases and teen clubs, we weren't yet old enough to play in bars. In 1970, after finishing high school, another good friend/guitar buddy and I started a dual guitar based group specializing in integrated harmony guitar leads. We started playing clubs in the D.C. area, But like most bands, we folded, and I found myself moving from DC to Los Angeles and followed several other excellent musicians from the DC area, including Mad Mike Cullens and Jorge Strunz. Even then a guitar virtuoso, Jorge was playing with a band called Spectrum from DC that sounded like a mix of King Crimson and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. I ended up getting lots of jam and lesson time with both Jorge and other musicians more experienced than I. Corea’s Return To Forever also released "Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy",so I was introduced to the guitar chops of Bill Connors. My standards were raised while I was in LA. After two years in LA, my friends and I returned to DC and pursued separate paths. With lots of hard work (as every full-time bar band musician knows) I made a full-time living playing in several local DC cover bands, playing the Georgetown circuit at The Bayou, Crazy Horse, and The Paul Mall. After several years of this circuit, the band got an offer to play at a club on St. Croix for 3 months and then St. Thomas for another 3 months. The band had a blast but after 6 months we were fried and ready to get back to DC. I then played in a duo for several years in a lounge act while getting an Electronic Engineering degree. By this time in my life I was totally burned out on cover music, and checked out of the music scene for 4 years by moving to Palm Beach and working as an engineer. It was there that I met a co-op engineer (and keyboardist) in the process of recording a song. In 1993, I collaborated with Eric Bragg in West Palm Beach to form The Garason Conspiracy. Together we created the CD called Glamour Shots, a co-written collection of songs with varying styles. The CD received good reviews, but Eric and I couldn’t tour to promote the music, so the CD never went far. In 2007 I decided to put together another CD called "Life Of Its Own". It features Mad Mike Cullens, who was kind enough to add the drum tracks so eloquently, and Baron Ramonde's most excellent solo on sax (Ruf Tup). "Life Of Its Own" is a collage of all the things I have learned from the many dedicated musicians I have been exposed to throughout the years. May all of you live 500 year lifetimes. Special thanks for the kind (and sometimes critical) comments listed below. All the listeners provided well-informed opinions, insights, and suggestions that will be helpful to me going forward. [b]From: Randy Allar--WCSB Cleveland[/b] MR. RICHARD Hey Gary-- congrats on the disc. Get a copy to the station to my attention. I can't promise anything, but I really like what I hear and should be able to work with you on this. We'll talk soon and I may be able to get you to some other people that may be able to help at point of sales. Hope all is well and thanks for contacting me. Also, please use my main email address. [b]Reviews from informed listeners:[/b] Commments about Schmack! from Redfizz [i]Sputnikov [/i] no way! this guy's playing is far above mine. sounds a little dregsy to me. he put a little time into the backing track as well. i think it's swell. [i]unklespaz[/i] like the queen brian may type harmonies, you can play, Bratty, is this something you're involved in? Talented dude [i]3feetup[/i] i know a little. very good on performance, but lacking in originality. [i]Pauline Trouble[/i] nice playing, tasteful, reminds me of the Dregs... [i]Babar Klunj[/i] Excellent playing. Dreggitude indeed [i]CalebH[/i] As far as a flashy guitar solo over a generic blues backing track goes, this is much better than most. Second stager. [i]WILLBMUSIC[/i] nice chops, nicely produced. i can play that......in my mind. [i]Babar Klunj 5/16/2008[/i] came back for another listen...excellent playing [i]Scott Bell 5/15/2008[/i] Well first off I gotta tell ya I like your Gibson...Very talented guitarist..but then you know that already dont you??? Thanks for sharing this one. I enjoyed it.. [i]Sputnikov 5/14/2008[/i] my face is melted... [i]Sputnikov 5/14/2008[/i] this is awesome stuff! [i]unklespaz 5/14/2008[/i] wow, you should check out MEZ, very similar: Babar's band. I was hearing some cool stuff, and stuff I thought was coming from outside my headphones a little heady but ok, I especially loved the keys, and the mind bending: [i]Babar Klunj[/i] A bit of Return to Forever, a tad of National Health. Tasteful and very well done. [i]Babar Klunj [posted during evaluation][/i] Loved every bit of it [i]CalebH [posted during evaluation][/i] I bet you listen to a lot of Zappa, huh? JUS' STOPPED BY TO SAY HEY & ALWAYZ "THANX" FOR THE ADD. GREAT RESPECTS FOR YOUR WORK ... ROCK ON ! MR. RICHARD IVAN'S JOB Gary Stuart King - Guitarist for 39 years. 2nd CD titled LIFE OF ITS OWN is now available from CD Baby at [link="http://cdbaby.com/cd/garystuartking] My other site [/link]and also most digital outlets. It is also available from the artist at [email protected]. Life Of Its Own is packed with instrumental, jet-fueled music with lots of guitar and guitar synth, but also features Mad Mike Cullens (Mick Taylor Percy Sledge, The Drifters, The Temptations)on drums, and Baron Raymonde on sax (Rod Stewart, Saturday Night Live). Special thanks to all those who appreciated the music and left kind comments. Best of luck to all. [color="red"][/color]