New York-based guitarist, Gary R. began playing guitar at age 14, growing up in Wichita, Kansas, listening to Pop, Rock, Blues and Motown, and especially inspired by the music of Jimi Hendrix. Gary holds a BA, in Jazz Guitar Performance from Wichita State University, where he worked with the Tom Fowler Quartet, and played in WSU’s “Jazz Arts I” big band with Matt Wilson. The Wichita Jazz Festival has twice presented Gary with their “Outstanding Musician” award.

Guitarist/Band Leader and Musical Director for the US Air Force Band in Northern California and Japan, Gary produced four Rock/Pop CD recording projects for the Air Force Bands. While in California, Gary also performed weekly as a versatile guitarist, playing jazz, R&B and rock in the house band at the Silverado Resort for nine years.

He has also toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan, as well as Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and Bangladesh. Gary has also performed in such prestigious venues as the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Dresden Opera House and the Blue Note, NYC.

Gary received his Masters of Music from NYU, where he was also an Adjunct guitar instructor. A recent graduate of SAE Institute of Audio Technology, Gary studied recording, mixing, post- production work, and sound design for film, and is proficient in Pro Tools and Logic Pro X.

He has studied privately with: Peter Bernstein, Mike Moreno, Wayne Krantz, and Gil Goldstein.

Gary serves as a Volunteer virtual guitar instructor for Guitars4Vets, which provides music therapy healing through the joy of learning music for Veterans dealing with PTSD.

Gary’s recording “Gratitude” is set for release in 2023 and will feature Santiago Liebson on piano, renowned bassist Drew Gress, and one of New York’s finest drummers Mark Ferber.