John Gary

From Watertown, New York, 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 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. ==Career==

Gary sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own prime time network television variety series and appeared at Carnegie Hall, His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song, and he was noted for his versatility. Many popular songs of the time were suited to his intimate style. Gary first recorded on Fraternity Records between 1958 and 1960. In 1960, he joined ASCAP and composed several popular songs. After signing with RCA Victor, Gary was nominated for a 1964 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and his 1963 LP Catch a Rising Star was nominated for Best Vocal Performance, Male. He was a favorite singer of fellow RCA Victor artist Elvis Presley. He had five songs that made the adult contemporary (or easy listening) chart in Billboard magazine. 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 Collectables label. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. John Gary died in 1998 at age 65 of cancer in Dallas, Texas. ==Discography==

Long play albums Compact discs • RCA/BEAUTIFUL MUSIC COMPANY • All-Time Heart-Touching Favorites (1989) • Songs of Love & Romance (1996) • Sings Cole Porter (1994) • RCA • The Very Best of John Gary (1997) • The John Gary Christmas Album (2000) • The Essential John Gary (2001) • RCA/COLLECTABLES COL-CD • The Nearness of You/All-Time Favorite Songs (2002) • So Tenderly/A Little Bit of Heaven (2002) • Catch a Rising Star/Encore (2002) • A Heart Filled With Song/Choice (2003) • Carnegie Hall Concert (2004) • The One and Only John Gary/That Warm and Tender Glow (2004) ==See also==