Since guitar wasn't an option in school music programs, Gary chose to play the trombone and did so from 5th grade through high school. A short- lived stint in a Tijuana Brass (Herb Alpert) cover band continued to fuel his desire to perform popular music in front of an audience. Again a choice had to be made. Did girls prefer guitar players or trombone players? Gary's trombone has been stored away for more than 35 years now.

Gary's mother (always one looking to help nurture her son's interests) suggested that singing in the St. John's Lutheran church youth choir would be a great way to develop his singing voice. At age thirteen that voice would often and without advance warning bounce between baritone and soprano but aside from that normal adolescent challenge, the choir was a great experience. Gary's love for singing in harmony with other voices started there. Gary's dad passed away at this same time and Gary found that music, through both singing and playing an instrument, helped fill the space and time created by the loss. Both became an emotional outlet as well as fulfilling activities, things that would be useful again in the future.

A move from Mendota to the Elburn area in 1971 led Gary (through his new church youth group at Grace Lutheran Church in Lily Lake, IL) to meet his future wife, Linda. After graduating and completing a year of college, Gary went to work in the horticultural field as landscape designer/salesman. He and Linda set about raising two sons (Chris and Kyle). Music continued to be important but family, work and Linda's chronic illness left little time for pursuing the entertainment dream. The dream was rekindled though when Gary was convinced to perform at a church talent contest where he received positive feedback on a song he wrote. That, coinciding with a strong faith experience, led Gary to begin writing Christian lyrics and, a few years later to form his first band, Ethan's Clan, with several other Christian friends.

Ethan's Clan performed original Christian music and self- produced two albums between 1992 and 1999. Linda's illness and the relocation of other members led to their disbanding.

In 2000, Linda went home to be with her Lord in heaven. With one son married and the other away at college, Gary found himself in a new and unfamiliar life. Feeling the need for healing, change in direction and to express an even deeper faith, Gary wrote new songs and formed a new band, U-Turn. This band has one album to its credit with hopes to record another soon. Gary feels that the music he writes and performs with U-Turn is one of the true purposes God created him to do. Gary also chose to leave the horticultural career and take a less time-consuming job at a bank in order to leave more time for music in his new life.

The new life also brought new love when Gary was blessed to have his current wife, Holly, become a central part of it. "She is who God used to help me heal, change and move forward, not in order to forget but rather to learn and grow from the past." Although he admits that he doesn't sing them to her often enough, Holly has inspired numerous love songs (Probably enough for her own CD?). Holly enthusiastically supports Gary's music and they both love using their mutual horticultural skills in landscaping their gardens at home. Interestingly, Holly recently confessed a secret, lifelong attraction to dancing trombonists. Truly a match made in heaven!

While Christian music is at the core of Gary's writing, he has never lost the love and appreciation for the popular music he grew up on. That's what led Gary, along with Dennis and John (also members of U-Turn) to put together The Wooden Rockers. This smaller, acoustic-based format allows for a creative approach to performing classic songs and showcases the vocal harmonies that Gary learned to love in youth choir and from singing along to the radio in his now deceased '60 Studebaker. Gary also likes to incorporate a few of his original Christian songs into a Rockers performance to help keep him grounded. "I never want to lose sight of Who I really sing for."

By the way, Gary hasn't completely forgotten his dancing roots. If you watch closely you can still see him occasionally tapping his feet when he plays and he tries very hard to never miss an episode of So, You Think You can Dance.

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