- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Gary Strader
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Composer and singer; started as vocalist with Don McNeill's 'Breakfast Club' for two years. He was a salvage diver, and later a New Orleans radio singer, featured also in night clubs. He has made many records. He joined ASCAP in 1960 and composed: "Life of My Life"; "Forget It"; "Where Did You Go Last Night?"; and "Possom Song".
In June of 1991, The American Foundation for the Performing Arts and M. Edward Bass presented Gary with an Award at a "A Tribute to John Gary" to Benefit the John Gary Recovery Fund for Cancer Treatments. The event was star-studded with Liza Minelli. The event was produced by Bass and Karen Sharpe-Kramer.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Hup234!
- SpouseLee Gary(? - January 4, 1998) (his death, 1 child)
- One of RCA Victor's top popular artists during the 1960s, and very much liked and respected as a performer and a person, his many best-selling albums ("Catch a Rising Star," "So Tenderly," "A Little Bit of Heaven," etc.) are still treasured by his many fans. After being out of print for many years, many have recently been reissued on CD by the RCA and Collectibles labels.
- A decorated U.S. Marine veteran, he held several underwater swimming records for both salt and fresh water. He also held the patent on an underwater propulsion device of his own invention.
- A Ken Murray discovery, his first big break came with Murray's long-running stage show "Blackouts." A teenager at the time, he would sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to Marie Wilson every night, until his voice changed in the middle of a performance. He and Murray remained lifelong friends.
- Gary sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own prime time network television variety series and appeared at Carnegie Hall, with numerous orchestras.
- RCA has reissued some of his recordings and a 92-track, four-CD box set on the Collectables label.
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