Trivia

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.

Prior to national stardom, Gary appeared on local New Orleans television station WDSU-TV, as a regular feature on the noontime television show Midday.

Gary was considered by many to be one of the most talented of popular singers due to his extraordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of 3+1/2 octaves. His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song.

For six years he gave community concerts in over 400 cities and towns.

He traveled across the US and Canada with approximately 40 concerts per year.

Many popular songs of the time were suited to his intimate style.

Aged 12, he toured the southern states with Frank Pursley, a blind pianist for the Mason Conservatory.

At the age of 10, Gary had won two (2) pins of distinction from the American Theatre Wing Merchant Seaman's Club for the Stage Door Canteen.

Gary started singing at the age of 5. He joined his older sister, Shirley Strader.

He also appeared at the Blue Room of the Roosevelt (later Fairmont) Hotel.

He appeared thirty times as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson.

Gary was also a songwriter, including "Possum Song," "I'll Say It All Again," "One Red Rose," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again.".

He recorded 24 albums for RCA Victor.

He performed The John Gary Show, three fifteen-minute shows a week, presaging his national (CBS) show a decade later, a summer replacement for the Danny Kaye Show.

Although Gary's singing talents made him famous, he excelled at many other interests throughout his life, such as boxing, archery, and underwater diving. Among his achievements are two published books of poetry and numerous published songs.

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.