Saturday, January 11, 2020
As Gary's sister I have many memories of our lives growing up together. One of the main things about Gary that comes to my mind is his love of music. He started singing in the choir at the Baptist church in Stoney Creek, corner Grays road and Collegiate Ave. He sang solos and I remember a few times a duet with Dianne Lister who later became the mother to his three sons. Gary took guitar lessons and learned to play an electric guitar which was a guitar on 4 legs also called a Hawaiian guitar. Gary played this electric guitar on Channel 11's popular TV show called Tiny Talent Time and he also won many first prize awards and ribbons in different competitions.
When Gary started grade 9 at Saltfleet high school he wanted to join their very successful music band. Gary chose to play the oboe as he was in love with the Token's song The Lion Sleep Tonight which had an oboe solo running through the song. Took him a while to be able to do the song justice but I remember in time he did. Gary was on the committee for the high school that arranged dances and the entertainment. It was a proud moment, he just told me again a couple of months ago, when he had the opportunity to introduce Ike and Tina Turner when they came to the stage at Saltfleet in the mid sixties. I remember when this happened but could not go as I was too young.
Gary was involved in a few different guy groups that he played bass guitar for and sang (he was a really talented screamer which was important back then) I would often hear people say that he was the best bass guitar player in Hamilton.
As I got older I was able to attend some of these dances at the Chandelier club, YMCA, different high schools, etc. It was very exciting.
I can remember hearing girls in the ladies room talking about how cute the bass player was, the cutest up on stage. Made me proud to be his sister, but I fancied the drummer.
The band often practiced in our rec room, sometimes as much as twice on a weekend everything in the house shook, rattled and rolled. I believe Mom and Dad thought it was best to know where Gary was and that he was not getting into any trouble.
The last group Gary was in was called the Dimension of Soul and the lead singer was Harrison Kennedy (who has since won many awards at the Junos for best blues entertainer.) Harrison's first hit was with the Chamber of the Board for "Give me just a little more time", which got a lot of play. Gary would say "I am a white man with a whole lot of soul." It was nice for Gary to see Harrison do so well.
Maybe this is a side of Gary some of you did not know about.
As for me I will continue to honor Gary by turning up the radio when his favorite songs come on. Woolly Bully, Fingertips by 11 year old Stevie Wonder, Its a Mans World, Good Golly Miss Molly, so many more and of course the Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Sleep well, Gary, know that you are loved and missed
