Me, Nate Barnes, Derrick Martinez, Andy Meixner, Trevor Jennings, Devon Johnson, Chris Wilson, JT Niumata, Tanisha Hall, Crystal Willis.
Influences
Stevie Wonder, Prince, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hall & Oates, Martin Sexton, Kurt Elling, Billy Joel, Sting, the Manhattans, the Chi-Lites, Smokey Robinson, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Joni Mitchell, Louis Armstrong, Take 6, Bill Evans, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, Frank Sinatra, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Jackson 5, New Edition, George Michael, Bruce Hornsby, Bob Marley, UB40, Boyz II Men, Teddy Riley, Run DMC, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Guy, LA Reid, Babyface, Raphael Saadiq, Toni Tony Tone, Tears for Fears, Freddie Jackson, Shirley Murdock, Tiamaa, Punialavaa, Jerome Grey, Penina o Tiafau, Ready for the World, Midnight Star, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, U2, REM, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Willie Nelson.
Sounds Like
Maxwell, Stevie Wonder, and D'Angelo with the lyrics of Billy Joel.
My Ipod is filled with Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Prince, Maxwell, D’Angelo, Mute Math, and more. My particular brand of music was born in between the time I spent growing up on the distant shores of a small tropical island in the South Pacific and the odd spaces I inhabited as a college student and adult in cities like Washington D.C., Boston, and now, Los Angeles. As a child, I wrote melodies in my head and made up poems without realizing they were snippets of potential, harbingers of a future life spent obsessing about rhyme, meter, form, harmony, melody—about song. I love the art of songwriting.
My parents' record collection formed the canon of my youth: Freddie Fender, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, among others—people who told beautiful stories with their words and melodies. But I was young and eager and wanted more. My brother and sister and I snuck off to listen to the radio and Casey Kasem, who gave us our first taste of the wonders of the three and a half minute pop song. I've been hooked ever since. We still listened to our parents' records on a phonograph, when records were something you held with both hands. But there was always, in the background somewhere, a radio—our gateway to R&B, to Rock & Roll, Hip Hop, the music of our generation: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, the Police, UB40, New Edition, Midnight Star, Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, DeBarge....the list is endless.
I found my true self at a music college in Boston. In dusty practice rooms with cigarette burns etched into lime green carpets, my first songs took shape on out-of-tune upright pianos and cow-pattern, composition notebooks. I discovered jazz and artists like Martin Sexton and Joni Mitchell and others who had a way with words and voices that shouted from mountaintops and songs that screamed the truth. I left school and lived just to get by. I dreamed. I tried my best. Some days were better than others, but always, I wrote. And I wrote. And one day, I moved to Los Angeles. I called an old friend, a blind, savant drummer and asked him to help me finish a labor of love, my first CD, a collection of songs that had remained in my bedroom much longer than I had originally planned. My first album, a diary of sorts about my life's ups and of course—always the songwriter's best friend—my life's downs. We were young and naive. We thought we'd knock out an album in a month's, maybe two month's time, tops. Two years later, we turned in our final mixes for mastering and duping.
The album changed my life. I performed on the very same stage that my idol, Stevie Wonder, would later perform on that very same evening. I met Stevie approximately one year later. I got songs placed in an independent movie with major actors attached. I got a song placed in a major studio movie that went on to become the Number One movie in America in its opening weekend. I continued to write and produce for other independent artists with passion, commitment, and unique voices. My production partners and I got tracks placed with a major sound library for film and TV placement. The album is still changing my life.
There are others like me out here. They say the music industry is dead. They say the "album" is dead, and it's all about singles now. I don’t believe it. Prove them wrong and take five minutes to hear the album here. Buy it here. Tell me what you think about it here.
I’m working on my next album and producing some other wonderful projects, like this one. You'll find me once in a while vibrating the air in Los Angeles mainstays like the Knitting Factory, the Cat Club, BB Kings, Howl at the Moon, Mai Tai's, Harvelle’s, Temple Bar, the Mountain, and even in places as far away as Treasure Island and the Empire Ballroom in Las Vegas.
But mostly, you'll find me in front of my upright piano, writing the next song.
.. --> --> --> --> --> --> Download the album, buy songs individually or ringtones by clicking below -->
Brothers and Sisters Music Video
Well, it's finished. My first music video. The song is Brothers and Sisters. Click here to read my original blog about the song. Click here to see the video. Click here to visit my friend Peter Tang's page—Peter was the catalyst behind the video, an extremely talented director who is destined to do big things. He came up with the concept for the video, organized the crew, basically, he made the ish happen. The whole thing, the visual tone, the script, the concept, was all Peter. Without him, no video, and I'm stuck blogging about my cat Harry instead of writing this little ditty.
I'd like to publicly offer up my humble thanks to you, Peter (and his entire Epic Circle crew), for blessing me with your talent and vision. We actually shot two music videos, the 2nd one which will be released later this year to coincide with the release of my 2nd album, The Love Chronicles Vol. 1, which Nate and I are hard at work on.
I hope this message/blog finds you all happy and doing well so far in 2008.
Thanks Gary For the sweet compassionate words that you give to me your music always gives me a reason to smile and don't trip i wiil live my life to the fullest you just keep up the marvelous work of your sincerly, LaTreece
Our FAVORITE SONG EVER is your song, RHYTHMN OF ROMANCE !!!!!!!!! AWESOME SONG, we gotta see this song on MTV, VH1 and hear it on radios it is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check it out. Great job GARY KING, thanks for your gift of music !!!!!!!!!
Lol...yeah it is what it is...It's so scripted you know? A lot of things they told me to say...or if I said something they would have me say it differently on camera...
hey Gary...didnt think you would be speaking to me b/c of your boy...but hope all is well. Yeah I'm usually on facebook so you can keep in touch w/me on facebook.
Hi My Sweet Friend, Wanted to come by and wish you a wonderful and blessed weekend..full of love and much joy..hope everything is going well..let me know if you have anything coming up soon would love to attend..much love and and many blessings your friend Tatiana..
Hey Gary! Thank you for the friendship, and great to know you and your music brother. Glad to have you on board for the November 7th event as well. Very cool man. I'll be updating folks on it soon. Keep howlin' and rockin' strong!
Vizzun Entertainment & Silverton Casino & Lodge presents The Pure Aloha Summer Pa'ina (Party) at the Silverton Casino & Lodge (Pool) - Las Vegas, NV Three Houses Down, Pati, & Haleamano Saturday August 8th - Doors @ 5pm Ages 10 & Up accompanied by an Adult $25 Pre-Sale or $30 Day of Purchase tickets at Silverton Casino Box office (702) 263-7777 more info www.vizzun.com
4th Annual Pure Aloha Fall Festival & Concerts October 9th -11th Friday October 9th 4pm - 10:30pm, Saturday 11am - 10:30pm, & Sunday 11am - 7pm Large Carnival, Specialty Vendors, and Live Polynesian Entertainment! In Concert: Ooklah The Moc, Cecilio & Kapono, and many more! More info on being a vendor, sponsor, or just go to www.vizzun.com
Hes an ambassador for Pacific Islander Hip Hop..."Theres only one King Kapisi" and he's coming to the SF bay, Cali Thurs., Aug. 27th@ Pier 23 Cafe....6 Note Entertainment is spreading the PI love!!! Pass on the word and hope to see you there...DO RIGHT BY THE PIs!!
