In the surf'n'drag era Gary worked with revolving cast of characters; he referred to his most frequent collaborators as "The Troops." Making up this core group of musicians were: Richard [Dick] Burns (bass, vocals), Chuck Girard (vocals, keyboards), Dennis McCarthy (keyboards), Jerry LeMire (guitar), Randy Thomas (drums, keyboards), and Joe Kelly (vocals)
Additionally he frequently utilized the LA sessions musicians known collectively as "the Wrecking Crew." They included: Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Glen Campbell (guitar), Richie Podolor (guitar), Hal Blaine (drums), Bill Cooper (guitar), Carol Kaye (bass), Leon Russell (piano, keyboards), Wayne Edwards (drums), and Steve Douglas (sax)
Influences
Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly
Sounds Like
Gary Usher's body of work ranged widely, from the iconic surf'n'drag sounds of the Hondells and the Super Stocks, through the country raga-rock of the three most ambitious albums by the Byrds, to the pop-psych of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy and the transcendent flower pop of Sagittarius.
The Hondells perform "Little Honda" on Shindig, October 14, 1964. Okay, more like they mime it, but this clip is way fun. And who can't appreciate the gals practicing extremely unsafe riding practices on the buddy seat? Little Honda was written by Brian Wilson, but when he didn't release it as a single, Gary, recognizing its potential, recorded it with a group of musicians he would name the Hondells.
Yo La Tengo does a slightly different take of "Little Honda" duriing this 2007 performance somewhere, maybe Formosa(?). YLT is a band formed out of a bunch of record collectors; I think Gary would dig their interpretation of the Brian Wilson song his Hondells rode to glory.
The Hondells perform "The Gasser" in the 1965 film "Ski Party." The film starred Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley and Yvonne Craig. In a nutshell, the Beach Party gang packs it up and heads for the slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho. Gary scored the film, a first for him.
Dick "King Of The Surf Guitar" Dale and everybody's sweetheart Donna Loren perform the "Muscle Bustle" in the 1964 AIP film "Muscle Beach Party." Gary Usher shared writing credits here with Roger Christian and Brian Wilson.
Guit-steel ace Junior Brown's hot-rodded contribution of the Usher-Wilson composition "409" was the high point of an otherwise ho-hum album that paired Beach Boys backing vocals with contemporary country artists. Released iin 1996, Stars And Stripes, Vol. 1 featured classic early Beach Boys tracks such as "Don't Worry Baby," "Be True To Your School" and "Little Deuce Coupe." A version of "In My Room" was recorded with Tammy Wynette and Brian Wilson but held for a follow-up volume that never materialized. This was the last studio album recorded that included Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson and Al Jardine.
Gary Usher was a songwriter, musician, and producer/arranger who was instrumental in the explosive birth of the Sixties surf'n'drag movement. Hot rod music in particular would not have taken off without the lyrics, melodies and massive ambition of Gary Usher. With longtime friend Brian Wilson he co-wrote the Beach Boys classics In My Room and 409, the latter sparking the entire California-based hot rod music scene. During the early- to mid-Sixties he wrote hundreds of surf and hot rod songs, many with his friend and fellow car-nut, Los Angeles deejay Roger Christian. By the mid-Sixties, with hot rod music on the wane, he moved on to other pop writing and producing ventures. Early 1967 found him at Columbia Records, where he produced the three most ambitious Byrds albums: "Younger Than Yesterday," "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" and "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo." He would also produce songs and albums for such artists as Chad & Jeremy, Firesign Theater, Gene Clark, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Sagittarius, and others. He dropped out of the music business in the Seventies, but returned in the mid-Eighties to work with former cohorts, including Brian Wilson. Gary Usher died too soon, of cancer in May, 1990.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Gary Usher Sr., and has been established with the full support of his son, Gary Usher Jr. You can contact Gary Jr. and House Of Usher Productions at his band's websites: Here at www.myspace.com/sprayface and also at www.sprayface.com.
The definitive website dedicated to Gary Usher is located at www.garyusher.com. There you will find an extensive discography and other items of significant interest to fans of Gary Usher and his music. It's not our intent to duplicate that site, but to complement it, and hopefully introduce the great Gary Usher to some new fans in the process.
The Work He Did -- A Partial List:
LPs with extensive Usher involvement (functioning in various combinations of producer, co-producer, arranger, artist or writer) includes but is not limited to the following, alphabetically: Keith Allison ("Keith Allison In Action," Columbia, 1967), Frankie Avalon ("Muscle Beach Party And Other Motion Picture Songs," United Artists, 1964), the Byrds ("Younger Than Yesterday," "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" and Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" (all Columbia, "Younger..." 1967, others 1968), Chad Stuart And Jeremy Clyde ("Of Cabbages And Kings," Columbia, 1967, and "The Ark," Columbia, 1968 [as Chad And Jeremy]), Gene Clark ("Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers," Columbia, 1966), the Competitors ("Hits Of The Street & Strip," Dot, 1963), Dick Dale ("Checkered Flag" and "Mr. Eliminator," both Capitol, 1963 and 1964), the Firesign Theater ("Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him," Columbia, 1967), Annette Funicello ("Annette's Beach Party," and "Muscle Beach Party," both Buena Vista, 1963 and 1964), the Ghouls ("Dracula's Deuce," Capitol, 1964), the Grads ("The Wild One," Mercury, 1964), the Hondells (self-titled LP and "Go Little Honda," both Mercury, 1964), the Kickstands ("Black Boots And Bikes," Capitol, 1964), the Knights ("Hot Rod High," Capitol, 1964), Mr. Gasser & The Weirdos ("Hot Rod Hootenanny" and "Rods'n'Ratfinks," both Capitol, 1963 and 1964), the Revells ("The Go Sound of the Slots, Reprise, 1964), the Road Runners ("The New Mustang," London, 1964), the Super Stocks ("Thunder Road," "Surf Route 101," and "School Is A Drag," all Capitol, 1964), the Surfaris ("Hit City '65" and "It Ain't Me Babe," both Decca, 1965), the Silly Surfers ("The Sounds Of The Silly Surfers," Mercury, 1964), the Weird-ohs ("The Sounds Of The Weird-ohs," Mercury, 1964), the Peanut Butter Conspiracy ("Is Spreading" and "The Great Conspiracy," both Columbia, 1967 and 1968), Sagittarius ("Present Tense," Columbia, 1968) and more.
Various artists compilation LPs with extensive Usher involvement (as producer, co-producer, arranger and/or writer or artist or a combination thereof) included "Shut Down" (Capitol, 1963), "Hot Rod Rally" (Capitol, 1963), ”Hot Rod City" (Vault, 1963), and "Big Hot Rod Hits" (Capitol, 1963); also "Sky Party" movie soundtrack (AIP, 1965).
Singles which contained songs Usher either produced, arranged or wrote (often in combination) were released by the following artists. This list, organized alphabetically, is far from complete: Frankie Avalon, the Beach Boys (he co-wrote 409 and In My Room with longtime friend Brian Wilson), Don Brandon, the Buddies, The Byrds, the Castells, Chad And Jeremy, Gene Clark, the Competitors, the Devons, the Forte Four, the Four Speeds, Annette Funicello, the Go-Gos, the Grand Prix, Keith Green, the Hondells, the Knights, the L.A. Teens, Donna Loren, Mr. Gasser & The Weirdos, the Neptunes, Wayne Newton, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, the Pyramids, the Quads, the Road Runners, the Roadsters, the Sunsets, Lloyd Thaxton, the Toads, Sagittarius, Bobby Sherman, the Sons Of Adam, Spiral Starecase, the Super Stocks, the Surfaris, the Timers, the Tri-Fives, Gary Usher & the Usherettes, the Weird-Ohs, the Wheel Men, Brian Wilson, and many more.
I'm certain this is the same Gary Usher, who's daughter Dawn Usher I met at Magic Mountain with her friend Deli Blake for her sweet 16 birthday in 1981, we rode roller coasters together at 16 years old, how awesome.. Thanks for the music and the memories
The True Genius of American Pop...he taught Brian Wilson how to write,the Byrds how to fly and Sagittarius to excel plus he took time to write to me from the House of Usher in the 90's when I was a fawning fan! A true gent ,much much missed....my Surfonics album was dedicated to him
Just added the magnifent MY WORLD FELL DOWN to my profile,everything Brian tried but couldn't quite grasp with SMiLE and puts the "animal" sequence on Peppers so far in the shade that its invisible,Gary was a prince,a kind and generous communicator and I still can't believe his recordings with Brian Wilson from the late 80's still have to see the light of day....
May 16 2009 8:00P The United Club w/ The Acid Lemon TURIN (Italy) Jun 6 2009 8:00P La Parenthèse NYON (CH) Jun 11 2009 8:00P Vinyl Club w/ Private Garden LAUSANNE (CH) Jun 13 2009 8:00P Chateau Rouge - Tribute to Serge Gainsbourg ANNEMASSE (74) Jun 20 2009 8:00P Moderne Bar for a special Annemasse City Rocker Night !!! ANNEMASSE (74) Jun 21 2009 8:00P Scène George-Python FRIBOURG (CH) Jul 4 2009 8:00P Willstock Festival SALLES - ARBUISSONNAS EN BEAUJOLAIS (69) Jul 9 2009 8:00P Belushi’s bar - Open House Thursdays PARIS (19ème) Sep 19 2009 8:00P Le Poulpe w/ Bruxelles REIGNIER (74) Oct 16 2009 8:00P OPA PARIS (Bastille) Oct 21 2009 8:00P Chateau Rouge (Party for our first EP) ANNEMASSE (74) Nov 7 2009 8:00P Salle camille claudel w/ The Kissinmas, Bruxelles CLERMONT - FERRAND
May 9 2009 8:00P Trokson w/ The Diamond Rangs LYON May 16 2009 8:00P The United Club w/ The Acid Lemon TURIN (Italy) Jun 6 2009 8:00P La Parenthèse NYON (CH) Jun 11 2009 8:00P Vinyl Club w/ Private Garden LAUSANNE (CH) Jun 13 2009 8:00P Chateau Rouge - Tribute to Serge Gainsbourg ANNEMASSE (74) Jun 20 2009 8:00P Moderne Bar for a special Annemasse City Rocker Night !!! ANNEMASSE (74) Jun 21 2009 8:00P Le Café de l’ancienne gare FRIBOURG (CH) Jul 2 2009 8:00P Belushi’s bar - Open House Thursdays PARIS (19ème) Jul 4 2009 8:00P Willstock Festival SALLES - ARBUISSONNAS EN BEAUJOLAIS (69) Sep 19 2009 8:00P Le Poulpe w/ Bruxelles REIGNIER (74) Oct 16 2009 8:00P OPA PARIS (Bastille) Oct 21 2009 8:00P Chateau Rouge (Party for our first EP) ANNEMASSE (74) Nov 7 2009 8:00P Salle camille claudel w/ The Kissinmas, Bruxelles CLERMONT - FERRAND
May 1 2009 8:00P Le Perce Oreille w/ The Acid Lemon (It), The Eye’s Shaker REIGNIER (74) May 9 2009 8:00P Trokson w/ Teenage Letter LYON May 16 2009 8:00P United Club w/ The Acid Lemon TURIN (ITALY) Jun 6 2009 8:00P La Parenthèse NYON (CH) Jun 11 2009 8:00P Vinyl Club w/ Private Garden LAUSANNE (CH) Jun 13 2009 8:00P Chateau Rouge - Tribute to Serge Gainsbourg ANNEMASSE (74) Jun 20 2009 8:00P Moderne Bar for a special Annemasse City Rocker Night !!! ANNEMASSE (74) Jul 2 2009 8:00P Belushi’s bar - Open House Thursdays PARIS (19ème) Jul 4 2009 8:00P Willstock Festival SALLES - ARBUISSONNAS EN BEAUJOLAIS (69) Nov 7 2009 8:00P Salle camille claudel w/ The Kissinmas, Bruxelles CLERMONT - FERRAND
