FIVE YEAR OLD JOHN GARY JOINED HIS OLDER SISTER SHIRLEY (WHO WAS CONSIDERED TO BE 'THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE OF THE NORTH') IN A BROTHER-SISTER ACT ON MANY AMATEUR TALENT SHOWS.
NINE YEAR OLD MASTER JOHN GARY WON A THREE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP TO THE PRESTIGIOUS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE IN NEW YORK CITY BY AUDITIONING FOR CHOIR MASTER NORMAN COKE-JEFFCOTT.
TEN YEAR OLD JOHN GARY WON TWO 'PINS OF DISTINCTION' FROM THE AMERICAN THEATER WING AND THE MERCHANT'S SEAMAN'S CLUB FOR THE STAGE DOOR CANTEEN.
TWELVE OLD JOHN GARY TOURED THE SOUTHERN STATES WITH BLIND PIANIST FRANK PURSLEY FROM THE MACON CONSERVATORY.
HOLLYWOOD
ALSO AT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE JOHN LIVED WITH MOTHER IN WILCOX HOTEL (WILCOX AND SELMA) WHEN FIRST ARRIVED IN HOLLYWOOD TO AUDITION FOR "TIME OF YOUR LIFE' MOVIE AT THE REQUEST OF HEDDA HOPPER WHO HAD HEARD JOHN SING IN HER OFFICE.
STEP- FATHER/MANAGER/AGENT WENT DOOR-TO-DOOR WITH TWELVE YEAR OLD JOHN GARY TO INTRODUCE HIS SINGING TALENTS TO RONALD REAGAN AND JANE WYMAN,EDDIE CANTOR, FRED McMURRAY AND OTHERS.
JOHN ENROLLED IN HOLLYWOOD PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL (CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD BLVD AND WESTERN AVE.) WITH CLASSMATES KAREN SHARPE (MRS. STANLEY KRAMER), ROSETTA JACOBS (PIPER LAURIE), CICI PERREAUX, MARY WELLS (DAUGHTER OF JOAN DAVIS),MIKE BIANO (SON OF 'SOLI' BIANO CASTING DIRECTOR OF WARNER BROTHERS), WALLY PERCH (WALLY GEORGE..FATHER OF REBECCA DeMORNAY/ HOST OF TELEVISION SHOW 'HOT SEAT'), BOBBY BLAKE AND OTHERS.
JOHN SANG ON A LOCAL CBS/KNX RADIO SHOW IN HOLLYWOOD AS A REGULAR STAFF MEMBER (AGE 11) CALLED "SUNRISE SALUTE" WITH ANNOUNCER BURRETT WHEELER. PIANIST WAS BILLY WARDELL. HARRY BABBITT FOLLOWED TIME SLOT WITH SHOW "SECOND CUP OF COFFEE", BILLIE BURKE FOLLOWED HIM WITH HER SHOW.
ABOUT FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE JOHN PERFORMED ON A NETWORK RADIO SHOW "STAIRWAY TO THE STARS" IN A SKETCH WITH LIONEL BARRYMORE ABOUT DRIVING THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND. JOHN SANG "DANNY BOY" WITH PAUL WHITEMAN'S ORCHESTRA. MARTHA TILTON WAS ALSO ON THE SHOW WHICH WAS BROADCAST LIVE FROM EARL CARROLL'S THEATER IN HOLLYWOOD.
JOHN ATTENDED NORTH HOLLYWOOD JR. AND SR. HIGH WITH MARTY MILNER AND OTHERS. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF 'CHANTERS', A HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL GROUP.
EARLY JOBS
DURING THESE SCHOOL YEARS JOHN GARY WORKED AT:
SUN REXALL DRUG STORE
SERENADE RESTAURANT
PIG 'N WHISTLE
HOUSE OF IVY
WORKED AT HOLLYWOOD BLVD. MOVIE THEATERS:
PANTAGES
WARNER'S CINERAMA
GRAUMAN'S CHINESE
VOGUE
EGYPTIAN
PARAMOUNT
(CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND) FOUNTAIN.
(WAITER: SANG ALONG WITH 'MUZAK' FOR TIPS)
(WAITER:SERVED JOHNNY WEISMULLER A SODA)
(VOLUNTEER SINGER (FOR TIPS) WITH ORGANIST/ ENTERTAINER JACK COOPER)
(TEEN-AGE DOORMAN AND USHER)
LIVED AT 3145 VANTAGE ST. IN STUDIO CITY IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WITH MOTHER, STEP FATHER BOB YALE (OWNER OF YALE PHOTOGRAPHERS IN HOLLYWOOD AND WHO PLAYED MICKEY ROONEY'S FATHER IN MANY MOVIES),OLDER BROTHER RICHARD, SISTER SHIRLEY AND YOUNGER BROTHER MALCOLM.
HEDDA HOPPER BROUGHT JOHN TO THE ATTENTION OF KEN MURRAY WHO HAD THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SHOW 'BLACKOUTS' AT THE EL CAPI-TAN THEATER IN HOLLYWOOD WHERE HE PERFORMED FOR SEVERAL YEARS SINGING TO MARIE WILSON AND BILLED AS 'THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY SOPRANO VOICE'.
IN ORDER TO GET TO PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL, JOHN HAD TO 'CATCH' A STREETCAR IN STUDIO CITY ON VENTURA OVER THE CAHUENCA PASS TO HOLLYWOOD BLVD TRANSFERRING THERE 10 ARRIVE AT WESTERN. WHEN HE OBTAINED THE 1OB AT 'BLACKOUTS' HE RECEIVED A HARDSHIP LICENSE IN ORDER TO DRIVE HIS MODEL A FORD COUPE TO AND FROM THE THEATER.
AT FOURTEEN (AFTER H1S VOICE CHANCED) HE APPEARED ON GEORGE JESSEL'S RADIO SHOW "THAT'S MY KID" WHERE JOHN WAS INTRODUCED BY HIS MOTHER TO SING ONE OF MR. JESSEL'S SONGS "YOU DO".
JOHN'S VOICE 'CHANGED' ON STAGE WHILE SINGING TO MARIE WILSON AND THINKING HIS SINGING CAREER WAS OVER, HE JOINED THE MARINES ON HIS SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY.
HE ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT SAN DIECO MARINE CORPS DEPOT. H1S FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE BATTALION, THEN HE WAS ASSIGNED TO MILITARY POLICE, ACTED AS CHAPLAIN'S ASSISTANT (SANG IN CHAPEL SUNDAY SERVICES), WINNING TWELVE BOXING MATCHES (FIGHTING AT 158 POUNDS), REQUESTED COMBAT DUTY BUT WAS REFUSED BECAUSE OF THE "SULLIVAN ACT' WHICH PROHIBITS BROTHERS FIGHTING IN THE SAME CONFLICT. JOHN'S OLDER BROTHER WAS A CAREER MARINE SERVING IN VIETNAM AS BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER. BOTH JOHN AND RICHARD WERE AWARDED THE EXPERT RIFLEMAN MEDALS.
JOHN BEGAN MAKING 'DEMO' RECORDS FOR SONG WRITERS (ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD), MET BOB McGIMSEY WRITER OF "SHADRACH" WHO BECAME MENTOR AND TEACHER AND MANAGER. HE INTRODUCED JOHN TO ASCAP WRITERS WHERE HE BECAME THEIR 'MASCOT' BECAUSE HE SANG SONGS FOR THOSE WHO'~COULDN'T SING (LIKE L. WOLFE GILBERT..NICKNAMED 'WOLFY' WHO WAS KNOWN AS THE 'DEAN OF THE WEST COAST SONG WRITERS'. HE WROTE SONGS LIKE "ROMONA", "JEANINE, I DREAM OF LILAC TIME", "DOWN YONDER", "WAITIN' FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE". BOB INTRODUCED JOHN TO WRITERS LIKE HARRY RUBY ("THREE LITTLE WORDS"). JOHN SANG FOR SAMMY FAIN (A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND), JIMMY McHUCH, HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER,ETC. JOHN WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO SING "WHEN I FALL IN LOVE" AT VICTOR YOUNG'S HOME LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER AS MR. YOUNG PLAYED HIS PIANO. SY MILLER AND JILL JACKSON WHO WROTE "LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH" ASKED JOHN TO MAKE THE FIRST DEMO OF THAT SONG. JOHN SANG MANY OF HENRY MANCINI'S SONGS WHILE UNDER CONTRACT TO RCA VICTOR. AS ASCAP'S 'MASCOT' JOHN SANG AT RENO FOR SENATOR McCARRAN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. HE INTRODUCED AT THAT FUNCTION SAMMY FAIN’S "SECRET LOVE" THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR DORIS DAY FOR THE MOVIE "CALAMITY JANE".
BOB McGIMSEY DISCOVERED JOHN'S TALENT FOR SCULPTURE AT SCREEN WRITER JOHN TUCKER BATTLE'S HOME IN TARZANA WHEN JOHN PICKED UP SOME CLAY AND 'FASHIONED' AN ANGRY BEAR. BOB ENROLLED JOHN IN THE OTIS ART INSTITUTE (NOW THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ART INSTITUTE ACROSS FROM ECHO PARK) WHERE JOHN STUDIED SCULPTURE FOR A YEAR. HE ALSO ATTENDED CLASSES AT THE 69TH STREET SCULPTURE CENTER IN NEW YORK AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA AT BLOOMINGTON.
MAJOR PIECES ARE A HEAD OF PERCE PIERCE WHO WAS THE PRODUCER OF DISNEY'S "SWORD AND THE ROSE" AND "ROB ROY", BROOKS B. McGIMSEY ONE OF THE OWNERS OF LONE STAR BEER IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, IVAN MORGAN HEIR TO THE AMERICAN BEAUTY CANNING FORTUNE, JUDY CALLAN (A COMMISSION PIECE FROM EXECUTIVE JOE CALLAN, CHICAGO). OTHER ART PIECES ARE A BUST OF QUEEN NEFERTITI, TWO ROMAN GLADIATORS WITH FULL HEADGEAR AND A SERIES OF ANGEL GARDEN SCULPTURES CALLED "GARDENING ANGELS" (THE LAST SERIES COMPLETED IN 1995).
ESTRANGED FROM BIOLOGICAL FATHER SINCE THE AGE OF TEN, JOHN DEEPLY FELT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECONNECTING WITH HIS FATHER. BOB McGIMSEY PLACED ONE LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALL TO AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION OFFICE IN AN EASTERN STATE AND BEGAN STATE BY STATE ELIMINATING POSSIBILITIES AND FOUND JOHN'S FATHER HAROLD STRADER IN NEW YORK STATE BY A REGISTERED VEHICLE AT 148 IRIS DR., SUNRISE TERRACE, BINGHAMTON, NY. JOHN WAS 23 YEARS OF AGE WHEN HE 'FOUND' HIS FATHER AND REUNITED THE ENTIRE FAMILY. JOHN MOVED TO BINGHAMTON WHERE JOHN DEVELOPED A RADIO SHOW FOR WNBF CALLED "PERSONAL PLATTER". JOHN WOULD SING REQUESTS RECORDED ON ACETATE RECORDS AND SEND THE COMPLETED RECORD TCJ THE WINNERS. HE GUESTED ON A LOT OF EARLY LOCAL TV SHOWS.
JOHN LEFT NEW YORK STATE TO ATTEND SISTER'S WEDDING ( A PROMISE HE HAD MADE SINCE CHILDHOOD TO BE THERE FOR HER WEDDING). AFTER THE WEDDING IN FLORIDA HE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA;HOWEVER, HE STOPPED IN NEW ORLEANS TO VISIT AN EX-EMPLOYEE OF WNBF RADIO SAM PAGE WHO HAD A JOB IN NEW ORLEANS AT WDSU-TV AND HAD BECOME 'CAPTAIN SAM' (A LOCAL TOP-RATED CHILDREN SHOW PERSONALITY). SAM ASKED JOHN TO SING SOME SONGS IN THE TELEVISION STUDIO WITH PIANIST CHARLIE LUKOW ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR TOM HICKS HAD BEEN SECRETLY HIDDEN BEHIND A FLAT TO HEAR JOHN. FROM THIS 'AUDITION' JOHN WAS HIRED TO HOST HIS OWN FIFTEEN MINUTE SHOW THE 'JOHN GARY SHOW' AT 5:45 PM EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AND HE WAS A REGULAR ON THE HOUR LONG "JUNIOR SUPPLEMENT" SHOW HOSTED BY TERRY FLETTERICH.
JOHN BECAME INTERESTED IN SKIN AND SCUBA DIVING WHILE IN NEW ORLEANS AND MET DICK ALBA WHO WAS A PROFESSIONAL DIVER AND A MEMBER OF THE DIXIE DIVERS.
BEGINNING AS A TENDER, THEN AN APPRENTICE DIVER AND GRADUATING TO A MASTER DIVER, JOHN ALSO EARNED A TWIN-SCREW SKIPPER LICENSE FROM THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, NEW ORLEANS, FROM THIS INTEREST CREW A MERCER OF DICK ALBA AND JOHN TO FORM A COMPANY CALLED PETROLEUM ELECTRONICS WHERE THEY INTRODUCED CLOSED-CIRCUIT UNDERWATER TELEVISION TO THE OIL COMPANIES WHO HAD OFF-SHORE OIL RIGS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
DURING THIS TIME JOHN SET A WORLD RECORD FOR UNDERWATER ENDURANCE AT THE NEW ORLEANS ATHLETIC CLUB INDOOR POOL BY STAYING UNDER WATER FOR 41 HOURS AND 1 MINUTE. NOTABLES JOINING HIM WERE THE FAMOUS TULANE RUNNING BACK EDDIE PRICE WHO HAD TO SURFACE AFTER 12 HOURS AND A PROFESSIONAL DIVER ROLAND REVERE HAD TO COME UP AFTER ONLY 6 HOURS. AT A LATER DATE JOHN SET A FRESH WATER WORLD ENDURANCE RECORD UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN INDIANAPOLIS BY STAYING UNDERWATER UNASSISTED AND AWAKE FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS OR 78 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES. AT THE SAME TIME HE ASSISTED THE RESEARCHERS AT THE WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE IN THEIR STUDIES ON WEIGHTLESSNESS THAT WAS CONNECTED WITH THEIR ASTRONAUT PROGRAM.
JOHN HOLDS TWO PATENTS ON UNDERWATER PROPULSION DEVICES: THE DIVING BUDDY AND THE AQUA-PELLER.
A SUBSIDIARY OF NEW ORLEANS WDSU/TV PATIO RECORDS SIGNED JOHN TO RECORD HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL RECORDS. HE HAD MADE SOME 45 SINGLES WHEN HE WAS 11.
JOHN MARRIED A LADY FROM NEW ORLEANS WHO HAD TWO BOYS. LATER THEY HAD A SON OF THEIR OWN (JOHN GARY, JR), AND THINKING THE NIGHT CLUB BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WERE BETTER IN FLORIDA, THEY MOVED THERE. WORKING AT MANY ODD JOBS (MOWING LAWNS, SELLING CARS, ETC), JOHN DID CONNECT WITH ANOTHER RECORD COMPANY WHO HAD HEARD THE PATIO RECORDINGS...FRATERNITY RECORDS. THEY WERE BASED IN CINCINNATI AND CONTACTED HIM TO RECORD FOR THEM. REGIONAL SUCCESS IN THE MIDWEST WERE SONGS: "LITTLE PEOPLE", "LET THEM TALK", AND "THANK THE LORD FOR THIS THANKSGIVING DAY" WHICH JOHN SANG BY INVITATION.
THE HONORS
MOST PROMISING VOCALIST IN 1963
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RECORDING ARTS AND SCIENCES (THE NEWLY FOUNDED "GRAMMY"
NOMINEE FOR BEST NEW ARTIST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RECORD MERCHANDISERS
NOMINEE FOR BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE-MALE
(NARM) FOR "CATCH A RISING STAR"
BOY SCOUTS AWARDS
FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS
HOLLYWOOD APPRECIATION SOCIETY
1982 FOR RECORDINGS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCES
STATE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION
1977 FOR INTRODUCING LOW COST MODULAR HOUSING FOR UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION
BY SENATOR RALPH SILL FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
RECORDING AND INTERPRETATION OF "THANK THE LORD FOR THIS THANKSGIVING DAY"
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TOM DOOLEY FOUNDATION
AID FOR HUNGRY AND HOMELESS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
3M AWARD
FOR HIS BOOK OF POETRY AND PROSE "A FRAGMENT OF TIME" FOR CONTENT, DESIGN AND PRINTING
VOICE SCHOLARSHIPS AT UCLA
TWO 650,000 SCHOLARSHIPS DONATED BY DEBBIE POLLEN
TEXAS EASTER SEALS CHAIRMAN
AMBASSADOR OF TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME
COMMITTEE TO BRING 1972 OLYMPICS TO LOS ANGELES
OUTSTANDING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE FIELD ARCHERY ASSOCIATION
OUTSTANDING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE SPORT OF SKIN DIVING
GRAND MARSHALL
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE; DALLAS, TX
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE; MILWAUKEE,WI
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE; PORTLAND,OR
A POPULAR RADIO SHOW IN CHICAGO "THE BREAKFAST CLUB" WITH DON McNEIL SIGNED JOHN FOR TWO YEARS TO BE THE MALE VOCALIST ON ABC NETWORK EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING. THE FEMALE SINGER WAS MARY ANN LUCKETT. FRAN ALLISON WAS A REGULAR WITH THE EDDIE BALLENTINE ORCHESTRA. JIMMY DEAN HOSTED THE SHOW MANY TIMES.
RETURNING TO NEW ORLEANS JOHN LEFT FOR NEW YORK CITY GIVING HIMSELF SIX MONTHS 10 BREAK INTO THE RECORDING INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK. LIVING AT THE YMCA (BECAUSE THEY HAD A SWITCH BOARD) AND TRYING TO BE HEARD, JOHN FINALLY GOT H1S 'BREAK' WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO "BRING YOUR GUITAR AND SING A FEW SONGS" TO A PRIVATE PARTY THAT WAS HELD AT CHARLTON HESTON'S PENTHOUSE IN THE CITY. LIZA MINELLI, A FRIEND OF JOHN'S, WAS AT THE SAME PARTY AND AT THE AGE OF 15 ENTERTAINED THE GROUP TO EVERYONE'S DELIGHT. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, AN ATTORNEY DICK JABLOW WAS AT THE PARTY AND WAS IMPRESSED WITH JOHN'S VOICE AND ASKED HIM TO CO TO A STUDIO AND 'LAY DOWN A FEW SONGS' TO TAKE TO RCA (MR. JABLOW SHARED A CAB EVERY DAY WITH THE HEAD OF ARTIST AND REPERTOIRE FOR RCA).
JOHN WENT TO THE OFFICES OF RCA, PLAYED THE DEMO RECORD AND BOB YORK SAID:"WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN!"
SIGNED TO A CONTRACT, JOHN RECORDED 23 ALBUMS FOR RCA. OTHER RECORDING COMPANIES HAVE BEEN BRIARWOOD RECORDS, KAMA SUTRA, CHURCHHILL, FRATERNITY, MCM, PATIO AND AUDIOPHILE (THIRTEEN 1HIGHJACK' RECORDING COMPANIES).
AT THE AGE OF 30 JOHN BEGAN A CAREER AS A BRIGHT NEW RECORDING ARTIST WITH GREAT PROMISE.
A SUMMER REPLACEMENT SHOW FOR DANNY KAYE GAVE HIM HIS FIRST STARRING NETWORK TELEVISION SHOW 'THE JOHN GARY SHOW' TAPED LIVE THIRTEEN SHOWS.
FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY ANOTHER SERIES OF 26 SHOWS WERE TAPED IN FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA BY WCN AND SCRIPPS/HOWARD. THIRTEEN SHOWS WERE FILMED AT STUDIO 44 AT CBS TELEVISION CITY. MANY STARS APPEARED ON THESE SHOWS. BOB MACKIE'S FIRST TELEVISION SHOW, ROMAINE JOHNSON'S SET DESIGN, MITCHELL AYRES ORCHESTRA, JIMMY JOYCE SINGERS WERE TALENTS THAT SHARED THE SUCCESS.
ADDITIONAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES
WHAT'S MY LINE? (5 TIMES)
CAROL BURNETT (6 TIMES)
ED SULLIVAN (3 TIMES)
JACK PARR (13 TIMES)
TONIGHT SHOW STEVE ALLEN (10 TIMES)
TONIGHT SHOW JOHNNY CARSON (13 TIMES)
STEVE ALLEN SHOW (7 TIMES)
VIRGINIA CRAHAM (2 TIMES)
DEAN MARTIN (2 TIMES)
TOMMY LEONETTI SHOW SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME DENNIS JAMES
KAREN KAYE LONDON
50/50 CLUB RUTH LYONS and
BOB BRAUN
DAVID FROST
DR. JOYCE BROTHERS
CLIFF ARQUETTE
JOEY BISHOP
MIKE DOUGLAS
SMOTHERS BROTHERS
VIC DAMONE SUMMER SHOW
DICK CLARK'S BANDSTAND
"SWAMP THING" 1992 with DEBBIE BOONE
TELEVISION SPECIALS
'MARINE LAND OF THE PACIFIC"
WITH DANNY THOMAS AND DON RICKLES
"SOMETHING SPECIAL"
WITH ANITA BRYANT
"WACKY WORLD OF WICKI-WACHI"
WITH TONY RANDALL, LYNN ANDERSON,
CHARLIE CALLAS AND STILLER AND MEARA
"JOHNNY MERCER"
WITH MARVIN HAMLISH
STAGE PRODUCTIONS
"STUDENT PRINCE'
KENLEY PLAYERS (DAYTON,COLUMBUS,WARREN)
SACRAMENTO MUSIC CIRCUS
WESTBURY THEATER LONG ISLAND
VALLEY FORCE THEATER
NORTHEASTERN TOUR
"FANTASTIKS"
DALLAS THEATER IN THE ROUND
"SHE LOVES ME"
KANSAS CITY STARLIGHT THEATER
"CAMELOT"
CRYSTAL PALACE...DALLAS
RIVERSIDE CASINO...LAUGHLIN, NV
GARLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER MILWAUKEE
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
BURT REYNOLDS THEATER (JUPITER.FL)
"LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!"
MUSIC OF THE MOVIES
(57 CITY TOUR FOR COLUMBIA ARTISTS)
"TAKE FIVE"
PHEASANT RUN, ST. CHARLES IL.
SYMPHONIES
MEMPHIS
ST. LOUIS
NEW ORLEANS
SAN FRANCISCO
HOLLYWOOD BOCA RATON
DALLAS
DENVER
ST. PAUL
MILWAUKEE
BBC SYMPHONY
BROWN UNIVERSITY
LUBBOCK
SAN ANTONIO
AMARILLO
MIDLAND
MINNEAPOLIS
LOS ANGELES
HOTELS
SHAMROCK
HOUSTON
FAIRMONT
DALLAS, SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO, DENVER, NEW ORLEANS
PALMER HOUSE
EMPIRE ROOM (CHICAGO)
PLAZA
PERSIAN ROOM (NEW YORK)
AMBASSADOR
COCONUT GROVE (HOLLYWOOD)
CHEVRON HILTON
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
ROYAL YORK
TORONTO, CANADA
SHOREHAM
WASHINGTON, DC
DIPLOMAT
MIAMI
HAMILTON PRINCESS
BERMUDA
SOUTHAMPTON PRINCESS
CARRIBE HILTON
PUERTO RICO
VAN ORMAN
BLOOMINGTON/FT. WAYNE/EVANSTON,IN
ARIZONA BILTMORE
PHOENIX
THE WIGWAM RESORT
LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ
CENTURY PLAZA
WESTSIDE ROOM (LOS ANGELES)
FLAMINGO
LAS VEGAS
FREMONT
CHICAGO HYATT
BLUE MAX
CONTEMPORARY
DISNEYWORLD, FL
HARVEY'S
LAKE TAHOE
HARRAH'S
RENO
ATLANTA HYATT
CELEBRITY ROOM
CARLTON
ST. PAUL, MN
ROYAL PALMS
THE JOHN GARY SHOW IN CONCERT
CARNEGIE HALL
NEW YORK
RIALTO THEATER
JOLIET, IL
FREEDOM HALL
CHICAGO, IL
BI-CENTENNIAL PARK
JOLIET , IL
SHOWBOAT
CHESINC, MI
McCOMB THEATER
MT. CLEMENS, MI
SARASOTA, FL
McCULLUM ARTS CENTER
PALM SPRINGS, FL
CRADY CAMMACE
PHOENIX, AZ
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
McFARLIN AUDITORIUM
STATE FAIR AUDITORIUM
WILSHIRE/EBELL
DALLAS TRADE MART
CHICAGO TRADE MART
CHICAGO
JOHNNY MERCER THEATER
SAVANNAH
ELMWOOD CASINO
WINDSOR,CANADA
TOP HAT
WINDSOR, CANADA
BREEN TOURS
FLORIDA (CONDOS)
S. AFRICA TOUR
CAPETOWN, DURBAN, PETERMERITZBURG, JOHANNESBURG, PRETORIA
ARCADE THEATER
FT. MYERS, FL
NORRIS THEATER
ST. CHARLES, IL
MANTOVANI TOUR
U.S.A.
ANTON'S
WASHINGTON, D.C.
BIMBO'S
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
VINCE PERONE
S. CAROLINA
PHEASANT RUN
IRISHFEST
MILWAUKEE, WI
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
MAJESTIC THEATER
ANN ARBOR, MI
STARLIGHT THEATER
SANTA BARBARA, CA
HOUSTON MUSIC HALL
HOUSTON, TX
MERCY COLLEGE
DETROIT, MI
LEILANI
HUNGRY i
YORICK'S
DALLAS, TX
DIAMOND JIM'S
MALDONADO'S
PASADENA, CA
SUTTMILLER'S
DAYTON, OH
PALUMBO'S
PHILADELPHIA, PA
ALPINE INN
COMMUNITY CONCERTS
SIX YEARS (OVER 415 CITIES AND TOWNS)
CONVENTIONS
MOTOROLA
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INVESTORS
MARY KAY COSMETICS
GENERAL MOTORS
IBM
LANIER
HOME SHOWS, BANKS, BOAT SHOWS
OLDSMOBILE AWARD WINNERS IN MONTE CARLO
FORD CONVENTION (DETROIT)
CRUISE LINES
CUNARD
HOLLAND AMERICA
CRYSTAL CRUISES
ROYAL VIKING
COSTA ROMANTICA
S.S. OCEANIC
TELETHONS
VARIETY CLUB
LIONS CLUB
JOHN GARY/BURGER KING...NEW ORLEANS
EASTER SEALS
NEW YORK, DALLAS
CELEBRITY CHARITY EVENTS
FOSTER BROOKS
LOUISVILLE, KY
VINCE LOMBARDI
MAKE-A WISH
DENVER, CO
CLAUDE AKINS
SAN DIECO, CA
HARVEY KORMAN
PALM SPRINGS, CA
DOUG SANDERS
CHALLENGE FOR CHILDREN
ST. PETERSBURG, FL
BEAU BRIDGES TENNIS
TUCSON, AZ
AMANA
AMANA, IA
KEN STABLER
MOBILE, AL
J.C. SMITH
LAS VEGAS, NV
PAT BOONE
CHATTANOGA, TN
CHAD EVERETT
LONGS PEAK, CO
SAVE THE ANIMALS
MALIBU, CA (TENNIS)
DANNY WHITE
DALLAS,TX (COWBOY QUARTERBACK)
CHIP MOODY
DALLAS, TX (ABC NEWS ANCHOR)
BOB HOPE
RICHARDSON, TX
BURT REYNOLDS TENNIS
TURNBURY, FL
JOHN GARY SHAMROCK SHOOTOUT
JOHN GARY/BURGER KING CLASSIC
NEW ORLEANS, LA
MAC DAVIS GOLF/TENNIS
HAWAII
ST. MARY'S
CHARLIE PRIDE
PHILLIPS CELEBRITY
BENTONVILLE, AK
CLUB TOURNAMENT
SALINAS, CA
VIC DAMONE
CRIMESTOPPERS
HENDERSONVILLE. NC
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
MAC DAVIS TENNIS
HAWAII (ARTHUR ASHE VERSUS ILIA NASTASSI)
WCT TENNIS
McENROE/LENDEL... DALLAS
ANGELS BASEBALL
MANY TIMES (ANAHEIM, CA)
DODGERS
LOS ANGELES, CA
WHITE SOX
REDS
CINCINNATI, OH (WORLD SERIES)
PACKERS
TEXAS RANGERS
ARLINGTON, TX
CARDINALS
ST. LOUIS, MO
49ERS FOOTBALL
NATIONAL ARCHERY
RECORDED ANTHEM TO BE PLAYED AT BEGINNING OF ALL ARCHERY EVENTS SANCTIONED BY THE NATIONAL GROUP
PUBLISHED WORKS
"FRAGMENT OF TIME"
BOOK OF PROSE AND POETRY
"AS I SEE IT"
ECOLOGY PIECE FOR NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED SONGS
"POSSUM SONG"
"PLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE"
"THE BELL RINGS"
"FORGET IT"
"WARM AND TENDER GLOW"
"I'LL SAY IT ALL AGAIN"
"OLD HABITS DIE HARD"
"FAT AND SASSY"
"IF MY DOG LIKES YOU"
"WE'RE GETTIN' THERE"
"I'M GONE"
"THERE COMES A TIME"
"NOW"
"STARTING AGAIN"
"YOU'LL SEE"
"PRESENCE OF YOU"
"HANG ON TO ME"
"BROWN-EYED BABY BOY"
"SPANISH MOONLIGHT"
"ONE RED ROSE"
"YOU ARE''
"I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN"
"CONSTANTLY"
"WINTERTIME AND CHRISTMASTIME "
MAGAZINE COVER PHOTOS
SKIN DIVER MAGAZINE
U S ARCHERY
T V GUIDE
OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS
JOHN COMPETED IN A SERIES OF TOURNAMENTS SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. ARCHERY FEDERATION AND SCORED 1100 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 1400 TO WIN A SPOT ON THE TEAM TRIALS THAT WERE HELD IN OXFORD, OH IN 1983.
MOVIES
TIME OF YOUR LIFE
OUR VERY OWN
PERSONAL INFORMATION
BIRTHDAY: NOVEMBER 29, 1932
FATHER: HAROLD STRADER (DECEASED)
MOTHER: MERLE DAWSON HARRINGTON (DECEASED)
BROTHERS: RICHARD AND MALCOLM STRADER
SISTER: SHIRLEY STRADER DIXON
WIFE: LEE WILSON GARY
CHILDREN: JOHN GARY STRADER, JR. (MOTHER: MURIEL STAFFORD GETZ)
JOHN ANDREW STRADER (MOTHER: LOIS REIDY McDONNELL)
MATTHEW ALLEN STRADER
WILLIAM JASON GARY (MOTHER:LEE WILSON GARY)
STEP-CHILDREN: LARRY GETZ, ROBERT GETZ (ADOPTED BY JOHN), LESLIE McDONNELL (DECEASED), ROBERT McDONNELL, MARCELLA McDONNELL, RICK WILSON, TRACY W. BURNS, PAUL WILSON,III, KRIS WILSON
GRANDCHILDREN: SARAH LESLIE STRADER, WYATT ANDREW STRADER, KASEY LEE BURNS, TAYLOR BURNS, RYAN WILSON, JOHN JUSTIN WILSON, COSMO WILSON, JULIANA MICHELLE GARY & ELENA NOEL GARY
