Gary Wilson (born October 1953) is an experimental musician/performance artist best known for his 1977 album You Think You Really Know Me, after which he promptly retired from recording and performing concerts. He slowly gained a strong cult following during the 1980s and 1990's and in the early 2000s became active again. Image File history File links Garywilsonlive. ... For other uses, see October (disambiguation). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Endicott is a village in Broome County, New York, USA. The population was 13,038 at the 2000 census. ... This article is about the state. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For experimental rock music, see experimental rock. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... This article is about the stringed musical instrument. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Stones Throw Records is a California-based hip hop independent record label. ... For experimental rock music, see experimental rock. ... This article is about Performance art. ...

Biography

Early years

Born in southern Endicott, New York, Gary Wilson was one of four siblings, the others being Larry, David and Patti. They kept several ducks as pets while children.^[1] His father worked for IBM during the day, and by night played stand-up bass in a lounge band whose act played the same hotel approximately four nights a week for 25 years. Gary was proficient in guitar, bass, drums, piano and cello by the time he entered grade school. He has credited his earliest influences to be Fabian, Bobby Rydell and most of all Dion. His mother would curl the front of his hair for him every morning so that he could look like his teen heart-throb idols. Endicott is the name of some places in the United States of America: Endicott, New York Endicott, Washington Endicott, Nebraska Endicott is also part of the name of: John Endicott (c. ... This article is about the state. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... For other uses, see IBM (disambiguation) and Big Blue. ... The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. ... Lounge music refers to music played in the lounges and bars of hotels and casinos, or at standalone piano bars. ... Fabian on Hollywood Squares, 1979 Fabiano Anthony Forte, who performed as Fabian, (born February 6, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s. ... Bobby Rydell 1998 Bobby Rydell (born Robert Louis Ridarelli, 26 April 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American teen idol from the early days of Rock and Roll. ... Dion DiMucci (born Dion Francis DiMucci, 18 July 1939), better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter, now widely recognized as one of the top singers of his era, blending the best elements of doo-wop, pop, and R&B styles. ...

At age 12, Gary Wilson started acquiring tape machines and began recording songs in his parents' basement. Around this time, he became fascinated by The Beatles and rock and roll. About a year later, he began playing keyboards in a band called Lourde Fuzz. They cut a single when he was only in eighth grade. The group even earned a spot on a bill opening for The 1910 Fruitgum Company. When the band's lead singer left, Wilson took over vocals and songwriting, but quickly proved to be too strange for the other members. The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The 1910 Fruitgum Company (often shortened to 1910 Fruitgum Co. ...

In 1969, Wilson discovered the music of minimal composer John Cage. When sought out, Cage surprisingly invited the young musician into his home to discuss and critique music for several days. Wilson was also given advice by the composer, such as if your music/performance "doesn’t irritate people, you aren’t doing your job."^[2] This experience is deemed by many to be a huge event in Wilson's life, and his songs became increasingly experimental after this point. Wilson has also cited David Tudor as a major influence during this time.^[3] Upon graduation from high school in 1970, he moved to New York City for several weeks, but quickly returned to his parents' home in Endicott, New York. Around this time, Wilson "fell right into" playing lounge music on the side, just as his father had.^[4] For the Mortal Kombat character, see Johnny Cage. ... David Eugene Tudor (January 20, 1926 - August 13, 1996) was a pianist and composer of experimental music. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Endicott is a village in Broome County, New York, USA. The population was 13,038 at the 2000 census. ... This article is about the state. ...

You Think You Really Know Me and self-imposed exile

Gary Wilson went to Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York in 1976 and recorded versions of "6.4=Make Out", "Chromium Bitch", "Groovy Girls", and "I Want To Lose Control". He eventually decided that he would prefer to record at his familiar home studio and finished recording You Think You Really Know Me, his first album, in his parents' basement. On this recording, Wilson sometimes played solo and was other times accompanied by a backing band, The Blind Dates. He pressed, distributed, funded and released the album himself (only 600 copies were pressed). His concert performances at this time were cited as bizarre and outrageous, a "show that included cellophane, duct tape, bed sheets, fake blood, flour, and milk."^[5] So outlandish were the shows that often they would have their electricity cut in attempts to get them to leave the stage.^[6] Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. ...

After receiving a small amount of radio play, Wilson decided to try and pursue landing a record deal and moved west to California in 1978. There he recorded three singles, "In the Midnight Hour/When I Spoke of Love" (1978), "Forgotten Lovers E.P." (1979) and "Invasion of Privacy" (1980). Although he did have some supporters (receiving fanmail during the period from the band The Residents), viable commercial success did not find Wilson.^[7] After a 1981 American tour, he retired from the experimental music scene and dropped off the public radar. A legal agreement (commonly called a record deal) between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. ... This article is about the U.S state. ... FanMail is the 3rd album released by TLC. FanMail debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts, where it remained for 5 weeks, and the album won the 2000 Grammy Awards Best R&B Album. ... For other uses, see Resident. ...

Rediscovery and documentary

Wilson then lapsed into obscurity until the late 90s, when Beck was heard citing him as an influence, most notably in his hit single "Where It's At". In the early 2000s, Motel Records began a search to find the reclusive musician, but were unsuccessful (even after hiring a private detective). He was eventually found through contacting ex-band members. He was nearly 50 years old, working part-time at The Jolar Cinema adult theater,^[8] playing keyboard in a weekly lounge act at the Rancho Bernadino Lounge and living with his girlfriend (a grad student at UCSD studying experimental art) in San Diego. He gave Motel Records his permission to repress You Think You Really Know Me. This article is about the musician. ... Where Its At is the first single from Becks 1996 album, Odelay. ... Pornographic films are motion pictures that explicitly depict sexual intercourse and other sexual acts, typically for the purpose of sexual arousal in the viewer. ... A graduate student (also, grad student or grad in American English, postgraduate student or postgrad in British English) is an individual who has completed a bachelors degree (B.A., B.S./B.Sc. ... The University of California, San Diego (popularly known as UCSD) is a public, coeducational university located in La Jolla, California. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin...

On May 16, 2002 Gary Wilson returned to the stage after a 20 year absence, playing two shows at Joe’s Pub in downtown Manhattan. A documentary about Wilson's career and his return to the public stage was filmed by Michael Wolk, titled You Think You Really Know Me: The Gary Wilson Story. The film recorded the musician's long and emotional train ride (due to his fear of flying) from the west coast back to his native New York for his first concert in decades.^[9] The film was screened at several theaters in 2005, and was released on home video by Plexifilm in June 2008. Wilson said attending the film's premier at the Lincoln Center in New York was "one of the highlights of my life."^[10] For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Train (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fear of flying (disambiguation). ... Plexifilm is an independent DVD label and film production company co-founded by Gary Hustwit (formerly VP of Salon. ... The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. ...

Recent activity

Motel Records soon after put out Forgotten Lovers, a collection of singles, b-sides, rare and unreleased songs dating back to 1974. In 2004, Wilson released Mary Had Brown Hair on Stones Throw Records, his first album of original material in almost 30 years. In 2006, his website stated that a greatest hits album was in the works, supposedly to feature tracks from You Think You Really Know Me and Forgotten Lovers; however, no further plans for the album have been revealed and it may have been scrapped. Wilson continues to occasionally perform live, though usually in southern California, sometimes unannounced and typically unpromoted. He has not toured since his rebirth in popularity, apparently due to his dislike of traveling and fear of flying.^[11]

According to Wilson's MySpace account, the musician currently resides in San Diego, California. As of mid-2008, his lounge act band is still together, playing their regular Friday and Saturday night slot at a southern Californian restaurant, as well as playing for-hire at special events and country clubs, covering songs by Nat King Cole, Lou Rawls, Wayne Newton, Johnny Mathis, etc. He also stated that he had recently come back in to email contact with the infamous "Linda" featured in many of his songs. Although they were able to resolve some old issues, the woman is now married and Wilson said of the situation, "I don't think it's cool to get between people."^[12] MySpace is a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... This article is about the U.S state. ... A country club is a private club that offers a variety of recreational sports facilities to its members. ... Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was a popular American jazz singer-songwriter and pianist. ... Louis Allen Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006[1]) was a Chicago-born American soul music, jazz, and blues singer. ... Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... John Royce Mathis (b. ... E-mail, or email, is short for electronic mail and is a method of composing, sending, and receiving messages over electronic communication systems. ... Matrimony redirects here. ...

In May 2008, Wilson's website announced that a new album, Lisa Wants To Talk To You, was in the works.^[13] The record is set to be released on Human Ear Music on July 15, 2008.^[14] is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

Discography

Albums

• You Think You Really Know Me (1997, reissued 2002)
• Forgotten Lovers (2003)
• Mary Had Brown Hair (2004)
• Lisa Wants To Talk To You (TBA)

See also: 1997 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1997 Record labels established in 1997 // January 9 - David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert (the day after his birthday) at Madison Square Garden, with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou... See also: 2002 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2002 Record labels established in 2002 // 2002 was marked by significant trends in rock music. ... See also: 2003 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2003 Record labels established in 2003 // January - following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It... See also: 2004 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2004 Record labels established in 2004 2000s in music. ...

Singles

• Dream(s)/Soul Travel (1973)
• Another Galaxy/Softly the Water Flows (1973-1974)
• The Wedding Gown E.P. (1974/1978)
• In the Midnight Hour/When I Spoke of Love (1978)
• Forgotten Lovers E.P. (1979)
• Invasion of Privacy (double 7") (1980)
• Newark Valley (2004)
• 6.4 = Make Out (demo version) (2004)

Newark Valley is the name of a 2004 vinyl 12 single by Gary Wilson on Stones Throw Records. ... 6. ...

References

External links

• Official Gary Wilson Website
• Gary Wilson's Myspace
• About.com article on Gary Wilson
• "Peeling Back The Gauze: Gary Wilson Uncovered" interview/article in MungBeing
• Stones Throw Records
• Gary Wilson interview with Drastic Plastic Dress
• Video interview with Gary Wilson by Brainwashed.com
• April 2008 Interview with L.A. Record