Gary Kelly was born in New York City in 1955. After attending Pennsylvania State University from 1972-1975, he transferred to Berklee College of Music and graduated in 1979 with a BA in Composition/Performance, receiving the Faculty Association and Peter Koleta Awards for outstanding performance. While living in Boston, he performed with Mike Stern, Kevin Eubanks and George Garzone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
  Gary at Carls
  Gary has been playing Carl Thompson
custom six-string basses since 1985.
Two of his basses are on display in the
six- string bass photo section of
Carl Thompson's site. Here he's in Carl's
workshop with one of Carl's new basses
in the background. Sept. 2006
   
 
  Rock Bass Book Cover
  Gary's Contemporary Rock and Blues
Styles for the Bass
. Published by
Carl Fischer Publications
and now
available on their website. Also through
the Theodore Presser Company, (enter
"Gary Kelly" in the search field box).

Gary moved to New York City in fall of 1979 to perform, record and teach. He became an instructor at the American Institute of Guitar in NYC, and immediately established Dean Street, a project featuring Bill Frisell, Brian Gephardt, Michael Lauren and others to record and perform original compositions. He has also performed and recorded with various groups including:

The Ed Palermo Big Band
  The Leroy Jenkins group  
  The Tom Pierson Orchestra, including recording two CD’s, and a featured performance on the Smithsonian Institute’s Big Band Compilation.  
  Latin Jazz group, Bobby Sanabria y Ascención  
  Latin vocalists José José and Guadalupe  
  Persian artists Haydeh, Daryush, Satar and Shoreh  
  R&B and rock & roll artists Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Teenagers, The Drifters, The Crystals and Freddie Cannon  
  The Mama’s and Papa’s including national television shows Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight.  
  Performances and clinics with Tony Purrone (longtime guitarist with the Heath Bros.)  
  Performance /clinic for Ludwig drums with Danny Gottleib and saxophonist Bill Evans  
  Performances/clinics with Larry Mitchell Group for Hartke, D’Addario and Ibanez  
  Performances/clinics with Russ Miller for Yamaha  

His teaching career includes:

  Instructor at L'Universita della Musica from Oct., 2006 to July, 2007. He taught ensembles in Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Recording Studio, as well as Bass:Advanced Repertoire and bass lessons. and classes in ear training.  
     
Instructor at The Collective from 1998 to 2006, teaching courses that he designed and developed: Studio Bass 1 and 2, Studio Drumming 1 and 2, Digital Audio for Musicians, Studio Rhythm Section, Bass Technique, Latin Bass, Blues Bass, Modern Jazz Bass. He created a course for Rock Bass with a book recently released by Carl Fischer Publications. Studio manager engineering all projects as well as overseeing the change to a digital computer format including the choice and purchase of equipment and software.
   
  Instructor for harmony, theory and ensembles at the Miami Institute of Percussion. 1992-1995  
   
  Part-time instructor at The Drummers Collective for theory; bassist for a master class series with drummer Lenny White. 1986-1990  
   
  Instructor at the American Institute of Guitar in NYC, 1984-1985  

He produced, engineered, played bass and co-wrote material and arrangements for Pat Tortorici’s CD NY Story, and produced and engineered world music group Nostos’ CD Journey to Ithaca.
Gary has also performed with: Popa Chubby, Joey Calderazzo, Ray Mantilla, Frank Foster, Ricky Sebastian, Armon Danielian, Tom Malone, Lou Soloff, Lou Marini, Randy Brecker, Mac Gollehan, Cornelius Bumpus, Yaron Dael Israel, Pheeroan Aklaff, Michael Lauren, Ray Marchica, Camille Gainer, Barry Rogers, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Arto Tunkbayagi, Tommy Campbell, Paul Wertico, Cindy Blackman, Miriam Eli, Joe Zeytoonian, AJ  Pero, Karl Cochran.

 
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