In Memoriam: Gary Grant

ITG mourns the death of Gary Grant. Gary Grant was one of the most sought after commercial and studio trumpet players of our time.

He recorded on hundreds of noteworthy jazz, rock and pop recordings, and movie and tv show scores and soundtracks. He had also performed and recorded with many notable artists including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elton John, Aerosmith, and more.

Shortly after having graduated high school, Gary joined the Navy playing in the Navy Band and serving two tours in Vietnam. During his time serving, he began taking lessons with Bud Brisbois, which lasted a few years. After four years in the Navy, Gary attended the University of North Texas playing lead trumpet in the One O’Clock Band. Gary then joined and toured with the Woody Herman band as lead trumpet player and featured soloist.

Following Gary’s time with the Woody Herman band, he moved to Hawaii, where he met Jerry Hay, Larry Hall, Larry Williams, and Bob Wilson, forming a 7-piece ensemble. After performing for about three years in Hawaii, he moved back to Los Angeles in 1975, with the persuasion Chuck Findley to pursue his career as a full-time musician and recording artist. Since then, Gary had developed an extensive discography, having recording on many hundreds of movies, television show soundtracks, and commercials. Gary recorded on movie soundtracks such as The Bodyguard, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Notebook, Forest Gump, Godzilla, Mulan, Space Jam, Men in Black, Lethal Weapon 4, along with television shows and commercials including The Simpsons, ER, CBS and ABC Themes, HBO Boxing, and many more. He also had performed with the Chicago 17 horns and was a member of the world famous “Jerry Hey” Horns.

In addition to his playing, he was also known as a producer and composer, having produced Wayne Bergeron’s albums You Call This a Living? and Plays Well With Others, Arturo Sandoval’s album Trumpet Evolution, and Chuck Findley’s Star Eyes. Gary also had worked with notable producers like David Foster, Glenn Ballard, Dave Grusin, and Babyface. (Source: Maryna Pohlman)