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Gary Wheat (b. March 12, 1977) is an American saxophonist who is based in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a member of the funk group Meteorite, as well as several active jazz groups in Birmingham such as the Carlos Pino Jazz Group, the Chad Fisher Group, and Double Threat. He is also the professor of saxophone at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). His professional performance experience includes gigs with the Temptations, the Four Tops, the O'Jays, Ruben Studdard, Cleveland Eaton, Johnny O'Neal, and Lou Marini. His playing style is versatile, at times taking cues from traditional stylists such as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker, and at other times resembling the more modern funk sounds of Maceo Parker and Michael Brecker. Wheat attended Virgil Grissom High School in Huntsville, Alabama, and the University of Alabama, both of which have produced many fine musicians.
