| Gary Foote | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gary Foote |
| Born | 15 February 1962 Milwaukee, WI |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, post-bop, jazz funk, rock music |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, producer, instructor |
| Instruments | bass guitar |
| Years active | 1980 –present |
| Associated acts | Blood Sweat and Tears, Smokey Robinson, Billy Cobham |
| Website | www.garyfootemusic.com |
Gary Foote (born February 15, 1962 Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jim and Rosetta Foote), the youngest of four boys, was first influenced by his older brother, Jymme Foote, drummer and piano player, beginning his music career at the age of 8, in a home that encouraged expression especially in the musical vein. After only three years of high school at Wisconsin Lutheran, Gary graduated early and with a full scholarship went to Florida State University.
He was playing in a jazz club in Milwaukee and the director of Florida State University music department heard him and along with Marcus Roberts, Jazz piano great, brought them both to FSU on a full scholarship.
However, after two years in FSU, Gary had a strong desire to be in New York and left FSU and his scholarship behind and in 1983, at the age of 21, left for the Big Apple.
There, his beginnings were humble, he worked in Lincoln Center and saw such greats as Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald the Vienna Boys Choir and continued his education studying music in William Paterson College.
In 1986, Jazz great, drummer Billy Cobham pulled him away and Gary moved with Billy to Switzerland and began performing with Billy Cobham for the next three years.
In 1988 Gary moved back to New York and began his long and productive career in music production, first working for Rock Video International, a Japanese company, remaking popular English songs to be used in karaoke bars across Japan.
There Gary signed with RCA Jazz piano player, Charlie Elgart, recording , touring and performing with him. In 1989, in a move no one expected, Foote moved to Yokohama, Japan and recorded with Tomas Doncker, “Prince” Charles Alexander and Jim Mussen of the international super group, Big Black Cat. Foote, also recorded some educational material for Rittor Music in Japan that was released as "Play That Funky Guitar", and "Play That Funky Bass", instructional books with accompanying DVDs.
Returning from Europe, Gary began writing, recording, producing and performing with Maxwell, Peabo Bryson, P Diddy, Johnny Gill, Joe Timbaland, etc. Producing the soundtracks of movies like "Three Can Play the Game" and "Lockdown" with Russell Simmons and also televisions, "Showtime in Harlem", ABC Sports, ESPN, TV Land, MTV, In 1990, David Clayton Thomas, the lead singer and founder of Blood Sweat and Tears brought Gary into his group, and he has been their bassist for the last 21 years, a relationship which continues until the present day. With BST, Gary has toured the world dozen's of times, playing in over 70 different countries. As a Blood Sweat and Tears alum, Gary has worked with most major U.S. symphony orchestras including Houston, Los Angeles, and Cleveland.
As Gary said to the press concerning BST, "It's an incredible fraternity made up of some of the top musicians in New York at any given time. Over the last 40 plus years guys like Lou Solof, Randy Brecker, Bobby Colomby, Mike Stern, Joe Henderson, and Jaco Pastorius have been in the band. So, with that caliber of musicians you're always inspired to get better. And, as far as the guys getting along off-stage, there's always been nine strong, mostly funny personalities with common goals of getting better, and partying until we get kicked out of any given country."
During this time also, Gary continued his career in producing, partnering with Lajaun Carter-Dent.
In the 1990s Gary performed and played the bass with Regina Belle, Chris Walker and P Diddy.
Gary, from 1997 to 2004, became a super producer along with Marco Vitali, Regan Ryzuk, Brian DeLaney, former a production studio dubbed, Soundguild.
In 2008, Mr. Foote, began a new relationship, working with the legendary Smokey Robinson
In 2005, Gary became a producer in his own right, breaking out on his own, creating Gary Foote Music, and accumulating a group of of composers of creative music for media production. Their unique musical scoring traverse commercials, TV, trailers and games, US and overseas , production companies, broadcasters and other content providers, across various media ,commercial and interactive . As Gary says, "We've spent well over 20 years combining the highest production values with awe inspiring arrangements (from orchestral to electronic) to offer a uniquely, professional service for the Artist."
Gary Foote music creates high quality impact full music for sporting events, TV programming, film and movie trailers, game and sonic ads.
Some of Gary's clients to date have been: MTV Cribs, Wu Tang Clan, RZA, Eight Diagrams, Pete Rock, Organized Noise, Spike, MTV, The Biography Channel, A&E, ABC Sports, NBA, TV Land, ESPN, Adventure Guides, ET, BET.
In 2010, Gary Foote married singer, Jenny D. Douglas at Caesar's Palace, where she was performing with Cher.