Gary Foote
Encyclopedia
Gary Foote
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in February, 1962, to Jim and Rosetta Foote, Gary, 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 FSU music department heard him and along with Marcus Roberts
, Jazz piano great, brought them both to Florida State University 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 DVD’s.
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 1990’s 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 Ids.
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
.
Still a young man full of energy, ideas and experience, knowledge insight and inspiration, Gary Foote, with already a career filled with accomplishment behind him, has a life filled with even greater accomplishments ahead of him.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in February, 1962, to Jim and Rosetta Foote, Gary, 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
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
He was playing in a jazz club in Milwaukee and the director of FSU music department heard him and along with Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts is an American jazz pianist who has achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Roberts has also distinguished his solos by accompanying himself with walking basslines...
, Jazz piano great, brought them both to Florida State University on a full scholarship.
However, after two years in FSU, Gary had a strong desire to be in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
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
Billy Cobham
William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
pulled him away and Gary moved with Billy to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
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
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
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 DVD’s.
Returning from Europe, Gary began writing, recording, producing and performing with Maxwell
Maxwell
-People:* Maxwell , Grammy winning R&B/neo-soul singer* Maxwell Cabelino Andrade , a Brazilian footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona...
, Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, P Diddy, Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B supergroup New Edition, and was also a member of another supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic...
, Joe Timbaland, etc. Producing the soundtracks of movies like “Three Can Play the Game” and “Lockdown
Lockdown
There are several definitions for the term lockdown, the most common of which pertains to a state of containment or a restriction of progression....
” with Russell Simmons and also televisions, “Showtime in Harlem”, ABC Sports, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
,
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
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
, Bobby Colomby
Bobby Colomby
Bobby Colomby is an innovative jazz-rock fusion drummer, and an original member of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears...
, Mike Stern
Mike Stern
Mike Stern is an American jazz guitarist. After playing for a few years with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he landed a gig with Billy Cobham and then broke through with Miles Davis' comeback band from 1981 to 1983, and again in 1985. Since then, he launched a solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums...
, Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
, and Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
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 1990’s Gary performed and played the bass with Regina Belle
Regina Belle
Regina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
, Chris Walker
Chris Walker
Chris Walker may refer to:*Chris Walker , English motorcycle racer*Chris Walker , Australian rugby league footballer*Chris Walker , English squash player...
and P Diddy.
Gary, from 1997 to 2004, became a super producer along with Marco Vitali, Regan Ryzuk
Regan Ryzuk
Regan Ryzuk is an American composer and pianist. Regan is the son of renowned painter, Onufry Ryzuk and published author and playwright, Mary S. Ryzuk, PhD...
, Brian DeLaney, former a production studio dubbed, Soundguild.
In 2008, Mr. Foote, began a new relationship, working with the legendary Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
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 Ids.
Some of Gary’s clients to date have been: MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
, Wu Tang Clan, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
, Eight Diagrams, Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
, Organized Noise, Spike
Spike
Spike may refer to:-Device to puncture or fasten:* Nail , especially one over ten inches long* Rail spike, or Screw spike used to construct railroad tracks* Tree spiking, making a tree dangerous to cut with a chainsaw...
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, The Biography Channel
The Biography Channel
The Biography Channel is an American digital cable television channel owned by A&E and based on the television series of the same name. A version of the channel also airs on ONO and Telefónica in Spain and on Sky Digital and cable television in the United Kingdom, a version of the channel also...
, A&E
A&E
A&E is an abbreviation that may refer to:* Accident and Emergency, in the UK and Ireland, a common name for the emergency department of a hospital* In multimedia, it commonly stands for Arts and Entertainment....
, ABC Sports, NBA, TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, Adventure Guides, ET
ET
- Film and television:*E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a 1982 film*Entertainment Tonight, a daily television entertainment news show-Gaming:*E.T...
, BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
.
In 2010, Gary Foote married singer, Jenny D. Douglas
Jenny D. Douglas
- Jenny Dawn Douglas :Jenny Douglas born March 3 1957.During her career, Jenny has worked with a plethora of artists from very diverse music genres...
at Caesar's Palace, where she was performing with Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
.
Still a young man full of energy, ideas and experience, knowledge insight and inspiration, Gary Foote, with already a career filled with accomplishment behind him, has a life filled with even greater accomplishments ahead of him.