Gary Hempsey Lives in Key West Florida and plays regularly at . Schooner , Sunset Tiki , Green Parrot, Salty's, Casa . -Island wide you could say . A well known musician on a 2x4 Island but his popularity does travel . Playing to thousands of people from around the world every year. Gary plays adult Acoustic alternative , from soft acoustic to cutting edge shading influences from all the artist he interprets . Gary has put out 4 CDs . of original songs so the material is abundant and varied. Writing parodies or pop or songs in-between all along the way The newest 2020 release ( Don't forget where you come from ) is all over the digital world . Pressed into an LP. has drawn attention . The record has been getting lots of play and downloads . Each track is a story . The record takes you for a ride like putting on Vinyl is supposed to .
Doing 280 shows last year from the Canadian Border to the bottom of the map Drawing from such a wide songbook of originals and playing all those great covers keeps playing solo fresh .
Playing with The Happy Dog is like being on all the rides in the amusement park . Playing rhythm guitar and vocals in one of Key West Favorite bands and traveling a bit with them . Look us up on youtube or FB.
That old Hippie Band (as we are know) is a stage band creating a 60s show to a decked out theater with a costumed audience is an annual event from That Hippie Band as they say. it's all silly but has been a great time for 15 years , give or take . Playing the Theater and amphitheater . Guitars / Bass / Vocals . Chief cat herder
Paul Cotton Band . What a pleasure to play all those POCO songs with the band for so many years . Singing harmonies to Crazy Love , all those tunes .I actually played a songwriters in the round with Paul LOL what do you play after he plays Heart of the Night ? oh boy is right . Rhythm guitar / Bass / vocals with the band .
Gary learned to play at the Philadelphia School for guitar Moved to San Francisco slid down to L.A. put some miles on the van and found Key West . Playing with many artist dropping names is a silly thing to do at this point .lets say he's the only non country act to open up for Kenny Chesney , Big gigs /little gigs . Fantastic gigs and OH BOY lets bail gigs 25 solid years of making a living as a musician.
Since this is a BIO i have to drop names and places like...San Francisco .I Beam , golden Gate Park , Full moon saloon . winner of BAM 24 hour band jam .Red Victorian , Slims , Paradise .
Every Dive Bar in L.A. no kidding .... Topanga canyon jam . outer rims grapevine and back to Al's bar .
Drove for H.B.O Taxi cab Confessions in Las Vegas and played in a GD cover band called August West . That T.V. show aired for years and now I can't find it .
Musical roots of a very twisted tree . Too many influences . When interviewed once and ask about influences I said Ricky Ricardo ( being funny ) but Ricky always went to the club , not to work .
Gary Is playing regularly in the lower Keys and Key West . from an internship at Captain Tonys to his current gigs the music is always unique and listenable , Gary is a Key West Favorite .Next to come is the return to Duval Street so watch out . Still Booking acts for a couple of places is a great way of keeping in touch with all the local musicians .New music is being recorded . be sure to sign up on my mailing list and contact me , ,