He Talks In Stereo, PART 1: Singer/Guitarist Gary Myrick Embraces His Texas Blues Muse-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
With 4 decades of session playing and touring behind him, he's no stranger to playing on others' records. Now, he's exploring his Texas blues roots.
The interview portions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
“That's The Beginning, Just One of the Clues…”
He started playing music at the age of 10, having also shown an early aptitude for art. By age 14, Gary Myrick was writing his first songs, and by 18, had formed his first all-original band, a sort of glam/pop/punk trio called Smiley.
Gary Myrick was born in Dallas, in a state which has a deep, abiding, and historically significant love for the blues. So does he, as it turns out, but he’s traveled a long and winding road through several decades of playing guitar and singing for other artists, and on many charting hits, some you may know well.
In fact, Myrick’s guitar and voice can be heard as a session player (and touring member) of such acts as Big Audio Dynamite, Jackson Browne, members of The Eagles, Steve Jones (former guitarist of the Sex Pistols), Wilson Pickett, and Stevie Wonder, while serving as supporting act for Bonnie Raitt and Todd Rundgren on respective tours.
“My love for the blues is deep.”
Now, it’s his turn. Myrick has a couple of new releases to rightfully boast about…one’s a spanking new album of blues songs (a couple of covers, but mostly original songs) , as he sings and accompanies himself on a 12-string acoustic guitar. “My love for the blues is deep,” Gary told me recently, “and being Texas-born, it’s a strong influence.”
The other is a collection of concert tapes recently discovered by a hometown radio station from a live gig Myrick’s early ‘80s new wave band played…the band that gave Gary his first worldwide exposure.
Through the magic of the internet, Front Row & Backstage sat and chatted exclusively with Gary, an avid motorcycle enthusiast, in January 2022. If you’re unfamiliar with Gary and his many talents, you’ll discover a highly-sought-after session musician whose music you’ve likely heard before…
And, you’ll also discover a talented vocalist/guitarist who’s currently pickin’ and singin’ the deep Texas blues he was born with…and is finally unleashing.
“You've Had Your First Lesson in Learnin' the Blues”
Fresh out of W.T. White High School in north Dallas, Gary Myrick started playing and gigging in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex in the early-’70s while also taking a 2-year stab at higher education at Dallas College’s El Centro campus, downtown.
“From an early age, I had decided to do music full-time, write songs, sing and play guitar, and produce my own records,” Gary remembers.
Enjoying this bout of reminiscing, Gary continued: “I was doing all my own material in a band called Gary Myrick and Slip of the Wrist. The band went over great, and we were drawing quite well, and being paid the most of any of the bands at the Cellar.
“I played at a club in Dallas called the Cellar, which was quite famous for its wild times: Bouncers with guns…a gun shot off one night, and went right over my head! You had to keep your wits about you!”