Gary served for 35 years as a director of choral and instrumental music in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. He was a member of the Tennessee All-State band, Memphis All-City and, Germantown Symphony in Memphis, Memphis State faculty brass quintet and was a select player for a birthday celebration for Aaron Copeland.

Gary directed and performed in big band and combo groups that traveled to Germany. Russia and Argentina. He is an orchestral arranger and has written extensively for the orchestra of First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Gary has a B.S. Ed. degree from Memphis State University.

Gary is married to Candy Gaston. They have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.