Gary's Gang

 

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Gary's Gang

New York Disco band active around 1978-1980

You ever hear the term "Garage Band"? Well Gary's Gang is a real one. Formed in Queens, New York by co-founders Gary Turnier and Eric Matthew in Eric's garage. With little experience and some friends, they became GARY'S GANG!

A few months later they, Eric and Gary, had come up with a commercially viable DISCO record that was picked up by local Independent label SAM Records. KEEP ON DANCIN' became one of DISCO'S greatest hits. The brains behind GARY'S GANG was ERIC (A.K.A. Joe Tucci), who wrote and arranged most of their music.

The group consisted of Gary Turnier (Leader/Vocalist), Eric Matthew, Al Lauricella, Rino Minetti. Bill Catalano, Bob Foreman and Jay Leon. Together they put KEEP ON DANCIN on the map. It tore thropugh DISCOS with reckless abandon, taking no prisoners, making everyone dance. It had a perfect introduction, with so many breaks that an average deejay could sound like an expert. A great deejay could turn that record into a CLASSIC, and many did. Could be the Best DISCO CLASSIC ever.

Besides KEEP ON DANCIN, GARY'S GANG also had another DISCO CLASSIC in DO IT AT THE DISCO which added to the excitement already created. It was a great start for this QUEENS group. but it was short-lived. DISCO was on its way out, and their second album, didn't get much of a push or effort from COLUMBIA Records and soon dropped them. They released a single, but it flopped. By 1980, the group played in the Tri-State Area DISCOS, but wasn't having much success elsewhere.

Soon, GARY'S GANG had pretty much broken up, but Eric Matthews kept at it, and got them to release KNOCK ME OUT the year later. It didn't do much either. Then on their own label, they made some money with MAKIN' MUSIC. It never got picked up nationally, and it was more or less over.

While Eric Matthew stayed in the music business, the others went on to normal jobs and lives. Gary is the Principal in a Long Island school. and only Jay Leon made a big name for himself as the Vice-President of KING WORLD. The re-run distribution company. Eric continues to produce and write. We thank them for their Fifteen Minutes! It was a great trip!!

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