About Me
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About Me |
09/13/06 |
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Gary LeFebvre Bio Gary joined the San Diego Musicians Union, AFM local 325 in 1956. Some of his early work was with the SD Symphony in a program that featured the premier vocal group The Hi-Los as well as vocalist Peggy Lee. He moved on to play with the band that played the Beacon Inn in Cardiff by the Sea. His fellow band members were Mike Wofford(p), John Guerin(d), Bill Lenhart(b), and Don Sleet(t). Of course, Gary was playing tenor saxophone. About the same time, Gary and the boys were playing in the Lighthouse Festival, a sort of contest featuring the best young talent from the So Calf area. Don Sleet won number 1 trumpet in 1957, and Gary won number one tenor in 1958. This brought Gary’s considerable talent to the attention of Howard Rumsey, the Lighthouse guru. Gary entered the big leagues of jazz performance in 1959 when he auditioned for and was selected as tenor soloist with the Terry Gibbs Dream Band in Los Angeles. Having not yet turned 20, Terry became Gary’s legal guardian. After the stint with the Gibbs band, Gary got the call to work with Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse All Stars in 1960. This was to put him in the front line with prominent soloists Bob Cooper (tenor), Stu Williamson (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone) as well as Hampton Hawes (piano). The Lighthouse rhythm section always had Howard Rumsey on bass, but when he took a vacation, Howard usually sent Leroy Vinnegar in to sub. At this time Gary met Leroy and developed a musical friendship with him. Gary was to go back to the Lighthouse many times for appearances with other great players such as Art Pepper in 1968. While working the Lighthouse, he was noticed by Shorty Rogers and was hired to work with Shorty and the "Giants". It was during this time that Shorty’s band was featured in an Oscar Brown Jr. telecast of Jazz Scene USA (the video version is still available from Tower Records). After about two years with Shorty’s Giants, the list of leaders began to grow and Gary’s musical services became highly sought after. These leaders included Red Norvo, Mel Torme, Stan Kenton, Harry James, Dick Stabile, Chet Baker, Art Pepper, Louie Bellson’s Big Band, Nelson Riddle, Alvino Rey, Illinois Jacquet, as well as Chubby Jackson, Mose Allison, and Red Rodney. It was with Dick Stabile that Gary played two years, six nights a week, at the famed Coconut Grove nightclub in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. While in that band, among many others, he backed the acts of Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Jack Jones, and the very young Diana Ross with the Supremes. Around fifteen years ago, Gary returned to San Diego, the city he grew up in. Since returning to San Diego he has become a lead alto player as well as tenor. He is currently working with various leaders in the area among who are Benny Hollman, the musical director for the legendary singer Frankie Laine. Gary also is first call lead alto for the Temptations and the Four Tops when they are in the area. Gary says "I have re-kindled old friendships, and continue to work with the great players in town. It’s good to be back home!"
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This site was last updated 09/13/06