Gary Usher

Gary Lee Usher (December 14, 1938 ā€“ May 25, 1990) was an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer who worked with numerous California acts in the 1960s, including the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and Dick Dale. Usher also produced fictitious surf groups or hot rod groups mixing studio session musicians with his own troops (Chuck Girard, Dick Burns and others). These bands include the Super-Stocks, with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run", and the Kickstands.[1]

Gary Usher
Birth nameGary Lee Usher
Born(1938-12-14)December 14, 1938
Los Angeles, California
United States
DiedMay 25, 1990(1990-05-25) (aged 51)
Los Angeles, California
United States
GenresRock and roll, surf music
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer
Years active1960sā€“1990
Associated acts
Websitewww.garyusher.com

Death

Usher died of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California at the age of 51.[2]

Selected discography

Production

Songwriting

  • "409" (1962, The Beach Boys)
  • "Lonely Sea" (1962, The Beach Boys)
  • "Ten Little Indians" (1962, The Beach Boys)
  • "In My Room" (1963, The Beach Boys)
  • "Beach Party" (1963, Frankie Avalon)
  • "Mag Wheels" (1963, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones)
  • "We'll Run Away" (1964, The Beach Boys)
  • "Comin' On Too Strong" (1965, Wayne Newton)
  • "The Truth Is Not Real" (1968, Sagittarius)
  • "The Blue Marble" (1969, Sagittarius)
  • "Don't Give In to Him" (1969, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)
  • "(Friend)Ships" (1971, Gary Usher)
  • "Sanctuary" (1983, Celestium and later Laura Branigan and the J-Pop artist Reimy)
  • "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" (1986, Brian Wilson) (Note - Gary Usher's son, Gary Usher Jr., plays the guitar solo.)
  • "Let's put the Fun back in Rock'n Roll"(1986 co-written with Joseph Nicoletti jr.-ascap)- Recorded by Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell "The Golden Boys of Rock"

References

  1. David N. Howard -Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings 2004 -147685209X "Ever since Usher's early surf and hot rod days, he had been creating fictitious studio groups such as the Super-Stocks and the Kickstands, imaginary bands to sate the hungry surf and hot rod record-buying audience."
  2. "Gary Usher; Co-Writer of Beach Boys Hits". Los Angeles Times. 2 June 1990.

Further reading

  • McParland, Stephen J. (2000). The California Sound - An Insider's Story. The Musical Biography of Gary Lee Usher. CMusic Publishing. ASIN B006VXTC3Q.
  • McParland, Stephen J. (2013). The Brian Wilson Project. Berlot. ISBN 978-2954483405.
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