Photo of Gary Paul Hermus
Photo ©2006 by Barbara Carroll

Biography:A Long Winding Road.


Gary Paul Hermus brings a poet's ear for words, a cinematic eye for detail & an actor’s insight into character to his songs; melding intricate finger style guitar work & intelligently crafted lyrics with a down-to-earth relaxed attitude. Not blown sideways by life; rather “laterally enhanced,” his colorful story & broad musical journey winds through his songs. Winner of the 2006 Xtreme Folk Scene's Song Contest for, "The Man In the Black Chapeau," he also degrees in Psychology, Public Administration & Computer Science.

A recent immigrant to New Mexico, Gary was born 1950 in the slums of Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, where he grew up poor, but surrounded by music, theater & poetry. He studid piano at age 5 &, though he left piano behind, it taught him a love for melody. Summers on his grandparent's farm in rural upstate New York, taught him to love bucolic settings & bluegrass music. But it was around Boy Scout council fires that he grew to love storytelling.

Gary Paul Hermus, Boy Scout
Photo, Gary Paul, Rocker!

Though an acoustic player now, Gary played rock guitar in his teens, at the same time that he studied acting at NYC's High School of Performing Arts, It was drama by day & music by night at the Peppermint Lounge, the Purple Onion, the Cheetah & other NY hot spots. He continued acting studies at HB Studios, acting Off-Off Broadway while playing folk music throughout New York City's Greenwich Village appearing at The Bitter End, The Village Gaslight, Folk City & elsewhere.

But to make ends meet, Gary Paul played bass guitar on club dates, learning the American song-book, & becoming familiar with authentic Latin music. This led Gary Paul to study with famed Latin bassist, Victor Venegas, while also studying ragtime guitar and banjo with Jack Baker.


Short stints followed with "Bill Jeffcott & the Swamprockers," & "The New York Frets." before he began a long love affair with Brazilian jazz, playing bass with "Satie," a Brazilo-Cuban fusion band. All the while, he worked by day with the mentally retarded, completing a B.A. in Psychology & a Masters degree in Public Administration.

Satie evenutally moved into World Music as "The North American Udu Band," but separated shortly thereafter. He then played with "Shotgun Wedding," and "Joined @ the Head" before dropping out to write original music. By day, though, Gary Paul focused on computers, receiving a Masters degree in Computer Science.
Photo, Gary Paul, Jazz Basist!

In 2002 he began playing original songs at small clubs & open mikes. By 2003, he was playing coffeehouses & Folk Festivals throughout the Northeast, appearing on Ralph Litwin's cable TV show, "Horses Sing None of it,” & on line as part of blowupradio.com’s “Folk You!” & their Hurricane Katrina benefit. Then came the Xtreme Folk Scene Song Contest win & a triumphant appearance at XFest.

His debut CD, “Sid’s Gaseteria,” was released in 2007 on the Big Moose Music label (available through cdbaby.com). Most recently he’s added lap slide to his arsenal after studying with lap guitarist Pat Wictor.

Now a resident of Sant Fe, New Mexico Gary Paul has begun establishing himself locally, with plans perform throughout the Southwest & to return at intervals to tour in his Northeast/Mid-Atlantic stomping grounds. He is a member of the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), a chapter of Folk Alliance International, and a founding member of the NewMexico subcommittee.  He is also involved in preproduction for his Sophomore CD.   Stay tuned to this web site for details as they develop!

Photo (c)2002 by Barbara Carroll