Photo of Gary Paul Hermus
Photo @copy;2003 by Robert Skorney

Biography:
A Long Winding Road.


Dubbed “The Singing Storyteller" by Staten Island Source’s Barbara Russo, Gary Paul Hermus brings a poet's ear for words, a cinematic eye for detail and an actor’s insight into character to his songs. He melds what the Folk Project called, "intricate finger style guitar work and intelligently crafted lyrics" with a “ . . . down-to-earth personality & relaxed attitude.” He doesn’t see himself as “blown sideways” by life; he’d call it “laterally enhanced.” His rich colorful life & eclectic 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 holds a B.A, in Psychology and Masters degrees in Public Administration and Computer Science.
Born 1950 in the slums of Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, the eldest of three sons, Gary's home was poor yet rich; with little money, but filled with music, theater & poetry. At any time, the hi-fi might be playing a Broadway musical, an opera; Harry Belafonte, Oscar Brown Jr., or the latest pop or rock & roll tune. He began studying piano at age five, learning to read music while learning to read words. Though he later left piano behind, it left him with a love for melody. Spending his childhood Summers with his brothers on his grandparent's farm in rural upstate New York, he learned to love bucolic settings & bluegrass music. But it was around the council fire as a Boy Scout that his love of storytelling emerged.
Gary Paul Hermus, 1951
Gary Paul Hermus, Boy Scout
Though an acoustic player now, Gary began playing rock guitar in his teens. But, a love of acting led to New York City's High School of Performing Arts, where he studied drama by day, playing by night at such clubs as the Peppermint Lounge, the Purple Onion & the Cheetah. He continued acting studies at HB Studios, acting Off-Off Broadway while playing international folk tunes throughout New York City in the late 1960's and early 1970's at The Bitter End, The Village Gaslight, Folk City and elsewhere.

To make ends meet, Gary played bass guitar on club dates where, in addition to learning the American song-book, he met Latin pianist Al Israel, who introduced Gary to the subtleties of Latin music. This led Gary to study with famed Latin bassist, Victor Venegas.

Photo, Gary Paul, Rocker!

Gary did a short stint with "Bill Jeffcott & the Swamprockers," and the bluegrass band, "The New York Frets." Moving to Staten Island, he began a long love affair with Brazilian jazz, playing bass with "Satie," a Brazilo-Cuban fusion band. By day, though, Gary worked as a care worker for the mentally retarded, completing a B.A. in Psychology & a Masters in Public Administration.		 Photo, Gary Paul, Jazz Basist!

In the 1980s, Satie moved into World Music as "The North American Udu Band," but separated shortly thereafter. Gary then joined the country band, "Shotgun Wedding," while focusing on computers by day, receiving a Masters in Computer Science. Moving to New Jersey, Gary then joined the Classic Rock Band, "Joined @ the Head."

When J@TH broke up in 1999, Gary returned to writing, emerging in 2002 at small clubs & open mikes. In 2003, he played coffeehouses throughout Northern New Jersey & New York, expanding to new venues like the Folk Project's Fall Festival & appearing on Ralph Litwin's cable TV show, "Horses Sing None of it" in 2004.

2005 saw Gary adding appearances on blowupradio.com’s “Folk You!” and their Hurricane Katrina benefit to his expanding list. He followed up on winning the Xtreme Folk Scene Song Contest with a triumphant appearance at XFest 2006. He continues to appear in clubs throughout the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic.

His debut CD, “Sid’s Gaseteria,” is now available through CDBaby.com on the Big Moose Music label.

Photo (c)2002 by Barbara Carroll