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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
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'''Gary Lee Usher''' (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990)<ref name="AMG">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-usher-mn0000187123/biography</ref> 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 musician|session musicians]] with his own troops ([[Chuck Girard]], Dick Burns and others). These bands included the Super-Stocks, with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run", and the [[Kickstand|Kickstands]].<ref>David N. Howard, ''Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings'', 2004, {{ISBN|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."</ref>
'''Gary Lee Usher''' (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990)<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-usher-mn0000187123/biography|title=Gary Usher Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref> 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 musician|session musicians]] with his own troops ([[Chuck Girard]], Dick Burns and others). These bands included the Super-Stocks, with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run", and the [[Kickstand|Kickstands]].<ref>David N. Howard, ''Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings'', 2004, {{ISBN|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."</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
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*''Hit City '65'' (1965, [[The Surfaris]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''Hit City '65'' (1965, [[The Surfaris]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''It Ain't Me, Babe'' (1965, The Surfaris)<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''It Ain't Me, Babe'' (1965, The Surfaris)<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''In Action'' (1966, Keith Allison)<ref>http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/cs9441</ref>
*''In Action'' (1966, Keith Allison)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/cs9441|title=Vinyl Album: Keith Allison - Keith Allison In Action (1967)|website=45worlds.com|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*''An Esoteric Qabalistic Service'' (1966, Rev. [[Ann Davies (occultist)|Ann Davies]] with the [[Builders of the Adytum]] Choir)<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/7290451-Ann-Davies-An-Esoteric-Qabalistic-Service</ref>
*''An Esoteric Qabalistic Service'' (1966, Rev. [[Ann Davies (occultist)|Ann Davies]] with the [[Builders of the Adytum]] Choir)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/7290451-Ann-Davies-An-Esoteric-Qabalistic-Service|title=Ann Davies – "An Esoteric Qabalistic Service" (1975, Gatefold, Vinyl)|access-date=16 October 2021|website=Discogs.com}}</ref>
*''[[Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers]]'' (1967, [[Gene Clark]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers]]'' (1967, [[Gene Clark]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Younger Than Yesterday]]'' (1967, [[The Byrds]])<ref name="AMG"/>
*''[[Younger Than Yesterday]]'' (1967, [[The Byrds]])<ref name="AMG"/>
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*''[[The Great Conspiracy (album)|The Great Conspiracy]]'' (1967, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy)<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[The Great Conspiracy (album)|The Great Conspiracy]]'' (1967, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy)<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Present Tense (Sagittarius album)|Present Tense]]'' (1968, [[Sagittarius (band)|Sagittarius]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Present Tense (Sagittarius album)|Present Tense]]'' (1968, [[Sagittarius (band)|Sagittarius]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''The Ark'' (1968, Chad & Jeremy)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ark-mw0000345112/credits</ref>
*''The Ark'' (1968, Chad & Jeremy)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ark-mw0000345112/credits|title=The Ark - Chad & Jeremy &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*''[[The Notorious Byrd Brothers]]'' (1968, The Byrds)<ref name="AMG"/>
*''[[The Notorious Byrd Brothers]]'' (1968, The Byrds)<ref name="AMG"/>
*''[[Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him]]'' (1968, [[The Firesign Theatre]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him]]'' (1968, [[The Firesign Theatre]])<ref name="LarkinGE"/>
*''[[Sweetheart of the Rodeo]]'' (1968, The Byrds)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2565}}</ref>
*''[[Sweetheart of the Rodeo]]'' (1968, The Byrds)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2565}}</ref>
*''Wackering Heights'' (1972, [[The Wackers]])<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/wackering-heights-mw0000260032/credits</ref>
*''Wackering Heights'' (1972, [[The Wackers]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wackering-heights-mw0000260032/credits|title=Wackering Heights - Wackers &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*''[[Going Public (Bruce Johnston album)|Going Public]]'' (1977, [[Bruce Johnston]])<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-public-mw0000109334/credits</ref>
*''[[Going Public (Bruce Johnston album)|Going Public]]'' (1977, [[Bruce Johnston]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-public-mw0000109334/credits|title=Going Public - Bruce Johnston &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"Sanctuary" (1984, Celestium)<ref>http://www.45cat.com/record/3404303</ref>
*"Sanctuary" (1984, Celestium)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/3404303|title=Celestium - Sanctuary|access-date=16 October 2021|website=45cat.com}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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{{div col}}
{{div col}}
*"[[409 (song)|409]]" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref name="AMG"/>
*"[[409 (song)|409]]" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref name="AMG"/>
*"Lonely Sea" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-usa-mw0001955277</ref>
*"Lonely Sea" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-usa-mw0001955277|title=Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"[[Ten Little Indians (Beach Boys song)|Ten Little Indians]]" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-safari-surfin-usa-mw0000203289</ref>
*"[[Ten Little Indians (Beach Boys song)|Ten Little Indians]]" (1962, The Beach Boys)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-safari-surfin-usa-mw0000203289|title=Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"[[In My Room]]" (1963, The Beach Boys)<ref name="AMG"/>
*"[[In My Room]]" (1963, The Beach Boys)<ref name="AMG"/>
*"Malibu Sunset" (1963, The Beach Boys)
*"Malibu Sunset" (1963, The Beach Boys)
*"Beach Party" (1963, [[Frankie Avalon]])<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/25-all-time-greatest-hits-mw0000218381</ref>
*"Beach Party" (1963, [[Frankie Avalon]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/25-all-time-greatest-hits-mw0000218381|title=25 All-Time Greatest Hits - Frankie Avalon &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"Mag Wheels" (1963, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/song/mag-wheels-mt0005750807</ref>
*"Mag Wheels" (1963, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/mag-wheels-mt0005750807|title=Mag Wheels - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones &#124; Song Info |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"We'll Run Away" (1964, The Beach Boys)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-summer-long-mw0000319105</ref>
*"We'll Run Away" (1964, The Beach Boys)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-summer-long-mw0000319105|title=All Summer Long - The Beach Boys &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"Comin' On Too Strong" (1965, [[Wayne Newton]])<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/song/coming-on-too-strong-mt0012068571</ref>
*"Comin' On Too Strong" (1965, [[Wayne Newton]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/coming-on-too-strong-mt0012068571|title=Coming on Too Strong - Wayne Newton &#124; Song Info |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"The Truth Is Not Real" (1968, Sagittarius)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/present-tense-mw0000026086</ref>
*"The Truth Is Not Real" (1968, Sagittarius)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/present-tense-mw0000026086|title=Present Tense - Sagittarius &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"The Blue Marble" (1969, Sagittarius)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-blue-marble-mt0009734411</ref>
*"The Blue Marble" (1969, Sagittarius)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-blue-marble-mt0009734411|title=The Blue Marble - Sagittarius &#124; Song Info |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"[[Don't Give In to Him]]" (1969, [[Gary Puckett & The Union Gap]])<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-deluxe-mw0000191370</ref>
*"[[Don't Give In to Him]]" (1969, [[Gary Puckett & The Union Gap]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-deluxe-mw0000191370|title=Greatest Hits [Deluxe] - Gary Puckett, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref>
*"(Friend)Ships" (1971, Gary Usher)
*"(Friend)Ships" (1971, Gary Usher)
*"Sanctuary" (1983, Celestium and later [[Laura Branigan]] and the J-Pop artist [[Reimy]])<ref>http://www.45cat.com/record/3404303</ref>
*"Sanctuary" (1983, Celestium and later [[Laura Branigan]] and the J-Pop artist [[Reimy]])<ref name="auto"/>
*"Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" (1986, Brian Wilson)<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/song/lets-go-to-heaven-in-my-car-mt0046425953</ref> (Note - Gary Usher's son, Gary Usher Jr., played the guitar solo)
*"Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" (1986, Brian Wilson)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/lets-go-to-heaven-in-my-car-mt0046425953|title=Let's Go to Heaven in My Car - Brian Wilson &#124; Song Info |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref> (Note - Gary Usher's son, Gary Usher Jr., played the guitar solo)
*"Christmas Time" (1986, Brian Wilson)
*"Christmas Time" (1986, Brian Wilson)
* "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock'n Roll" (1986 co-written with Joseph Nicoletti Jr.) - Recorded by Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell; "The Golden Boys of Rock"
* "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock'n Roll" (1986 co-written with Joseph Nicoletti Jr.) - Recorded by Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell; "The Golden Boys of Rock"

Revision as of 19:54, 16 October 2021

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 active1960s–1990
Websitewww.garyusher.com

Gary Lee Usher (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990)[1] 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 included the Super-Stocks, with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run", and the Kickstands.[2]

Death

Usher died of lung cancer at his home in his hometown of Los Angeles, California, at the age of 51.[3]

Selected discography

Production

Songwriting

  • "409" (1962, The Beach Boys)[1]
  • "Lonely Sea" (1962, The Beach Boys)[11]
  • "Ten Little Indians" (1962, The Beach Boys)[12]
  • "In My Room" (1963, The Beach Boys)[1]
  • "Malibu Sunset" (1963, The Beach Boys)
  • "Beach Party" (1963, Frankie Avalon)[13]
  • "Mag Wheels" (1963, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones)[14]
  • "We'll Run Away" (1964, The Beach Boys)[15]
  • "Comin' On Too Strong" (1965, Wayne Newton)[16]
  • "The Truth Is Not Real" (1968, Sagittarius)[17]
  • "The Blue Marble" (1969, Sagittarius)[18]
  • "Don't Give In to Him" (1969, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)[19]
  • "(Friend)Ships" (1971, Gary Usher)
  • "Sanctuary" (1983, Celestium and later Laura Branigan and the J-Pop artist Reimy)[10]
  • "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" (1986, Brian Wilson)[20] (Note - Gary Usher's son, Gary Usher Jr., played the guitar solo)
  • "Christmas Time" (1986, Brian Wilson)
  • "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock'n Roll" (1986 co-written with Joseph Nicoletti Jr.) - Recorded by Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell; "The Golden Boys of Rock"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gary Usher Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ David N. Howard, Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings, 2004, ISBN 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."
  3. ^ "Gary Usher; Co-Writer of Beach Boys Hits". Los Angeles Times. 2 June 1990.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2565. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  5. ^ "Vinyl Album: Keith Allison - Keith Allison In Action (1967)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Ann Davies – "An Esoteric Qabalistic Service" (1975, Gatefold, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ "The Ark - Chad & Jeremy | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Wackering Heights - Wackers | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Going Public - Bruce Johnston | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Celestium - Sanctuary". 45cat.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  13. ^ "25 All-Time Greatest Hits - Frankie Avalon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Mag Wheels - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  15. ^ "All Summer Long - The Beach Boys | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Coming on Too Strong - Wayne Newton | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Present Tense - Sagittarius | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  18. ^ "The Blue Marble - Sagittarius | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Greatest Hits [Deluxe] - Gary Puckett, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car - Brian Wilson | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2021.

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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