Photo of Gary Paul Hermus
Photo (c)2002 by Barbara Carroll

Biography:
Gary Paul Hermus.


Singer-songwriter-guitarist Gary Paul Hermus is a contemporary storyteller in the folk tradition, whose rich & colorful life experience winds its way through his songs. He's known for what the Staten Island Source called, ". . . [a] down-to-earth personality and relaxed attitude. He's definitely not a high-maintenance guy."

Born in 1950 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, 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. In this rich, diverse atmosphere, at age five, Gary began studying piano, learning to read music while learning to read words. Though he left piano behind several years later, it left him with a love for melody that remains with him.
From ages five to thirteen, Gary & his brothers spent Summers on their grandparent's farm in rural upstate New York, where he developed a love for bucolic settings & acoustic bluegrass music. But it was as a Boy Scout that his love of storytelling emerged; in plays & in counsel fire challenges for who could tell the scariest tale.

At thirteen, Gary began guitar studies, playing local "Battles of the Bands." 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 received an academic diploma with a vocational drama major in 1968. He continued acting studies at HB Studios, performing Off-Off Broadway. Still a working musician, he often performed solo, playing international folk tunes throughout New York City in the late 1960's & early 1970's at The Bitter End, The Village Gaslight, Folk City & elsewhere. He also appeared in Alice Tully Hall's presentation of Brooklyn performing artists.

To make ends meet, Gary played club dates, learning to play bass guitar & becoming well versed in standard tunes. During this period 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;

Still playing club dates, Gary did a short stint with "Bill Jeffcott & the Swamprockers," then joined the bluegrass band, "The New York Frets." Meanwhile, he moved to Staten Island, where began a long love affair with Brazilian jazz, playing bass with Brazilo-Cuban fusion band "Satie." By day, though, Gary began working for New York State as a care worker for the mentally retarded, completing a B.A.in Psychology and a Masters in Public Administration.

Satie reformed in the 1980's as "The North American Udu Band," but separated shortly thereafter. Gary then joined the country band, "Shotgun Wedding." Still working for New York State, he focused on computers, receiving a Masters in Computer Science. Gary then joined the Classic Rock group, "Joined @ the Head" for a number of years, moving to New Jersey in the interim. J@TH broke up in 1999.

Gary then returned to writing, emerging in 2002, to spin tales of love, laughter & loss at small clubs & open mikes. In 2003, he was featured at Staten Island's Muddy Cup & Watchung Arts Center's Blues, Folk and Roots Series. He opened for Lisa Moscatiello at Morristown's Minstrel Coffee House, where he was noted for, ". . . intelligently crafted songs accompanied with intricate fingerstyle guitar work," & for Scott Sheldon at the Winona Folk Acoustic Music Concert Series at Lake Winona Civic Center, where he later returned as a featured artist. He headlined at NetNomads Cybercafe in Maplewood NJ & Staten Island's Cargo Cafe, also appearing at the benefit concert for Music at the Mission in West Milford, NJ.

2004 included performances at the Dancing Goat in So. Orange, Uncommon Grounds in Boonton, Rockingham Coffee Lounges in Boonton & Parsippany, on Staten Island at the Muddy Cup, the Sip & Surf Cafe & the Perking Latte; Cafe 111 in Brooklyn, NY, Cafe Arabica in Morristown, NJ, The Gristmill Cafe in Andover NJ, & at Cool Beans Cafe in Oradell, NJ. He returned to Lake Winona for a benfit concert, taped an appearance on Ralph Litwin's cable TV show, "Horses Sing None of it," & appeared at the Folk Project's Fall Festival. In 2005 Gary appearances included Princeton’s Café Improv & New Brunswick’s Corner Tavern. He continues to appear in clubs throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Gary's currently working on his debut CD which he plans to release early next year.