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August 2014

Gary Grant

After Woody’s band, I moved to Hawaii and that’s when I first met Jerry Hey. That’s when Jerry used to work for me . . . for a lot less money, I might add.

Recording credits that include Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Earth Wind & Fire, Frank Sinatra, Toto, Al Jarreau and Barbra Streisand, 20 years as lead trumpet for Quincy Jones, 35 years a member of the famed Jerry Hey horn section, a Grammy award winning producer……August is all about Gary Grant! Michael sits down with the great virtuoso to discuss everything and anything about Gary’s extraordinary life and career. Enjoy these amazing insights and anecdotes from one of the truly great musical artists of our time.

Gary Grant lesson available from Hip‑BoneU:

HBU Trailer: Brass Essentials with Gary Grant

Filed under: Al Jarreau, Barbra Streisand, Chuck Findley, Earth Wind and Fire, Gary Grant, Hawaii, Jerry Hey, lead trumpet, Los Angeles studio musician, Michael Jackson, motion picture soundtracks, trumpet
Newer interview Erik Ralske

Comments

Dave Womack - October 16, 2026

Excellent interview with Gary, Mike. I was lucky enough to be in Hawaii in 1972/73 and got to meet Gary and played in a “kicks” band he started there. We read some great charts and several LA guys came over and brought some music to read also. We played some Jerry Hey things and I remember reading some Kim Richmond things that were quite good also. I was stationed there with the Air Force Band but was invited to sit in with those great musicians. What a thrill for me and I won’t forget it. Keep up the great work Mike. So sad to hear of Gary’s passing but we do have his music that lives on.

rich pulin - October 16, 2026

I’M LIGHT YEARS BEYOND SADDENED TO REPORT THAT A DEAR FRIEND LEFT US!

CHUCK FINDLEY BROUGHT ME TO HONOLULU HAWAII TO PLAY WITH GLENN CAMPBELL’S

BAND IN MAY OF 1974!

IN THE TRUMPET SECTION WITH CHUCK, AMONG OTHERS, WAS GARY GRANT!

I DISCOVERED MUSICAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL CHEMISTRY WITH GARY, AND

WE WOUND UP PLAYING ADDITIONALLY AT KEONE’S JAZZ CLUB, A UNIQUE JAZZ

NIGHT SPOT IN HONOLULU.

GARY HAD ME OVER TO HIS HOUSE ON THE BEACH, AND I ENCOUNTERED AND MET

LENNETTA, GARY’S BEAUTIFUL WIFE, AS WELL AS HIS TWO LITTLE CHILDREN,

DAUGHTER MARY KAY, AND SON PATRICK….BOTH VERY LITTLE AT THE TIME!

GARY AND I WENT TO THE BEACH TO DIVE SEVERAL TIMES!

NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT, CHUCK BROUGHT GARY TO LA TO HANDLE CHUCK’S

SESSION OVERLOAD, SOON, GARY WAS UP ON TOP WITH CHUCK!

TOGETHER WITH JERRY HEY, THEY WERE THE TRUMPET SECTION OF THE STARS!

ALL OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S SESSIONS AS WELL AS EARTH WIND & FIRE, AND MANY, MANY

MORE WERE DONE BY THEM!

I, AS A STUDIO WRITER, FORMED AN ENTERPRISE WITH GARY IN 2008, WHO, OVER THE YEARS

DEVELOPED IN TO A BRILLIANT ENGINEER AND PRODUCER TO COMPLIMENT HIS VIRTUOSITY AS

A TRUMPET PLAYER!

I COMPOSED AND ARRANGED HUNDREDS OF SONGS, AND WITH GARY’S ASSISTANCE WE MADE

“TONS” OF RECORDINGS, MANY FEATURING VOCALIST DAUGHTER BROOKE, WHO GARY RESPECTED

ADORED AS A SINGER AND PERSON!

NOT HAVING GARY AROUND, IS WAY BEYOND SAD AND TRAGIC FOR ME…….BUT OUR RECORDINGS WILL

GIVE ME SOLACE, AND LIVE FOREVER!

GARY & I HAVE AN ALBUM, HERETOFORE UNRELEASED, WITH 13 BRILLIANT TRUMPET PERFORMANCES

LOCATED AT:

https://www.reverbnation.com/control_room/artist/1902452/albums/260194 (if it doesn’t play, reverbnation is a quick free signup)

CHECK IT OUT!

Linda Westergaard - February 17, 2026

I was married to Dalton Smith back in the 1975. Hope you are well.

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