Gary was born and brought up in Tenby, South Pembrokeshire. His earliest musical experiences include listening to Tenby Male Choir, of which his father was a member. He started learning piano at the age of five and went on to pass Grade 8 with distinction aged 13, and obtain his ALCM at 17. He was Organ Scholar at St. Mary’s Church, Tenby and also played tenor horn in Tenby and District Brass Band.

Whilst at the University of York, where he obtained a BA Hons degree in Music, he sang in the University Choir and also directed a student choir and the Concert Band.

On graduating, he moved to London to be the producer at Meridian Records, a small independent classical label. There, he produced over 100 commercial CDs between 1994 and 2004. Whilst living near Bromley, he sang with Bromley Parish Church Choir, the Allegri Singers and Canticum, as well as playing the organ at a number of local churches.

In 2004, he and his family moved to Yorkshire. He sang with the St. Peter’s Singers, Leeds, under Dr. Simon Lindley between 2005 and 2014 and is the founding musical director of Batley Community Choir. He was the Interim Conductor of the Gawthorpe Brass ’85 Youth band in 2017 and also plays E flat bass with them.