Gary Pfaff was born to be a musician. From the early age of 14 he began taking guitar lessons and only a few years later he was playing open mics and in bars before he was of legal drinking age. He became a fixture on the Atlanta music scene and started his first band called YG, which stood for “Young Gary”, his given nickname at the time. Pfaff has been noted as a major influence by his peers, including J Records recording artist and good friend Michael Tolcher, who was quoted saying: "[he] was one of my first inspirations...I used to watch him mesmerize audiences with his hypnotic rhythm and 'wise beyond their years' songs before the boy could drive!" He had begun to take large strides in making his dreams come true working with Edwin McCain’s management company and built a good friendship with Edwin whom he would open up for from time to time in cities around the southeast building his fan base. Since that time, Gary has written an entire rock opera called The Ladder when he was just 24, put out several albums under different band names and finally returned to releasing records under his own name and had two of his songs featured in a major motion film. He writes, records and even produces his own music while also creating the artwork for the albums and designing his own web site. After years of battling the music industry’s advice to be something that he is not, Gary Pfaff has settled into his own. Pfaff has created a sound that is equal parts rock, country, and pop. While the last album even featured two reggae songs. In January 2008, Gary released his first live album entitled, Under the Influence – Live, which features an all star band of Atlanta musicians highlighting his true craft of playing live for his fans. Several of new songs were inspired by touring over 250 dates in 2007 and lean towards a new direction for Gary as he explores more roots music from traveling all over the Southeast and West Coast in such songs like the country tinged Never Looking Back, the rocking blues of a beer bottle slide in Mississippi Streets, and true run ins and perils of Wild Fires in Southern California. Coming off the release of the live album and as a featured act on The Rock Boat VIII cruise, Gary Pfaff is more excited than ever to get back on the road full time. He has a bit of business to finish at home first – he is in the process of recording another album due later in 2008. In the midst of writing and recording the new record, Pfaff has joined his old friend Edwin McCain for a few tour dates and continue to modestly tour on his own in between studio sessions. Over the last 10 years, Pfaff has toured both on his own as well as supporting other major artists like: Corey Smith, The Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Lifehouse, and more! On New Years Eve 2008 he shared the stage with country superstars Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert where he received extraordinary praise from Rhubarb Jones (106.7FM DJ, Atlanta) and was quoted saying, “Gary Pfaff is a commercially viable artist with a great shot at success!” While on tour in California last year, a Music Connection Magazine writer said: “Indeed, the unpredictable nature of his material, along with the exquisite craftsmanship of his songwriting, is so good that it's no exaggeration to put Pfaff in the same league as Ben Harper.” This year should be a promising year for Gary Pfaff – with a new distribution deal with Best Buy stores to carry his two latest releases (White Stars and Under The Influence – Live) and a new CD on the way, he has much to look forward to as he continues his path of self made success.
