Gary Jeffries Band

Artist Information

Biography

GARY JEFFRIES
“Music is medicine for my soul.”

The long wait is over! Gary Jeffries’ newly released solo CD, Middle Class Man, is hitting the air waves all across the U.S. with hit single 'Mississippi Girl' – sure to be a classic and branded with Jeffries’ own true grit, rootsy-blues, grizzly southern-rock vocal style! Middle Class Man’s all southern-rock flavor evokes the legendary sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, with a somewhat country blend, akin to Montgomery Gentry, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock.


MIDDLE CLASS MAN CD REVIEW by Alligator Jackson (alligatorjackson.com) (with permission)

"On his first solo CD, Gary Jeffries delivers a set of true working man's rock. Loaded with grit and southern pride, Jeffries may be a 'middle-class man', but he is far from average. While the screaming lead guitars, the tasty slide guitar, and occasional harmonica give the CD a cohesive southern feel, Gary shows unparalleled vocal range on songs that range from anthemic southern rock ("Ashes to Ashes" and "Middle Class Man"), radio ready country rock ("Mississippi Girl"), cajun rock ("Southern Pride"), classic rock ("Blood On The Highway"), Great White and Mott The Hoople style boogie rock ("Know You Too Well"), a touch of modern rock ("Free My Soul") and even southern grunge ("Flowers on My Grave"). The CCR classic "Bad Moon Rising" is countrified with a slight party vibe thrown in to give the song a modern edge. "Free" kicks the album off with the sense of urgency of a man breaking through the chains that have restrained him for years. "Free In Heaven" ends the album with a heartfelt tribute to children from Gary's hometown who died in a school bus crash.

He has the swagger of a grizzled rock 'n roll warrior but also the freshness and energy of a new voice ready to make his name known. "Middle Class Man" is one of the best southern rock albums to emerge since the southern glory days of the seventies. It is also much more than just a southern rock record. Gary walks the tightrope of several genres in creating a blend of rock and country that should be blasting from car stereos this summer in not only the South, but the North, East, and West, as well."

('Middle Class Man' is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garyjeffries1 and iTunes where you can enjoy music samples and purchase the CD and mp3 downloads!)


ABOUT GARY JEFFRIES

Gary Jeffries’ compelling, professional music career began with his commanding audition (1986) for Quiet Riot that turned heads in influential circles. But, it was his second place score on Star Search (the American Idol-type TV talent show, 1989) as front man for rock group, Asphalt Ballet that landed Gary and band a major record deal with Virgin Records, U.S. (1990). The band released a hard hitting CD ‘Asphalt Ballet’ that scored 3 MTV and VH1 video hits, Soul Survives, Tuesday's Rain, and Unlucky Mr. Lucky. Soul Survives was indoctrinated onto the MTV Wall of Fame (1991) for the most wins (8) on the popular MTV show, Headbanger’s Ball, outvoting groups like Tesla, The Cult, Corrosion of Informity, Infectious Grooves, and more. Jeffries' vocals and songs with Asphalt Ballet (Hell’s Kitchen, Soul Survives) have been featured in the Charlie Sheen movie, Beyond the Law, on the Life Time Channel, the Hallmark Movie Channel and The Metal Years, Vol. 17.

Asphalt Ballet dominated the Hollywood Sunset Strip and played its world renowned clubs, The Roxy, Whiskey, Viper Club, Troubadour and more. Jeffries, nominated for best Los Angeles male vocalist by Rock City News Magazine (2000), was honored to perform, by invitation, before thousands with members of Guns N’ Roses at Soberfest, Malibu, CA, during Axl Rose’s absence (1995). In addition, Jeffries shared stages with other famous artists, Ted Nugent, The Guess Who, Rare Earth, John Lee Hooker, Billie Idol, and Eric Clapton.

After touring the U.S., headlining stages from Los Angeles to New York with Asphalt Ballet, Jeffries felt the call to settle down with his family and return to his favorite musical roots, Southern Rock. While in Louisiana, he played with many great slide guitarists and developed a swamp sound that became part of his signature style. After devoting time to the rhyme and reason of songwriting -- a means to talk about the rawness of real life and living, he was ready to start touring again.

Jeffries couldn’t resist that magnetic pull of the hot hub of the West coast music scene. He returned to Los Angeles (1994) to form a new southern rock band, Alligator Stew that grew in popularity in just a few short years and opened for renowned bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd (2000), Marshall Tucker, 38 Special and many more. The band went on to independently release 3 CDs that were enjoyed by fans across the U.S., Germany, Italy and France. Alligator Stew received the All Access Magazine Best Video Award in 2006 for its mini movie music video, Blood Money that climbed to major rotation on Country Music Television (CMT) and Great American Country Television (GAC-TV). The Stew performed at the legendary, Sturgis American Bike Rally in South Dakota, and recently has had songs featured on the HBO hit series, ‘True Blood’ (Season 1, Episode 2; 'Rose Thorn Bed', 'Two Wheels') and ‘Weeds’ (Season 1, 'Louisiana Man').

For kicks and as a side project, Jeffries recorded a CD with Grouchy Rooster, which was more of a good-times, garage jammin’, chicken pickin’, blues-based, country-rock band that kept everything “all raw, all live, and all real”, says Jeffries, and was for the most part, a live recorded CD. But, all was about to change when Gary felt a new pull to a very important direction.

Jeffries relocated to the Midwest in order to dedicate time to his father who had suffered a major illness. Once Dad was on the rockin’ road to recovery, and with new music burting out at the seams, Gary formed his name band, Gary Jeffries Band, based out of Dayton, Ohio, and considered by his peers to be the next generation of Alligator Stew. These southern rockers recently brought down a packed house in Fairfield, Ohio, and have been described as possessing rare chemistry. According to fans, when Jeffries gets up to perform, “it is like lightning strikes the stage!”

Jeffries has released 6 Indie CDs on his own including his newly released solo CD, Middle Class Man (May 7, 2011). Alligator Jackson, All Southern Rock radio, describes Jeffries music as “classic southern rock with a definite sense of urgency,” and that Jeffries’ new songs “promise to be the best of Gary's long and exciting career and that will no doubt lift the vocalist to new heights!” (http://www.alligatorjackson.com/index.cfm).


GARY JEFFRIES BAND
These southern rock rebels are hitting the Midwest circuit with attitude and their signature, 'southern rock swamp sound' – with true American colors on their sleeves.

GARY JEFFRIES - song writer, lead vocalist, rhythm guitars and harmonica. (See About Gary Jeffries.)

JOHN GOODWIN - lead guitars. (more forthcoming)

BRETT MULLINS - lead guitars. (more forthcoming)

STEVE FLETCHER - bass guitar. ‘Fletch’ plays all Tobias, five string Fretless and five string standard basses and uses MARK bass amplifiers and electronics. He has performed with such acts as The Marshall Tucker Band, Jim Dandy, Black Oak Arkansas and various blues bands, and is considered one of the 'best' greasy southern rock bassist’s of today.

RANDY TRENT - drums. (more forthcoming)

Instrumentation

Gary Jeffries - Songwriter, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocalist, Harmonicas
Brett Mullins - Lead Guitar
John Goodwin - Lead Guitar
Steve Fletcher - Bass Guitar
Randy Trent - Drums

Discography

NEW! Gary Jeffries: MIDDLE CLASS MAN
Available cdbaby.com/cd/garyjeffries1,
itunes.com & more!
Top 3 streaming & radio airplay: 'Mississippi Girl', 'Middle Class Man', 'Ashes to Ashes'

Grouchy Rooster: REAL & RAW
Available cdbaby.com/cd/grouchyrooster,
itunes.com

Alligator Stew: WELCOME TO MONTICELLO...LIVE!
Available cdbaby.com/cd/alligatorstew2,
itunes.com

Alligator Stew: A FIRST TASTE OF ALLIGATOR STEW
Available cdbaby.com/cd/alligatorstew, itunes.com
GAC TV: 'Blood Money'
Top 4 radio airplay: 'Two Wheels', 'Rose Thorn Bed', 'Louisiana Man', 'Voodoo Magic'

The Regulators: BAR & GRILL
Available cdbaby.com/cd/regulators,
itunes.com

The Regulators: ABOVE THE LAW

Coup De Ville: L.A. to L.a.
Available at cdbaby.com, itunes.com

Asphalt Ballet: ASPHALT BALLET
Available at itunes.com, amazon.com
MTV & top 4 radio airplay: 'Soul Survives', 'Hell's Kitchen', 'Tuesday's Rain', 'Unlucky Mr. Lucky'

Asphalt Ballet: BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY (EP)

Google 'Gary Jeffries' for more rock 'n roll history!

Official Website

http://www.garyleejeffries.com

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• MySpace

Audio

• Blood Money (as seen on CMT & GAC, All Access Magazine 2003 Video of the Year)
  Listen   Download
• Louisiana Man (As heard on Showtime's original series "Weeds")
  Listen   Download
• Shiner
  Listen   Download
• Rose Thorn Bed (Featured on the HBO original series "True Blood")
  Listen   Download
• Track 1
  Listen   Download
• Track 4
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Ashes To Ashes

Video

Blood Money

Photo Gallery

Press

• Free In Heaven - A Tribute [+ Show ]
  

  MONTICELLO -- Upon hearing about a school bus crash that took the lives of four Monticello children ...MONTICELLO -- Upon hearing about a school bus crash that took the lives of four Monticello children on Sept. 26, Gary Jeffries knew he had to do something.
  
  A longtime musician originally from Monticello, Jeffries wrote and recorded a song. Weeks later, his spur-of-the-moment recording, "Free in Heaven," has become a hit in the city and is racking up numbers on his MySpace page.
  
  Twin Lakes School Corp. Superintendent Thomas Fletcher has heard it. "I love it," he said. "It's a beautiful song."
  
  Local radio station WMRS plays the song at least three times a day. "It's our No. 1 requested song," deejay Jaime Valle said.
  The radio station is going to start selling the song, with all proceeds going to the TLKT Tragedy Fund, a local fund established to aid the families of the four children.
  Jeffries said he is truly amazed at the reaction to the song, which he calls an effort to help heal everyone involved. "It made me realize why I do music," he said, nearly at a loss for words. "It isn't about the money at all. It's just, wow."
  
  Jeffries, who has performed with rock bands Asphalt Ballet and Alligator Stew, now fronts the Gary Jeffries Band and calls Dayton, Ohio, his home.
  
  Jeffries first heard about the crash on Sept. 27, during a phone call with his dad, who lives in Monticello. After he got off the phone, Jeffries went to his computer to look up as much information as he could about the crash. He read several stories, some that included pictures of Lauren Melin, 5; Kale Seabolt, 9; Tyler Geiger, 10; and Trevor Ingram, 10.
  
  Once he saw the pictures, "it hit me real hard," Jeffries said. Moments later, he went to the room where he keeps his recording equipment, turned it on, picked up his acoustic guitar and just started to play.
  The notes and words started to flow, he said. The soulful song mentions all four kids by name, "Lauren, Trevor, Tyler and Kale, they'll not be forgotten, fly free and sail," he sings.
  
  After some tweaking, he burned five copies of the song on CDs and mailed them to WMRS anonymously. One was for the station, he said. The other four were for the families.
  
  He chose to remain anonymous "because it was about the kids," he said. "This is something that's a tribute to them."
  
  Staff members at the station listened to the song. "We knew right away it was him," Valle said. The station had interviewed Jeffries on several occasions.
  
  After the song aired, it wasn't long before the station received a first phone call, then another one, then another. From there it snowballed, said Kevin Page, the station's co-owner.
  
  So many people called asking about the song that station personnel contacted Jeffries, asking if they could let people know who sings it.
  
  "It was a very spiritual song for me," he said. "It's one of the closest tunes to my heart that I've ever written. Somehow, that song was meant to come out."
  
  BY CURT SLYDER • CSLYDER@JOURNALANDCOURIER.COM • OCTOBER 17, 2008
  

• HBO "True Blood" [+ Show ]
  

  First, in June 08 it was Saliva and now its HBO's trendy new series, TRUE BLOOD that has just featur...First, in June 08 it was Saliva and now its HBO's trendy new series, TRUE BLOOD that has just featured the Southern swampy-bluesy music of songwriter and vocalist, Gary Jeffries.
  
  The show details the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional small Louisiana town, after Japanese-made synthetic blood –"TruBlood" – becomes available for purchase. It follows Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress at a diner, who falls in love with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).
  
  The show has become so popular that "On September 17, 2008, HBO announced it renewed True Blood for a second season after airing only two episodes. Production will begin early 2009, with new episodes slated to air during June-August 2009.
  

• Quote [+ Show ]
  

  "...the most versatile singer I have ever heard. He does Motley Crue styled metal with Asphalt Balle..."...the most versatile singer I have ever heard. He does Motley Crue styled metal with Asphalt Ballet, southern rock with Alligator Stew, and rootsy blues with Grouchy Rooster, among others." ~ Alligator Jackson, All Southern Rock

• Nominee - Best Male Vocalist
  

  Nominated for best Los Angeles male vocalist by Rock City News Magazine in 2000

• Quote [+ Show ]
  

  "I have to say this--that Gary Jeffries really puts his all into his music and in these days and tim..."I have to say this--that Gary Jeffries really puts his all into his music and in these days and times of sharks and rip off artists he is one of the best trusted men in the music profession bar none." -John Capps/Joncap Publishing

• Middle Class Man CD Review by Alligator Jackson [+ Show ]
  

  On his first solo CD, Gary Jeffries delivers a set of true working man's rock. Loaded with grit and ...On his first solo CD, Gary Jeffries delivers a set of true working man's rock. Loaded with grit and southern pride, Jeffries may be a 'middle-class man', but he is far from average. While the screaming lead guitars, the tasty slide guitar, and occasional harmonica give the CD a cohesive southern feel, Gary shows unparalleled vocal range on songs that range from anthemic southern rock ("Ashes to Ashes" and "Middle Class Man"), radio ready country rock ("Mississippi Girl"), cajun rock ("Southern Pride"), classic rock ("Blood On The Highway"), Great White and Mott The Hoople style boogie rock ("Know You Too Well"), a touch of modern rock ("Free My Soul") and even southern grunge ("Flowers on My Grave"). The CCR classic "Bad Moon Rising" is countrified with a slight party vibe thrown in to give the song a modern edge. "Free" kicks the album off with the sense of urgency of a man breaking through the chains that have restrained him for years. "Free In Heaven" ends the album with a heartfelt tribute to children from Gary's hometown who died in a school bus crash.
  
  He has the swagger of a grizzled rock 'n roll warrior but also the freshness and energy of a new voice ready to make his name known. Gary Jeffries is a music veteran who has performed on MTV's Headbanger's Ball with his band Asphalt Ballet, appeared in videos on Country Music Television (CMT) and Great American Country Television (GAC) with his southern rock band, Alligator Stew, performed on stage with Guns N’ Roses in Axl Rose's absence, and auditioned for Quiet Riot. He has the swagger of a grizzled rock 'n roll warrior but also the freshness and energy of a new voice ready to make his name known.
  
  "Middle Class Man" is one of the best southern rock albums to emerge since the southern glory days of the seventies. It is also much more than just a southern rock record. Gary walks the tightrope of several genres in creating a blend of rock and country that should be blasting from car stereos this summer in not only the South, but the North, East, and West, as well.
  

• MIDDLE CLASS MAN MUSIC REVIVAL! [+ Show ]
  

  NEWS RELEASE Contact: Nancy Shemrah Fallon, 30 Morse Place, New Haven, CT 06512 Mobile: 203/444...NEWS RELEASE
  Contact: Nancy Shemrah Fallon, 30 Morse Place, New Haven, CT 06512
  Mobile: 203/444-2356
  Email: nsfallon@gmail.com
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
  MIDDLE CLASS MAN MUSIC REVIVAL
  Southern rocker and former Virgin Records recording artist, Gary Jeffries, headlines the Monticello Main Street Music Festival, July 29
  and delivers a set of true working man’s rock from new CD
  All raw, all live, all real
  
  MONTICELLO, INDIANA, July 19, 2011:
  From the MTV Wall of Fame to The Whiskey and Roxy shores of the Sunset Strip, riding on his V-Twin pony with saddle bags packed with newly released CDs ‘Middle Class Man’ comes that hard-edged Southern rocker, Gary Jeffries, proudly claiming his Indy roots in true American style. Riding with him to kick off the Monticello Main Street Music Festival are music rebels, Brett Mullins, lead guitar; Steve Fletcher, bass guitar; and Randy Travis on drums.
  
  Monticello is still his favorite place to play, after all its his hometown, and Jeffries and band are cooking up great batch of musical stew for his well loved home-based fans, seasoned with best tastes from his musical past along with a brand new set of true grit Jeffries songs, all flavored with a spicy, hard edged southern rock and down home country blend. Radio personality, Alligator Jackson reviews Jeffries’ new CD ‘Middle Class Man’ as “one of the best southern rock albums to emerge since the southern glory days of the seventies!” This musical collection features a medley all time Jeffries favorites with interplays of new songs, including Mississippi Girl that is sure to rank on radio waves, according to Jackson. As a special addition, Jeffries pays special tribute to the four Monticello children who died in the tragic school bus accident of 2009 on the final track, Free in Heaven.
  
  What else is it about this Monticello son that makes his musical story so compelling? When asked this question by J.J. Tebbe of Arizona’s Rock Today magazine (Rocktober ’91 issue), Jeffries former band mate, Julius Ulrich (guitarist-Asphalt Ballet), put it this way, “When we first met him, it’s like this guy’s got a straw hat on and we thought…are people gonna love him or hate him, but all that mattered was that he sang from the heart. And that’s what we wanted, a singer that would hit you in the heart. He does that to me.” Well, Jeffries traded in that straw hat for a feathered cowboy one with an alligator foot, his trademark, and he continues to win our hearts.
  
  Jeffries high-spirited music has made headline news around town ever since the 70’s when he launched his career as lead vocalist with popular grassroots, top-40 local band, H.O. Brown. We followed him to the swamp lands of Louisiana where he fell in love with the delta blues vibe and on
  to the big time urban jungles of Los Angeles (from LA to L.A). We were glued to our TV sets when our very own hometown American idol gave a virtuoso performance on Star Search, almost winning first place. But that didn’t prevent Jeffries from signing with major label, Virgin Records America, in the early 90’s as powerful front man for hard rock band, Asphalt Ballet. We proudly celebrated their debut CD and national tour and cast huge waves of votes for Asphalt’s top video, Soul Survive, making it the undefeated 7 time winner of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. We may have caught Jeffries’ act when he performed with members of Guns N’ Roses at Soberfest, Malibu, CA to a crowd of thousands. Our local headlines proclaimed more dreams come true when Jeffries and his prized Southern rock band, Alligator Stew, opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd in Reno, Nevada in the summer of 2002. Let’s not forget Alligator Stew’s award winning video Blood Money (All Access Magazine 2006), aired on Great American Country (GAC) TV in 2006.
  
  We heard Jeffries vocals and songs featured in the Charlie Sheen movie, Beyond the Law, on the Life Time Channel, The Hallmark Movie Channel, The Metal Years, Vol. 17, and HBO series ‘True Blood’ and ‘Weeds’. In addition to Lynyrd Skynyd, we boast among ourselves that his bands have opened for artists Ted Nugent, 38 Special, Marshall Tucker, The Guess Who, Rare Earth, John Lee Hooker, Billie Idol, Eric Clapton, and many more.
  
  And the rock star story goes on. Huge billboards of Jeffries standing tall on a junk yard car, symbolizing the resilient strength of the middle class man, have been raised all around Monticello to draw fun loving crowds to the Main Street Music Festival. Join the middle class revival and get out to The Monticello Main Street Music Festival on July 29, for the 5PM show (Gary Jeffries Band at 10:30PM) in order to catch the best of this Monticello born-and-bred, highly celebrated artist.
  
  ###
  
  STORY PREP INFORMATION
  • Gary Jeffries – comfortable on camera; offers concise, straight-talk responses to questions about his career. Electronic press kit at Gary Jeffries Band at Sonic Bids (http://www.sonicbids.com/2/artist/default.aspx?artist_id=198169).
  • Monticello Chamber Commerce – Ingrid Landis, Entertainment Manager
  

• Hometown guy with rock artist pipes [+ Show ]
  

  Gary Lee Jeffries talks with Morning Show host, Joe LePage, about his career, new album, MIDDLE CLAS...Gary Lee Jeffries talks with Morning Show host, Joe LePage, about his career, new album, MIDDLE CLASS MAN, and upcoming band performance a the Monticello Main Street Music Festival, Friday - July 29, 2011 . Gary performs his acoustic version of MIDDLE CLASS MAN!

Setlist

Performances can be tailored to your specific needs -- from an all original, Gary Jeffries music performance to a blend of original music and popular cover songs! If your need is for a softer performance, acoustic shows are available, as well.

GARY JEFFRIES ORIGINAL SONG LIST:
1 4-Winds
2 Ashes To Ashes
3 Blood Money
4 Blood On The Highway
5 California Cowboy
6 Far Beneath The Rubble
7 Flowers On My Grave
8 Free
9 Free In Heaven
10 Free My Soul
11 Heaven Winds Blow
12 Know Ya Too Well
13 Louisiana Man
14 Mad Dog Saloon
15 Middle Class Man
16 Missin' My Friends
17 Mississippi Girl
18 One Time Too Long
19 Shiner
20 Southern Pride
21 Two Wheels
22 Voodoo Spell
23 You Gotta Give

COVER SONG LIST:
1 Born On A Bayou - Credence Clearwater Revival
2 Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
3 Call Me the Breeze - Lynyrd Skynyrd
4 Dreams - Molly Hatchet
5 Evil Woman - Crow
6 Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughn
7 Midnight Rider - Greg Allman
8 Mustang Sally - Rascals
9 Small Town - John Mellencamp
10 Can't Ya See - Marshall Tucker
11 Cod Shot - Stevie Ray Vaughn
12 Green River - Credence Clearwater Revival
13 Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
14 La Grange - ZZ Top
15 Pink Houses - John Mellencamp
16 Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ OP
17 Susie Q - Credence Clearwater Revival
18 Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
19 Tush - ZZ TOP
20 Wishing Well - Blackfoot

Basic Requirements

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