Garry Foisy

Seekonk man plays concert for niece

Date September 08, 2006

Sunday night, at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, Seekonk resident Garry Foisy put on a benefit concert for his niece, Shiela Dickens, who was recently been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The event attracted more than 150 people and raised more than $2,000 that will be donated to a campaign fund for cystic fibrosis research.

Mr. Foisy was introduced Sunday night by 8-year-old Sheila herself via video tape. She thanked the audience for attending, and reminded them that the generosity of folks like them may at one point lead to a cure.

Mr. Foisy then took the stage and played his folk rock. His voice, along with its rainge and precision, impressed the audience. He played a selection of his songs, which he defines as "self reflective," and all had the folk rock sound.

Mr. Foisy's songs sounded like they could have been written by the likes of Neil Young, but they were performed with the energy that makes Bon Jovi famous. Mr. Foisy covered one song, "Long Train Running," written by The Doobie Brothers.

His other tunes always drew a round of applause, but his last two were clearly the audiences favorites. The second to last song, called "Eli," which was written for a contest which asked the writers to follow a theme of "left behind," really struck a cord with the crowd. The song was written about his grandfather, who passed away when his father was only 3 months old, and whom Mr. Foisy obviously never knew. The song detailed various stages in his grandfather's life, and each verse ended with the catchy chorus, "I was Eli."

Lastly, Mr. Foisy played a song called "The Root Grows Deep." That song was about the place where he grew up, and also followed his "left behind" theme that ended his show.

Afterward, one man in the audience commented on Mr. Foisy's performace.

"Man, Garry's so deep," said the fan. "I have to go think about my life and ponder the reality of my mortality."

BY RUSSELL J. MOORE - Seekonk Star - East Bay News

Seekonk man plays concert for niece

Date September 08, 2006

Sunday night, at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, Seekonk resident Garry Foisy put on a benefit concert for his niece, Shiela Dickens, who was recently been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The event attracted more than 150 people and raised more than $2,000 that will be donated to a campaign fund for cystic fibrosis research.

Mr. Foisy was introduced Sunday night by 8-year-old Sheila herself via video tape. She thanked the audience for attending, and reminded them that the generosity of folks like them may at one point lead to a cure.

Mr. Foisy then took the stage and played his folk rock. His voice, along with its rainge and precision, impressed the audience. He played a selection of his songs, which he defines as "self reflective," and all had the folk rock sound.

Mr. Foisy's songs sounded like they could have been written by the likes of Neil Young, but they were performed with the energy that makes Bon Jovi famous. Mr. Foisy covered one song, "Long Train Running," written by The Doobie Brothers.

His other tunes always drew a round of applause, but his last two were clearly the audiences favorites. The second to last song, called "Eli," which was written for a contest which asked the writers to follow a theme of "left behind," really struck a cord with the crowd. The song was written about his grandfather, who passed away when his father was only 3 months old, and whom Mr. Foisy obviously never knew. The song detailed various stages in his grandfather's life, and each verse ended with the catchy chorus, "I was Eli."

Lastly, Mr. Foisy played a song called "The Root Grows Deep." That song was about the place where he grew up, and also followed his "left behind" theme that ended his show.

Afterward, one man in the audience commented on Mr. Foisy's performace.

"Man, Garry's so deep," said the fan. "I have to go think about my life and ponder the reality of my mortality."

BY RUSSELL J. MOORE - Seekonk Star - East Bay News

Acoustic Mondays at Jane Pickens

Date May 24, 2007

Singer-songwriter Garry Foisy is bringing his acoustic guitar and passionate vocals to the Jane Pickens Theater on Monday, May 28 with guests Jennifer Minuto on piano/vocals and Kim Lamothe on guitar/vocals.

This won't be the first time Foisy shares the stage with either songstress. Lamothe played a show with him in Pawtucket at the Stone Soup Coffee House. Afterwards, Lamothe said that she and Foisy talked about their similar vocal and guitar-playing styles. They agreed that they had to play together in the future, which is what brought her to Jane Pickens. This will be her first time playing there.

Minuto, however, has played the theater, where she joined Foisy last year as part of a benefit to raise money for cystic fibrosis, a disease which Foisy's niece has. He said the show was one of his personal favorites. He added that Minuto, whose website calls her the "Piano Woman," is an amazing pianist.

Foisy, who moved to Newport with his wife over a year ago, has been playing and writing music for nearly 20 years and is busy infiltrating the local and New England music scene.

"[In the past] I'd play some originals around covers and now I focus on originals and getting [them] out there," Foisy said.

His music blends the stylings of Elton John, Billy Joel and the Eagles, which Foisy said are his top three influences. While the combination of an acoustic guitar and a breathy voice isn't anything new, he keeps it fresh, and catchy, too.

"Red Lights," which Foisy said is his favorite track and the potential name of his upcoming debut, is both simplistic and engrossing with a timeless sound. The album, which is a compilation of his past and present work, will be released within the next few months.

BY ANDREW MARTIN - Newport This Week - East Bay News

Acoustic Mondays at Jane Pickens

Date May 24, 2007

Singer-songwriter Garry Foisy is bringing his acoustic guitar and passionate vocals to the Jane Pickens Theater on Monday, May 28 with guests Jennifer Minuto on piano/vocals and Kim Lamothe on guitar/vocals.

This won't be the first time Foisy shares the stage with either songstress. Lamothe played a show with him in Pawtucket at the Stone Soup Coffee House. Afterwards, Lamothe said that she and Foisy talked about their similar vocal and guitar-playing styles. They agreed that they had to play together in the future, which is what brought her to Jane Pickens. This will be her first time playing there.

Minuto, however, has played the theater, where she joined Foisy last year as part of a benefit to raise money for cystic fibrosis, a disease which Foisy's niece has. He said the show was one of his personal favorites. He added that Minuto, whose website calls her the "Piano Woman," is an amazing pianist.

Foisy, who moved to Newport with his wife over a year ago, has been playing and writing music for nearly 20 years and is busy infiltrating the local and New England music scene.

"[In the past] I'd play some originals around covers and now I focus on originals and getting [them] out there," Foisy said.

His music blends the stylings of Elton John, Billy Joel and the Eagles, which Foisy said are his top three influences. While the combination of an acoustic guitar and a breathy voice isn't anything new, he keeps it fresh, and catchy, too.

"Red Lights," which Foisy said is his favorite track and the potential name of his upcoming debut, is both simplistic and engrossing with a timeless sound. The album, which is a compilation of his past and present work, will be released within the next few months.

BY ANDREW MARTIN - Newport This Week - East Bay News

When music matters - a benifit concert

Date August 31, 2006

Two months ago, Garry Foisy, a local acoustic guitar player and folk singer, received a call from his sister, who had very bad news. She told him that his 8-year-old niece, her daughter, Sheila Dickens of Park City Utah, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) attacks the lungs and the digestive system. It creates fluid in the lungs, which impacts breathing and the manner in which food is digested. A patient with CF is forced to undergo years of proactive treatments in an attempt to control the symptoms.

Worst of all, CF is a fatal disease, with an average life median in the late 30s. CF afflicts approximately 1 in 30,000 Americans.

The next day, Mr. Foisy, a Seekonk resident, sat at the Jane Pickens theater, a historic building created in the mid-nineteenth century in Newport. He was watching an independent film with his wife Lisa, but thought about his niece. Then it hit him, "this would be a great place to have a benefit concert."

Planning the event

Mr. Foisy has the type of can-do attitude and optimism that it takes to organize and coordinate this type of an event. He realized the severity of CF, but at the same time, he balances that realization with a strong sense of hope.

"CF is a disease that we as a world community are close to finding a cure for, but it takes time, money and skilled professionals to make a cure a reality," said Mr. Foisy.

He then met with Kathy Staab, who owns the theater, and asked her if she would help bring his idea to fruition. She consented, and gave him the theater at a greatly reduced rate. That same night, he stopped by to visit his friend Becky Chace, who is also a folk rock musician, and asked her if she wanted to join partake in the event. Ms. Chace, who also had a close friend with the disease immediately said "count me in."

She then invited her friend Jennifer Minuto, a pianist and singer, to partake in the event. She too immediately committed to the event. Ms. Minuto is also an accomplished musician.

Mr. Foisy believes and hopes that music at the Jane Pickens theater will become commonplace, and will begin at other similar sites. Also, this event is an opportunity to continue the tradition of local music in Newport, and the rest of the east bay area.

"I thought it would be great to do a concert with the people, and be able to sit, play, and listen to music not only in a bar or a coffee house, but in a historic building, all the while supporting a great cause," said Mr. Foisy.

Portrait of the artist

Mr. Foisy is a 43-year-old man with the laid back attitude that seems to be as much of a trademark of folk musicians as their acoustic guitars.

Though he has only been a full-time musician, playing coffee houses, bars, and other small venues for less than six months, he already has some notable achievements. He was nominated "Best Male Vocalist" and "Best Singer Songwriter" in Motif Magazine 2006 Roots Music Poll. He also performed on the festival stage for the Peter Frampton concert at Newport's 2006 Sunset Music Festival.

Though he started playing music at the age of 8, when he first took guitar lessons, and started writing songs at 14 years old, it was normally on a part-time basis. He and Lisa had their first child when they were both in their early twenties. Shortly thereafter he began working in the information technology field, where he would set up computer and information networks.

Earlier this year, after almost 20 years in the IT field, and with his children grown up, he decided to make a career change. Now, he and Lisa manage The Newport Blues Inn, a bed and breakfast located in Newport.

And how does he measure success with respect to his music?

"I want to get a couple of CDs out there, and I want my music to be heard ... that's how I would define successful in music," he said.

* Who & Why: Garry Foisy, Becky Chace, and Jennifer Minuto, all accomplished local musicians, will perform a benefit concert for Mr. Foisy's niece, Sheila Dickens, 8, who was recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

* Where: At the Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport

* When: The event will begin this Sunday, Sept. 3, at 6:30 p.m., with a wine and cheese party. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

* Cost: Tickets cost $20 and the proceeds will benefit cystic fibrosis.

* How: To purchase tickets, contact Garry Foisy at 401/529-7014. Tickets will also be on sale at the door

by russell j. moore - Seekonk Star - East Bay News

When music matters - a benifit concert

Date August 31, 2006

Two months ago, Garry Foisy, a local acoustic guitar player and folk singer, received a call from his sister, who had very bad news. She told him that his 8-year-old niece, her daughter, Sheila Dickens of Park City Utah, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) attacks the lungs and the digestive system. It creates fluid in the lungs, which impacts breathing and the manner in which food is digested. A patient with CF is forced to undergo years of proactive treatments in an attempt to control the symptoms.

Worst of all, CF is a fatal disease, with an average life median in the late 30s. CF afflicts approximately 1 in 30,000 Americans.

The next day, Mr. Foisy, a Seekonk resident, sat at the Jane Pickens theater, a historic building created in the mid-nineteenth century in Newport. He was watching an independent film with his wife Lisa, but thought about his niece. Then it hit him, "this would be a great place to have a benefit concert."

Planning the event

Mr. Foisy has the type of can-do attitude and optimism that it takes to organize and coordinate this type of an event. He realized the severity of CF, but at the same time, he balances that realization with a strong sense of hope.

"CF is a disease that we as a world community are close to finding a cure for, but it takes time, money and skilled professionals to make a cure a reality," said Mr. Foisy.

He then met with Kathy Staab, who owns the theater, and asked her if she would help bring his idea to fruition. She consented, and gave him the theater at a greatly reduced rate. That same night, he stopped by to visit his friend Becky Chace, who is also a folk rock musician, and asked her if she wanted to join partake in the event. Ms. Chace, who also had a close friend with the disease immediately said "count me in."

She then invited her friend Jennifer Minuto, a pianist and singer, to partake in the event. She too immediately committed to the event. Ms. Minuto is also an accomplished musician.

Mr. Foisy believes and hopes that music at the Jane Pickens theater will become commonplace, and will begin at other similar sites. Also, this event is an opportunity to continue the tradition of local music in Newport, and the rest of the east bay area.

"I thought it would be great to do a concert with the people, and be able to sit, play, and listen to music not only in a bar or a coffee house, but in a historic building, all the while supporting a great cause," said Mr. Foisy.

Portrait of the artist

Mr. Foisy is a 43-year-old man with the laid back attitude that seems to be as much of a trademark of folk musicians as their acoustic guitars.

Though he has only been a full-time musician, playing coffee houses, bars, and other small venues for less than six months, he already has some notable achievements. He was nominated "Best Male Vocalist" and "Best Singer Songwriter" in Motif Magazine 2006 Roots Music Poll. He also performed on the festival stage for the Peter Frampton concert at Newport's 2006 Sunset Music Festival.

Though he started playing music at the age of 8, when he first took guitar lessons, and started writing songs at 14 years old, it was normally on a part-time basis. He and Lisa had their first child when they were both in their early twenties. Shortly thereafter he began working in the information technology field, where he would set up computer and information networks.

Earlier this year, after almost 20 years in the IT field, and with his children grown up, he decided to make a career change. Now, he and Lisa manage The Newport Blues Inn, a bed and breakfast located in Newport.

And how does he measure success with respect to his music?

"I want to get a couple of CDs out there, and I want my music to be heard ... that's how I would define successful in music," he said.

* Who & Why: Garry Foisy, Becky Chace, and Jennifer Minuto, all accomplished local musicians, will perform a benefit concert for Mr. Foisy's niece, Sheila Dickens, 8, who was recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

* Where: At the Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport

* When: The event will begin this Sunday, Sept. 3, at 6:30 p.m., with a wine and cheese party. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

* Cost: Tickets cost $20 and the proceeds will benefit cystic fibrosis.

* How: To purchase tickets, contact Garry Foisy at 401/529-7014. Tickets will also be on sale at the door

by russell j. moore - Seekonk Star - East Bay News