Gary's Career

Performer, songwriter, recording artist, book writer, inventor, film, radio, tv and Public Speaker

Gary was 5 years old when he began playing music.  In the early days he was a jazz and classic rock drummer playing with local Chicago bands continuing on through high school.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 He also played at the International Battle Of The Bands against such notables as Styx, REO Speedwagon,   Buckinghams and The American Breed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         After a short stint in the Navy, Gary started playing guitar and writing songs performing at local coffee houses and clubs in the Chicagoland area with such greats as Steve Goodman and John Prine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Gary appeared on NBC news'  "Today Show" with Hugh Downs performing songs he had written for world hunger hikes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Being noticed by talent agencies Gary was quickly thrown into the limelight performing with Neil Diamond in concerts and on radio shows across the country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  As a singer songwriter, publishing companies took an interest in Gary's writing. There, he became a "staff writer" for several publishers in Nashville. Many of his songs were recorded in Pop and Country markets and are still being heard today by artists such as George Jones, George Strait, Don Williams, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn the Manhattans and others.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Gary was "Songwriter of the Year" for the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wrangler Jeans national songwriting competition in 1980 and 1981... but it didn't stop there! Gary's sense of humor and writing ability led him to a meeting with Jim Backus (Mr. Magoo and Thurstan Howell III (Gilligan's Island)). Here Gary wrote a few comedy routines for the famous cartoon character.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville Network contacted Gary about performing on the national cable TV show "You Can Be A Star". Gary became the winner of the first season of the star search talent show.   From there he was on the road performing with major industry stars including; Roy Clark, Don Williams, Conway Twitty, Marty Robbins, Oak Ridge Boys, Larry Gatlin, Tanya Tucker, Hank Thompson, Con Hundley, Donna Fargo, Eddie Raven and many, many others.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      While in Nashville, Gary performed on several Nashville Network TV Shows including "Nashville Now" (w/Ralph Emery), "Pickin’ at the Paradise", "I-40 Paradise" and writting material for the game show "Fandango" with Whispering Bill Anderson.  Weekday mornings, live from the Opryland Hotel, Gary would co-host the morning talk show "Waking Crew" with Ralph Emery.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            One day Gary's agent called asking him to play bit parts in major motion pictures. He played a "Thug" in the Martin Scorsese film "Hoffa" with Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito and Armond Asanti. He also played the part of a " bar fly" in Scorsese's film "Mad Dog and Glory" with Robert DeNiro, Uma Thermon, Bill Murray and Richard Belzer. Gary had miscellaneous parts as an extra in "Home Alone 2" with Macaulay Caulkin, Daniel Heard and Joe Pesci,  "Mo Money" with Damon Wayans and Bernie Mac, and "Watch It" with Peter Gallagher.                                                 

As creative as Gary is, and apart from his music career, Gary was given the "Inventors Recognition Award" for the "Most Innovative and Best New Invention of the Year" by the International Home and Housewares Association.   N2Preservation .com is the retailHome version of Natural Preserve and Mapware. The commercial version of his revolutionary food storage system (GrowPack) was recognized by several international food organizations where Gary was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.

He has also completed writing his first book hoping to be released later in 2026. "Go Home, New York Never Happened" is a non-fictional memoir and historical narrative based on true events from Gary's days and experience in international finance. Days involving dark hidden ledgers, blacked out Wall Street, covert funding activities.  Gary is currently in search of a Literary Agent for proper representation.

Gary is currently performing around the country. He is also available as a Keynote speaker or for Keynote Concerts at schools, organizations and corporate events - nationally.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Book him today!      Gary@NaturalPreserve.com    

Sunshine On The Rocks

Gary Growden

Vinyl

In cart Not available Out of stock

VERY LIMITED vinyl collection. Ten original songs including the hit single from 1977 "Gitchy Goomy" by Gary Growden and Neil Diamond. Album was a #1 hit in the Philippines in 2013

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Shows

Date Event Location
Gary Growden Scooters Grill and Pub, Chisago City, MN Scooters Grill and Pub, Chisago City, MN
Gary Growden MC Hugo Battle of the Bands, Hugo, MN MC Hugo Battle of the Bands, Hugo, MN
Gary Growden MC Hugos Got Talent, Hugo, MN MC Hugos Got Talent, Hugo, MN
Gary Growden New Perspective, Roseville, MN New Perspective, Roseville, MN
Gary Growden Osceola Christian Community Center, Osceola, WI Osceola Christian Community Center, Osceola, WI
Gary Growden Private Event, American Legion, Forest Lake, MN Private Event, American Legion, Forest Lake, MN
Gary Growden Keystone Place, Hugo, MN Keystone Place, Hugo, MN
Gary Growden American Legion, New Richmond, WI American Legion, New Richmond, WI
Gary Growden Jackpots, Osceola, WI Jackpots, Osceola, WI
Gary Growden North Oaks Memory Care, North Oaks, MN North Oaks Memory Care, North Oaks, MN
Gary Growden Clutch Golf, Chisago City, MN Clutch Golf, Chisago City, MN
Gary Growden Pizza Pub, Forest Lake, MN Pizza Pub, Forest Lake, MN
Gary Growden Cornerstone Pub and Prime, Wyoming, MN Cornerstone Pub and Prime, Wyoming, MN
Gary Growden Tippy Canoes, Osceola, WI Tippy Canoes, Osceola, WI
Gary Growden Scooters Grill and Pub, Chisago City, MN Scooters Grill and Pub, Chisago City, MN
Gary Growden Keystone Place, Hugo, MN Keystone Place, Hugo, MN
Gary Growden Clutch Golf, Chisago City, MN Clutch Golf, Chisago City, MN
Gary Growden New Perspective, Roseville, MN New Perspective, Roseville, MN
Gary Growden Prime , Blaine, MN Prime , Blaine, MN
Gary Growden Pizza Pub, Forest Lake, MN Pizza Pub, Forest Lake, MN
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