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Gary Primich

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Gary Primich
Background information
Birth nameGary Alan Primich
Born(1958-04-20)April 20, 1958
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedSeptember 23, 2007(2007-09-23) (aged 49)
Austin, Texas, United States
GenresElectric blues, contemporary blues
OccupationsHarmonicist, singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonica, guitar
Years activeMid 1980s–2007
LabelsVarious

Gary Primich (April 20, 1958 – September 23, 2007)[1] was an American blues harmonica player, singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for his 1995 album, Mr. Freeze.

Biography

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Gary Alan Primich was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in nearby Hobart, Indiana, where he attended Hobart High School. In 1984, after he graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University, Primich relocated to Austin, Texas.[2]

While working at the University of Texas, he started playing along with other musicians in local clubs. In 1987, he met Jimmy Carl Black, and they formed the Mannish Boys. Their debut album, A L'il Dab'll Do Ya was issued on the Amazing Records label, and although Black then left the band, Primich stayed with the Mannish Boys for another album, Satellite Rock. In 1991 Primich released his eponymous solo debut album, and My Pleasure followed the next year. Amazing Records then folded, and Primich was contracted to the Flying Fish Records label releasing Travelin' Mood (1994) and Mr. Freeze (1995).[2] Mr. Freeze was named as one of the 20 best blues albums of the 1990s by the Chicago newspaper, Newcity.[3]

Constant touring allowed Primich to expand his fan base, and by 2000, he had a recording contract with the Texas Music Group. He issued Dog House Music (2002) and then Ridin' the Darkhorse (2006).[2] Primich also recorded with Steve James, Omar & the Howlers, John "Juke" Logan, Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Nick Curran, Doyle Bramhall and Jimmie Vaughan.[1]

In addition to his performance albums, in 1985 Primich released an instructional double CD, Blues Harmonica: The Blues And Beyond.[4] In June 1999, at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose, California, Primich undertook a performance and series of workshops with Howard Levy, Magic Dick, Gary Smith, Lee Oskar, Jerry Portnoy, and Andy Santana.[5] He was inducted in the Austin Music Hall of Fame.[1]

In September 2007, Primich died at his home in Austin, at the age of 49,[2] of acute heroin intoxication.[6]

Discography

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  • Gary Primich (1991, Amazing)
  • My Pleasure (1992, Amazing)
  • Hot Harp Blues (1993, Amazing)
  • Travelin' Mood (1994, Flying Fish)
  • Mr. Freeze (1995, Flying Fish)
  • Company Man (1997, Black Top)
  • Botheration (1999, Black Top)
  • Dog House Music (2002, Antone's/Texas Music Group)[7]
  • Ridin' the Darkhorse (2006, Electro-Fi)[8]
  • Just a Little Bit More (2012, Old Pal Records) - with Omar Dykes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c d Richard Skelly. "Gary Primich | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. ^ "2009 » September The Music's Over". Themusicsover.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  4. ^ "Gary Primich Biography". Tiscali.co.uk. 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2014-01-26.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ [1] Archived October 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Austin News, Events, Restaurants, Music". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  7. ^ Record label founded in 1987 by Clifford Antone, owner of Antone's Nightclub in Austin Texas, to release live recordings of club performances; Profile of Antone's Records, Discogs. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  8. ^ "Gary Primich | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
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